<p>I am by no means an amazing writer, but I would like to become one. Which schools (that don't require sat ii's) have the best creative writing (not journalism) programs?</p>
<p>Just about all the colleges in the state of Iowa. It seems to be a center of writing and poetry. Published authors go to Iowa for workshops and such.</p>
<p>I asked my English teacher (who has an MFA in creative writing) the same question. Her advice to me was, word for word:
Don't major in creative writing. Don't even take more than one creative writing class.</p>
<p>She then went on to explain that a) no one can teach you how to write creatively, b) anyone who claims to teach you how to write creatively is actually out to crush the spark in your soul, c) the only way to become a better writer is to read, to write, to read some more, and then to write again, and d) you will learn more by studying other people's writing in a traditional English/literature major then you ever will by taking creative writing.</p>
<p>Take that as you will.</p>
<p>^I don't like the thought of having to study "the classics" any more than I already have, but thanks for the input anyway.</p>
<p>Ha. That was my reaction, too, actually. My teacher's response: "Then major in something that will let you feed yourself."</p>
<p>She's an interesting character.</p>
<p>Iowa has an incredible program and they have an incredibly high amount of support for young writers.</p>
<p>Kurt Vonnegut
-studied Chemistry at Cornell
-studied Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon and University of Tennessee
-studied Anthropology at the University of Chicago</p>
<p>Tom Robbins
-studied journalism at Washington and Lee
-studied art at Virginia Commonwealth
-studied Far Eastern Studies at the University of Washington</p>
<p>Toni Morrison
-studied English at Howard and English at Cornell</p>
<p>Nicholson Baker
-studied music at the Eastman School of Music
-studied Philosophy at Haverford</p>
<p>Thomas Pynchon
-studied Engineering Physics and English at Cornell</p>
<p>Sandra Tsing Loh
-studied Physics at Cal Tech</p>
<p>You might not like all of their styles, but they are all no doubt creative, and probably were before they even atteded college.</p>
<p>Pick the college where you enjoy being. Study what interests you. If that happens to be creative writing, then go for it. Ken Kesey and David Foster Wallace actually studied creative writing.</p>
<p>And although I am susceptible to hyperbole, Iowa really does have a great and world renowned writing program</p>
<p>The only writer I know has a $15 an hour job at a bakery with benefits, doesn't attend school, and is fine with it. College is definitely NOT a requirement for creative writing. If you really want to go to college, major in something you like.</p>
<p>Wait did I just tell someone not to go to college on CC? What?</p>
<p>Kenyonnnnnnn! (needed 10 char.)</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for their help.</p>
<p>Kenyon, JHU</p>
<p>Wait. Does Hopkins really have a good writing program? I thought is was more of a premed type of school.</p>
<p>While Hopkins is best-known for its sciences and med school, it is also very strong in the humanities and social sciences (esp. poly sci). I believe the JHU graduate English program is routinely ranked in/around the top 10.</p>
<p>Another school that just came to mind is Middlebury, which is home to the Bread Loaf School of English (a funny name, I know). Bread Loaf is a well-known masters degree program held during the summer at Midd.</p>
<p>Here's my list so far (I didn't add Iowa because it'll probably be expensive for an oos applicant):</p>
<p>Grinnell
Middlebury
Kenyon
Carleton
JHU</p>
<p>If we are talking about University of Iowa, it will be more expensive then if you were in state, but it will definitely be cheaper than the other schools you listed..</p>
<p>But if the OP qualifies for need-based aid, private universities will give much better aid for an OOS student than Iowa.</p>
<p>University of Iowa now offers an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing? I thought Uni of Iowa's creative writing program was graduate level only..</p>
<p>University</a> Creative Writing Programs</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins has the best undergraduate creative writing program in the country and has a top ten undergraduate English program.</p>
<p>Yeah, I definitely qualify for need-based aid. That's why the University of Iowa would be much more expensive than the other schools--that is unless the University of Iowa offers good merit scholarships. I'll have to look into that.</p>