The Strongest Women's College for Writing

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello--</p>

<p>I've got a strong interest in the remnants of the Seven Sisters (Smith, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Barnard... and let's keep Vassar in the mix for the hell of it). I want to go to school for writing, and I'm looking for some insider information on which of these schools would be on top as far as the opportunities (internships, jobs) it offers to students, as well as the actual curricular program (is there a creative writing program/major? if not, what course does a writer pursue?)</p>

<p>My mind's telling me Barnard given the location and its celebrated alumnae in the writing field, but I'd love to hear what people have to say about this. </p>

<p>Thanks,
Bustles</p>

2

<p>They are all excellent. Smith and Barnard have the strongest historical track record. Smith does NOT have a creative writing major. However, there are lots of courses, seminars, an extraordinary poetry center, and Five-College activities.</p>

<p>(I doubt that the Barnard stable of famous writers are more famous than those at Smith, but I'm not sure that matters a lot in any case - you want to know what they can do for your NOW.)</p>

3

<p>That's true, but I'm hesitant to allow the fact that Sylvia Plath trumps all others affect my perspective too much, given how long ago it was... </p>

<p>thanks :) Good to hear about Smith, since I think I'd prefer it to Barnard, in general.</p>

4

<p>Mount Holyoke has its share of famous playwrights (Suzan-Lori Parks, Wendy Wasserstein).</p>

<p>Really, I doubt you could go wrong with any of them for writing.</p>

5

<p>I would say definitely Barnard - it's a major reason why I even applied to the school. The location is a huge plus for internships & other opportunities (think of all of the major publications coming out of new york!), and although there is no creative writing major, there is a creative writing concentration within the english major & screenwriting classes offered through the media/film studies dept (if that's what you're interested in as well.)</p>

<p>i could explain more, but i think this article says it pretty well:
At</a> Barnard, One Generation of Writers Nurtures the Next - New York Times</p>

6

<p>"That's true, but I'm hesitant to allow the fact that Sylvia Plath trumps all others affect my perspective too much, given how long ago it was... </p>

<p>Well, I was actually thinking of Jane Yolen, Madeleine L'Engle, Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Margaret Edson, Ruth Ozeki, Martha Southgate, Amy Bloom, Patti Friedman... well, anyway, you'll find your people at any of these schools.</p>

7

<p>Skidmore is no longer all female, but it retains the vestiges of a women's college and it has a very strong creative writing program.</p>

8

<p>Barnard has a slew of pulitzer prize winners</p>

9

<p>Here are some of Barnard's alumnae writers (the ones with a class year after their names):
Great</a> Writers at Barnard</p>

10

<p>I would say Barnard. Anna Quinlen went ther.</p>