Hi, guys! I'm currently in my junior year and I love creative writing. Any suggestions for the best colleges for writing in California? What kinds of programs and opportunities should I look out for?
Firstly, it's excellent to hear you're passionate about Creative Writing!
When considering top writing programs in California, a couple of well-known ones that spring to mind are the University of California, Irvine, and Stanford University.
UC Irvine's Department of English is notable for its strong faculty and undergraduate English major with an Emphasis in Creative Writing. The school regularly brings in guest authors to give readings, and its undergraduate literary journal, New Forum, provides an excellent opportunity for budding writers to see their work published.
Stanford University, on the other hand, features a top-rated Creative Writing program, and its Creative Writing Society offers workshops that foster a tight-knit community of writers. Plus, they offer the Bing Stanford in Washington Program where students can be part of a quarter-long program studying, living, and interning in Washington D.C. In terms of Creative Writing, this can be an excellent opportunity to intern with media companies, nonprofits, government departments, and other agencies that value strong writing skills.
In general, when considering colleges for writing, you want to look for programs that offer workshops in various genres, possibilities for publishing or public readings of your work, internships to gain real-world experience, and one-on-one interaction with faculty who are published authors themselves.
As a young writer, you may also want to see if the college hosts literary journals or writing clubs, which can provide further opportunities for writing, editing, and critiquing. Likewise, research course offerings in areas you're interested in, like poetry, novel writing, playwriting, etc.
Furthermore, look for opportunities outside of the classroom. Some universities offer community engagement programs where you'll have the chance to teach creative writing to community members or local school students, letting you give back to the community and practice your own skills at the same time.
Good luck with your search!
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