<p>Swarthmore is a much better fit in terms of the student body and type of environment Im seeking (nerdy/geeky/intellectual/collaborative). However, JHU offers a major in creative writing and its only a concentration at Swat.</p>
<p>Any and all thoughts appreciated.</p>
<p>Depends on whether you want a major as opposed to a concentration. Swat has produced some amazing authors over the years (Jonathan Franzen, James Michener come to mind).</p>
<p>I have an opinion on this 
One of the best things you can do as a writer is to fertilize the mind. It’s not that you need writing instruction so much, but rather an environment that will stimulate you. You need to learn other things so you have something to write about! 
And you really must read a LOT. A writing concentration might be sufficient for a critiquing group and professorial feedback. Both schools will have very smart people. So, I really think the better fit is best.</p>
<p>Swathmore!</p>
<p>I’ve taken Fiction Writing Workshop at Swarthmore and loved it. It does vary in structur from year to year, since the prof changes every time, and of course the make-up of the class can be very important to the workshop dynamic.</p>
<p>I’m also biased in that one of my good friends is an engineering major at JHU, Writing Sems minor (declared before they discontinued it)–I’ve workshopped with her before, so I know her work–and she has a strong NEGATIVE opinion of the creative writing program at JHU. She is just one person, of course, and plenty of other people have really liked the program; if you want her contact info for details, PM me.</p>
<p>So obviously the people on this board are going to be biased. If you think that Swat is a better fit don’t let their not having creative writing as a major be what deters you from the school. At the end of the day majors don’t generally matter THAT much, and the liberal arts/humanities education you’ll be getting at Swat is (in my gloriously biased opinion) better than what you’ll be getting at JHU overall.</p>
<p>You’ll be most successful at the school where you’re happiest.</p>