Mary Washington is $30440 for tuition, room and board. $8k merit for the gpa = low 20s.
CNU is $30650. He will get Honors and $5k at least. That’s $26k-ish
Top OOS schools help the in state, not OOS kids. You may get some aid but not to bring to low $20k or even to your budget. But that’s why I put schools like Ohio U, WVU, and Salisbury. Salisbury is $37k OOS he’ll get $8500 off I believe.
Just like I noted with LACs, you have to go down a rung - to get better deals. Now your son could be at $20k all in OOS at great flagships, but they’d be more than 6 hours.
When looking for low cost, it’s gotta be WVU instead of Pitt. Ohio U instead of Ohio State. Salisbury instead of UMD.
Same with LACs as I pointed out above. A Washington vs Kenyon or Oberlin.
That’s why I asked - if Mary Washington is $23k and Kenyon $50k and it likely won’t be if you are full pay, but if it were, would you choose it - or no way ? If not, then you can simplify your application process and not bother with Kenyon, Oberlin, CC, Sarah Lawrence or just 1-2. But focus on the Washington, Wooster, Allegheny, Roanokes that assuredly will be under $50k.
Now, you just pointed out you’ve had need before and maybe you need to do a net price calculator. My assumptions have all been based on full pay as you noted earlier. I put Kenyon’s below.
Absolutely, I’ll be happy to answer your questions. My daughter double majored in History and another humanities major, and she took some English/other literature courses+theater. She loves creative writing but didn’t major in it. She was able, however, to incorporate creative writing in her other classes and to do some creative projects even for her science courses.
I should’ve been up front and revealed that I teach CW at an AAU university. George Mason has outstanding faculty and a great program in CW. As for the SUNYs, Stony Brook and Buffalo are the best publics for CW; and as for New York privates, Bard has the best program, followed by Syracuse (if I’m not including Columbia/NYU). Look up SB’s CW program, a BFA. Some of the schools mentioned above have skeleton crew visiting professors for CW. Pitt and Maryland have very strong CW programs, probably the strongest out-of-state in your driving range, along with UNC.
If you qualify for need based aid at Pitt (a very stingy university as a PA “state related” university) run the NPC on Kenyon, Oberlin, etc. Or was it merit?
@wesbound25 Thank you! We were looking at SUNY Bing and New Paltz, but will look into SB and Buffalo, though Buffalo may be too far for my son. Will look at Bard! Thanks! Syracuse maybe, my son said.
Great to hear about George Mason, Pitt and UMD CW programs! What about the CW programs at Virginia Tech, William & Mary? UVA?
UVa is one of the renowned writing programs. I appreciate that a student could become an excellent creative writer at any university. You could even become an excellent writer after graduation without ever taking a CW class. But there is no substitute at that age for programs with dedicated faculty who can show you what the writing and publication business is like. I don’t want to be negative about some universities but in going through the admission process with my oldest this year, I noted that some private schools had barely any tenured professors in their departments, just a string of visiting profs and lecturers. I assume they might provide excellent teaching inside the classroom at these places, but the attention to publication, the business side, how to network, other opportunities outside actually writing or publishing creative writing, how to support writers in their next steps, those would be missing. Stony Brook for instance has tentacles tied right in with the NYC publishing world. George Mason used to be home for the AWP (Associated Writing Programs) for many years. Buffalo is highly connected to the poetry world. Bard has the same connections to NYC that Stony Brook does. My only word of advice here is that while some schools do not advertise merit, you might be surprised. As a dual income family, Bard College met the financial need you describe (sub $50k from our resources). Your $50k and lower number is very similar to what we were thinking when we began admissions. But every financial situation is different and they look at assets and so many other things, not only income, when making determinations.
All Bard College scholarships are need based. Students who do not apply for or are not awarded a themed or named need-based scholarship listed below are still considered for need-based financial aid, which is awarded to students as the Bard Scholarship.
In the last CDS they showed 11 merit scholarships. That was three years ago.
Here’s the NPC.
I’m just seeing so many names - Syracuse and more - if it’s merit alone - they’re very unlikely to happen.
Maybe research faculties and have your son ask some of the questions others are bringing up but you need a true budget and to respect that budget - or otherwise don’t have a budget at all.
I appreciate the insights! That is so true about the importance of learning the business side of writing, getting support, and publishing. I just shared this with my son, and he said it makes so much sense! He will now ask that question at the schools we plan to visit or search their site for the info. Also a great tip to look at the faculty as well. Thanks!
I have to say, I’ve learned SO MUCH from everyone in this thread about creative writing majors, LACs, and getting to that number. Will be running the NPCs once the CB site is back up! Thanks, everyone!
Hi. Not sure if it would be too far, but Vanderbilt has great creative writing, and is one of a few schools that offers non-need based merit up to full tuition. The scholarships require a separate application - but worth it. It’s a reach school, but your sons stats sound similar to my dd, and she is a current senior at Vandy as a CV scholar. She’s an English and secondary Ed major, minor in theater. She’s had a great experience. (FWIW - not involved in Greek life)
I think after spending time at Kenyon this summer, it will help narrow your list more. Congrats on his acceptance to the program. Nothing like time on a campus to decide if rural and remote works or if he wants something different after trying it out.
I agree College of Wooster is worth a look
when looking at Ohio Schools. Very generous for top applicants and I have only heard positive things about the community.
Guessing Grinnell in Iowa is too far ? Another good with merit and strong community and I know Macalister has come up several times and they also give merit and more suburban location if that ends up being a request.
Enjoy the process and time with your son - love hearing about humanities/liberal arts majors
Definitely look at Washington College as a safety. History and writing are both two of their “centers of excellence” (along with environmental science). For DD (ES major), merit award brought the price down to mid-30s.
Washington College gives the US’s largest undergraduate award for writing – Sophie Kerr Prize
They have a short summer writing program for high schoolers
DD ended up at a different LAC but it came down to that one vs. WC. I was really impressed with our visits.
Thank you! Great to hear your daughter has had a great 4 years at Vandy! It’s “far” according to my son. I think he’s hoping to be able to drive to and from college after freshman year. We’ve heard of their great creative writing program.
Thank you! He’s very excited about Kenyon this summer, and yes, hoping the stay there will help him decide whether a small, rural school is for him or not. We will look at College of Wooster. Thank you! Yes, unfortunately Grinnell is too far for him Will look into Macalister. Awww…thank you!
@JESmom Someone else recommended Washington College. Thanks! Wow, that’s awesome for your DD! Congrats!
Will look into Macalister. Awww…thank you!