Undergraduate Creative Writing

carolyn
Fri, 16 May 2008 21:55:28 +0000

You’re asking the wrong question, or at least starting at the wrong place. Instead of asking, “which schools are the best,” you should start by asking “what should I look for in a good undergraduate writing program?” That way, as you compare options, you can make an informed decision. A good answer to the second question can be found here: [AWP- Director’s Handbook](AWP: Page Not Found)

In addition to the points mentioned in the above resource, I would also ask these questions if I was looking for a good undergrad writing program:


Are there any entrance requirements to get into the into. creative writing classes? (i.e., do you have to submit writing samples, can only majors take courses, etc.) Can non-majors take upper-level creative writing courses?
How many creative writing courses just for undergrads are offered each semester? How quickly do they fill up?
Who teaches the courses?
At schools like U of Iowa where “the best creative writing program” is a graduate level program, be sure to ask questions about how resources are divided between “the world-reknowned MFA program” and the undergraduate course offerings.


And, of course, as always be sure that the college fits you in other ways. There’s nothing worse than choosing a school just because of a particular program and then getting there and deciding that the school itself is a bad fit. Good luck!