<p>My daughter’s an English major and senior; she’s also a terrific writer, both non-fiction and fiction, although I think it’s been very difficult for her to find the time to write fiction during college. I’m sure she’s envisioning doing creative writing in her future. I’m going to raise a different kind of argument about literary analysis vs. creative writing. I’ll wager that because my daughter’s read practically whole literary libraries 
and analyzed them, she has achieved a heightened sensitivity of the use of the English language with all its shades of meaning, sound, philosophical underpinnings, color and rhythm than she would have learned if she had gone straight into creative writing. She has studied the craft very, very carefully from all angles and has loved every minute of it.</p>
<p>She was accepted into Oxford for spring semester of her junior year and loved it. It was non-stop reading, weekly papers and one-on-one time with her tutors. Her very first tutor was a bit of a crusty old bird who was a bit skeptical of American students, but by halfway through the term, the tutor had come around and was impressed enough with one of my daughter’s analyses of an early twentieth century British poet that she invited her to return to study further and do a Master’s with her. It remains to be seen if she takes her up on the offer.</p>
<p>My daughter applied to both co-ed schools and women’s colleges and probably could have been happy and thrived at both, but I believe, after watching her these four years, that she has blossomed more deeply and engaged more fully at Smith than she would have at a co-ed college. I am extremely grateful to Smith for the opportunities it has provided her. Come spend some time at Smith.</p>