<p>My D is just beginning her junior year in high school and we have set early 2013 as the time we will begin visiting potential colleges. I received a great deal of help on the Theatre/ Drama major thread when my older D was doing her college search and she is a happy freshman at American University. Thanks CC!</p>
<p>My younger D is also involved in theater, but isn't sure she necessarily wants to major in it in college (although she may want to continue to be involved in theatre.) She also loves to write and is taking a creative writing course this year in high school. I am biased, of course, but I do think she has a gift with words and I'm excited to see if this class will help her to expand and grow her talents/ interests in that area. </p>
<p>She is not sure yet about a college major, but I suspect it will be something that engages her love of words; writing, communication, journalism, etc. Although extroverted and friendly, she is a homebody and will likely not want to get too far from our Northern VA home, hence my interest in mid-atlantic....VA, DC, MD, PA, NC, etc. </p>
<p>She is a good student, but not "Ivy League" type stats. Probably will continue around her current 3.7 GPA, although that may go up as she adds AP courses. She does AP track in English and Social Studies, not in Math and Science. Generally tests wells, but we don't have any SAT or PSAT scores yet.</p>
<p>Anyway, just thought I would throw this description out there and see if someone knows of some hidden gem that we should go check out. We will likely visit some of the wonderful VA state schools that I saw the first time with my other daughter. Any info on any of those would be much appreciated as well.</p>
<p>UNC has a very strong creative writing program (a minor). The Chapel Hill-Hillsborough area has many writers. UNC also has a journalism school and majors in theater and communications. It is very difficult to get into from out of state.</p>
<p>Other strong creative writing programs in the UNC system are UNC-Wilmington (major) and UNC-Asheville (concentration). I don’t know much about the program at Western Carolina, but Ron Rash (author of Serena and The Cove) teaches there. NC State, although known for being a engineering school, has a very well-regarded creative writing concentration, with some stellar writers.</p>
<p>Hollins has a superb program. It’s a single-sex college, but it does have social ties to VMI. I have two friends who attended and have done rather well for themselves. </p>
<p>I’ll add Warren Wilson to the above suggestions of NC schools; as a Work College, it’s somewhat cheaper than many LACs. Franklin & Marshall and Susquehanna are worth a look in PA. Of course, PA has many other great colleges (Juniata, Gettysburg, Allegheny, Ursinus, Muhlenberg, etc.) that would also be worth a look. </p>
<p>UVA and W&M are likely to give her the best bang for her buck if she can get in. Alternately, Virginia Tech has a surprisingly good program. U Mary Washington is a nice size, but you probably know more about it than I. </p>
<p>I’d recommend checking to see if the creative writing program is open to everyone or through an application process. Additionally, some places open their writing courses to everyone, whereas some require students to submit examples of past work before they let them enroll in a course.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I see a few new schools to check out. Let me throw a couple of new variables in the mix. </p>
<p>Her sister loves being in D.C. and little sister has mentioned that she might really like to be in a city as well. Any schools in or near major cities that anyone can recommend? What if we threw the Chicago area into the mix in addition to the current area under consideration?</p>
<p>It’s not a public, but it’s in VA: University of Richmond
I’d also recommend looking at Goucher in Baltimore.
I second VA Tech. . . a surprising number of English majors for a “Tech” school–but Blacksburg is more of a college town than a city. </p>
<p>And also not in a city, but Elon–nice theater scene and a creative writing concentration.</p>