Help a sista out: best creative nonfiction programs to transfer into?

<p>I'm going to be a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall, and I'm planning to major in creative writing---unfortunately, their curriculum is focused on fiction and poetry. I'm strongly considering transferring to a school that has a better program for creative nonfiction. What are some solid schools for creative nonfiction/creative writing in general (preferably a few with decent transfer rates)? </p>

<p>As for now, I'm going to reapply to the schools I was waitlisted at (WashU, Grinnell, Hamilton) and possibly Bennington and Denison. </p>

<p>Since we're on the subject, any advice relating to successful transferring is graciously welcomed.</p>

<p>Can you afford being full pay at those schools? Transfer students generally get little merit $.</p>

<p>Do you know if transfer students generally qualify for need-based aid? I come from a lower income household, which got me a decent amount of money at UIUC. If not, I guess I’ll figure something out.</p>

<p>Why don’t you go to UIUC in the fall, and then decide if you want to transfer? You might want to look into its journalism program and see if there are any classes focused on longform writing.</p>

<p>As far as money is concerned, transfers typically receive financial aid, but at non full need schools (and some full need schools for freshmen aren’t full need for freshmen), they may be more seriously gapped than freshmen applicants are.</p>