Top Creative Writing Schools to Consider?

Aspiring writer here, and I'm currently searching for colleges with strong programs in creative writing. Where am I likely to find top-notch faculty and writing communities? Does anyone have personal experiences they can share?

There are several colleges that are often lauded for their strong programs in creative writing. Some of these include:

1) University of Iowa: Their undergraduate creative writing track is a part of the English department where students take a diverse range of literature, writing, and theory classes, but it's their graduate-level Iowa Writer's Workshop that is world-renowned.

2) Cornell University: Although they don't have an undergrad creative writing major, they do offer a major in English with a concentration in creative writing. At the graduate level, Cornell's MFA program in creative writing is also well-regarded.

3) Emory University: Their Creative Writing program is very welcoming towards aspiring writers, with numerous workshops available for students to explore various genres of writing.

4) Brown University: Known for its innovative programs and a dedicated faculty, Brown’s undergraduate program in Literary Arts allows students to focus on fiction, poetry, digital language arts or cross-disciplinary writing.

5) Johns Hopkins University: They have both a minor and major in creative writing on the undergraduate level with courses in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and playwriting.

6) Northwestern University: Their Creative Writing Major offers an array of courses spanning several genres, and also allows students to publish their work in the university's literary journal.

7) Oberlin College: This liberal arts college offers a Creative Writing major where students are encouraged to explore a wide diversity of styles, genres, and literary forms.

8) Columbia University: They offer a Creative Writing major and it's located in New York City, a great location for budding writers.

Each of these schools has a strong and engaged writing community. While all the mentioned programs are top-notch, I would suggest looking into them more thoroughly to see which program would most align with your specific interests and aspirations. Consider factors such as available courses, faculty, opportunities for internships or writing for school publications, and the overall literary culture of the school and surrounding area. For example, if you are interested in the publishing industry, Columbia's location in NYC might have an advantage due to proximity to various publishing houses.

However, remember that college is not just about the major or program. Be sure to explore other aspects of the school and consider if the overall environment—academically, socially, geographically—would be a good fit for you.