<p>D is a sophomore and wants to be a writer, not a journalist or technical writer but more likely fiction. Should she major in creative writing or ?? We're thinking there are probably two schools of thought, one would be get the most writing classes you can, another would be get a liberal arts education with a broad sweep. </p>
<p>Along the same lines, what schools would you recommend for her? She did well on the PSAT as a sophomore, has done well on the National Latin exam (gold medal 2x) but those are her only outside verification as she is homeschooled.</p>
<p>A sophomore in high school has no exposure to most of the fields that can be studied in college. Are you thinking about this in order to make sure that colleges on the list have the desired major?</p>
<p>Personally, I'm always in favor of a liberal arts education with a broad sweep. It can only help her develop insight into the human condition, which is essential for a fiction writer. It is my observation that intensive "writing programs" like Iowa seem to turn out a somewhat uniform type of writing. I would think that she could take creative writing classes at virtually any college if she wants a forum in which to get feedback and a way to structure the writing into her life. (There are also writers' groups on the internet, and locally in many if not most areas.)</p>
<p>That said, Syracuse is one place that known for its writing program. I'm sure there are others.</p>
<p>Edit: conventional wisdom says that it is wise for homeschoolers to take a number of SATIIs to "validate" their coursework against a general standard.</p>
<p>Thanks for that, Consolation. We're just trying to figure out what she should major in with writing as the end goal. She has a strong love of learning. She's planning to take the Math and Chem SAT II next year, and maybe French. Do you have any other advice?</p>
<p>In addition to SATs you can take AP exams or sign up for a community college class or two. </p>
<p>The two published novelists I know from my college class didn't major in English or creative writing. One majored in East Asian studies, the other in music. The music major did take some creative writing classes.</p>
<p>Yes she's not sure about AP, she may take a Physics class online which lines up with the AP and she would likely take it then. After looking at several prep books she feels more comfortable doing SAT IIs than APs, go figure.</p>
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<li><p>There are very, very few people in the world who support themselves writing fiction, even if you count those whose "day job" is teaching creative writing somewhere. (It's much "easier" to become a professional athlete or musician.) An aspiring writer should pay attention to what actual young writers do in the world -- which includes journalism, teaching, technical writing, waiting tables, and starving, and sometimes all of the above -- and prepare herself for those kinds of jobs and that kind of life.</p></li>
<li><p>There IS something of an academic novelist career-path, which goes through the needle's eye of the University of Iowa BFA program. That's certainly not the only quality writing graduate program out there, but it's probably the only one whose graduates have a success rate in the real world (success = publishing a few books without paying your own money to do it) that would look OK as a batting average on a major-league baseball team (i.e., better than 1-in-4).</p></li>
<li><p>Apart from that, academic credentials are, if not irrelevant, mostly tangential. Someone who wants to be a writer should be (a) writing as much as she can, (b) networking with other writers to learn the tricks of the trade and what writers do to survive, and to make contacts, and (c) trying to get past the publishing industry's first line of defense -- getting an agent. Academic credentials can serve as external validation, and academic writing courses can serve as a source of contacts and an introduction to the rules of the game, as well as improving one's writing.</p></li>
<li><p>If your daughter really wants to be a writer, nothing is more important than learning how to write. Nothing is even close to that in importance. Does that mean she should look to be a creative writing major? It depends. That works for some people, not so much for others.</p></li>
<li><p>Writing is somewhat unique among the career interests of college applicants. Admissions committees feel pretty qualified to judge quality for themselves. External validation is good, but probably less important than in hard sciences, unless it is sensational (e.g., having a book published).</p></li>
<li><p>Some places with reputedly good undergraduate writing programs: Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Penn, Carnegie-Mellon, Kenyon. Some places with excellent writing faculty, who can be very helpful, but not necessarily a great full creative writing program: almost any college in America.</p></li>
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<p>I would also emphasize broad education.
I barely even read fiction, because I have a different learning style which has many challenges but one of the strengths is that I see the big picture, and many popular books/movies I can't stand to finish because the foreshadowing is so heavy there isn't a point to reading/viewing to the end ( and because the writing isn't enough to compel me to do so anyway)</p>
<p>Regarding outside verification, she should look into the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - it is a chance to see how her writing stacks up against her peers on a national level.</p>
<p>I have a friend who is a successful novelist. He got his undergrad in creative writing and his grad degree in American Studies - the knowledge has helped his fiction writing that takes place during the late 1800's.</p>
<p>It really depends on her interests. Possibly, History if she's planning on doing historical writing. Otherwise, English/Creative Writing may be the other good route. But, really, if she's interested in a topic, I'm sure she could turn it into fiction. See how her interests develop..especially as senior year comes closer.</p>
<p>I started at Washington College for writing, though I ended up transfering elsewhere. I think the program has really developed since I was there, mumble-ty years ago.</p>
<p>Coolest thing about it: they give away the biggest college writing prize in the world. The Sophie Kerr prize was, when I was there, worth over 35,000 dollars, and I believe much more now. My mom couldn't believe I transfered out of a chance to win that. Oh well!</p>
<p>If you and she haven't read Stephen King's "On Writing," a short monograph and mini-memoir, I highly recommend it. King, like other writers, believes that what a writer needs to do is Read Read Read Read. So many other great fiction writers say the same.</p>
<p>I'm not a fiction writer, but I tend to think it does not matter what she majors in. Whatever interests her, as it can feed her writing. </p>
<p>Not sure of her geographic or other criteria for college selection, but Johns Hopkins is another school with an excellent creative writing program (whether she majors in it or not).</p>
<p>Thanks jmmom. I think she has the Stephen King book. We live in TX but she loves VA (something about the mountains, wink). And she loves to read.</p>
<p>Thanks barrons. We lived in Australia and London for a few years each (dh's job) and she loves to travel. We've been to France several times which let her practice her French. Of course London was a great place to live and homeschool, we did a British history section then toured around to see all the castles and cathedrals we had studied. Then we did a Renaissance study and went to Italy to see all the artists we had studied. She loves to travel.</p>