FYI, Oberlin creative writing major is competitive entry. I don’t know the acceptance rate or how many students they let in the major, but it can also be difficult to get the required classes one needs to have completed to apply or the major. Something for your student to contact Oberlin and ask for more info/details.
Students may apply to the major in their second or third year once they have, at minimum:
- satisfactorily completed two 200-level courses, preferably in different genres, or
- satisfactorily completed one 100-level course and one 200-level course, and are in the process of completing a second 200-level course in good standing, or
- (for transfer students only) satisfactorily completed one 200-level course and have demonstrated that they have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of another 200-level creative writing course at another institution.
The program accepts applications to the major in the middle of each semester. The application is both rigorous and holistic, assessing students’ development over three main areas: professionalism, workshop citizenship, and artistic commitment. Typically, the application requires a reflection on the student’s experiences in creative writing thus far, a proposed course of study in the major, an example of a workshop feedback letter written to a peer, and a portfolio. Applications are reviewed by the entire creative writing teaching faculty.
Students not accepted into the major may often still complete the creative writing minor.