Schools with a Strong Writing Focus

<p>I know about Loomis, and the arts school, Walnut Hill, Interlochen and Idllywild, but what other schools have strong creative writing programs/classes? Along with this I'm also looking for schools that have strong music programs, but English comes first. I'm not really looking for top school HADES. My gpa isn't too strong, and I've yet to test. I'm applying as a repeat junior. (As most of you probably already know. :D ) Any good ideas?</p>

<p>Have you looked in to Milton?</p>

<p>They don’t have a writing program, per say, but they’re a pretty artsy school. I know they have like, ten student publications, or something crazy like that. Oh, and I’m pretty syre they have a pretty amazing music program too.</p>

<p>Oh, I can’t believe I haven’t! Thank you. I think it’s still a bit high for me, since I’m still looking for some decent “safety” schools, but I really should look into Milton!</p>

<p>I think I’ve heard someone mention a school called Concord Academy and they said it had a good writing program. And, as I’ve said before, Interlochen is the best choice for both of these areas (so keep it in your list, especially because I’ve heard the creative writing building is the best on campus.)</p>

<p>I’m going to apply, but don’t have too much hope. :)</p>

<p>I know Concord Academy has a wonderful wonderful wonderful arts program, and it is near a very famous library and in concord, mass which is were Thoreau, and Emerson, and the Alcott sisters lived. (one of the Alcotts wrote “little women”) It is a great school because of the historical literature ties and the beautiful small cozy campus.</p>

<p>Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.</p>

<p>Yeah, well T.S. Elliot went to Milton, so there!</p>

<p>Ahem… lol, yeah.</p>

<p>Uh, I’ve also heard that Bridgton Academy has a writing program. Hold on. Let me check. </p>

<p>Well, uh, yeah it does. But it’s also only for the PG year… and all boys… so that was pointless. </p>

<p>I think you’d get great english classes at any higher tier boarding school, though.</p>

<p>Lawrenceville has a strong writing program.</p>

<p>Middlesex supposedly has a great writing program (I heard of a soph taking THREE writing classes (i think they were mandatory but don’t hold me up on that), although 1 was only week-long), but I don’t know too much about their school OR program…</p>

<p>Is the writing program at L’ville truly good? I don’t know, but I do know that my son and I, when we visited Lawrenceville this past winter, met with a PG there who had graduated the year before from the private day school that son was then attending. That PG, who will enroll in Princeton this fall, told us that, in his opinion, the writing skills taught and exhibited at his old private day school were superior to those at L’ville. He also volunteered that the academics at his old school were, overall, more challenging than those at Lawrenceville. He said such without any bitterness; in fact, he was glad to be at Lawrenceville as a PG because he knew that his PG year would help him get into the college of his choice: Princeton. My son and I found such statements shocking,however. </p>

<p>Because we knew and trusted that young man, his opinions colored our view of Lawrenceville, rightly or wrongly. I’m sure that there are many people who would question these points-of-view by that PG, who is now a Princeton man, but these views indeed had a great impact on my son and my son’s impression of Lawrenceville, fairly or not. In hindsight, we probably should not have placed much weight on this fellow’s opinions because his vantage point as a PG was not and never would have been one my son, who was applying as a 10th grader, would have assumed. Still, such were this young man’s statements, for better or worse.</p>

<p>Not to bash Lawrenceville, which I’m sure is a fine school, but I recently had a similar conversation with a recent PG about Calculus there…</p>

<p>Consider also NMH. They have traditionally done well with creative writing. </p>

<p>I was impressed also with St. Mark’s creative writing/literary magazine materials.</p>

<p>I don’t have firsthand knowledge about Lawrenceville, but their reputation is that of a school with a strong writing program. Rather than trusting the opinion of one student, you should contact the school and speak to the head of the English department and/or the headmaster herself. She is very approachable. We had many conversations with her during the application process and although my daughter was accepted at Lawrenceville she chose another school.</p>

<p>True, PhotoOp; the more info about the L’ville writing program, the better. My son and I short changed the school, as well as ourselves, by placing so much weight on the opinion of one child, no matter how much we knew and trusted him. But such is the push and shove so often felt by kids in the rush to apply, learn about and visit so many BS’s in a short period of time, especially for those applicants who live far away from the NE and who have probably applied to too many schools. I guess that all of us just try to do the best we can and learn as much as we can under trying circumstances. I wish we had started the BS application process years before my son applied, instead of just two brief months before applications were due. Unfortunately, time was not our ally, and we had to learn about BS’s quickly, way too quickly. Such is life so often.</p>

<p>Middlesex has a very strong writing program! It’s their strongest program.</p>

<p>We interviewed at Middlesex and were told that they thoroughly evaluated Loomis’ writing program and while I wouldn’t say they patterned their program after Loomis, they definitely took notes. They consider their writing program major league.</p>