Transfer schools for Creative writing and History

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She did none of her homework about the location or academic departments before enrolling at Kenyon. Now she’s outsourcing her transfer search to mom, who is outsourcing it to internet anons.

I predict this will not go well.

Better off staying at Kenyon.

Not if OP’s DD is miserable there. What about Oberlin? Denison? Miami U? I agree with the other suggestions in neighboring states, Macalester, Carlton, and of course U Chicago, which also has an excellent English department and CW program. I’m curious about your DD’s displeasure with Kenyon, other than its location. English and Creative Writing are the College’s “crown jewels” and I’ve only heard great things about their humanities programs and social science programs. Best of luck to your DD and kudos to her having the courage to change course.

There's a really small amount of space for her major in Creative Writing, and she's actually struggled a bit to get the pre-req classes, which really was a surprise to me. You used to need to apply, but now it is based off course registration time. She also feels there's not much overall support for the humanities (this likely won't change no matter where she goes), but she's looking for a place that has more talks and outside academics coming in and lecturing. And the overenrollment has really gotten to her, and apparently living conditions are terrible.

I wouldn’t want to go to a small school in the middle of nowhere either, but aren’t freshmen going to have a hard time getting preferred classes anywhere? It’s the case at my child’s SLAC too.

She sounds unhappy, but it also sounds like she has so many complaints that it’s hard to offer solid suggestions—it sounds like she hates the size, the location, the dorms/food, the course offerings (at a school known for strength on that department), the peer group, and the “lack of support for the humanities.” That’s a lot.

Are you sure it’s not about something personal/traumatic? It would be easier to write a good transfer narrative if she had fewer reasons rather than a million.

Part of it is me trying (and failing) to translate a moody teen. Kenyon purposely keeps a small numbers and class size to intro creative writing to effectively cap the majors, so all the amazing classes you'd want, you cannot get unless you can pierce through this cap. Her list currently has Uchicago, Pomona, Reed, Tufts, Davidson, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Macalester, which is pretty reasonable and most would solve her complaints. There's a few articles about the creative writing resources (or lack-thereof) at Kenyon.

I do get it, I have a son at a SLAC and he hasn’t been thrilled with his experience either. Getting into preferred or pre-req classes is very hard at his school too. I think it’s endemic: it’s a major issue at Tufts as well.

I know Haverford and Bryn Mawr well and have a hard time believing they are going to be sufficiently different for her. They are *tiny* schools and the kids I’ve known that who have gone there, even the ones who have liked it, have found the intimacy suffocating at times. I also know several kids who transferred out of Haverford because they couldn’t find their people. There are not that many lectures, talks, etc (small schools!) and the student body has some similarities IMO to Kenyon’s. I know it’s a little bit closer, a better area, and has the tri-College consortium, but I would have hesitation that going there would really solve her problems.

[Anonymous]

Very thankful for DCUM and the posters who share HONEST experiences & impressions of small colleges.

[Anonymous]

What about Penn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bucknell is near a prison.

To many, Kenyon College is a prison.

[Anonymous]

The more I read your comments the more I think she wants a university, not a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She did none of her homework about the location or academic departments before enrolling at Kenyon. Now she’s outsourcing her transfer search to mom, who is outsourcing it to internet anons.

I predict this will not go well.

Better off staying at Kenyon.

Not if OP’s DD is miserable there. What about Oberlin? Denison? Miami U? I agree with the other suggestions in neighboring states, Macalester, Carlton, and of course U Chicago, which also has an excellent English department and CW program. I’m curious about your DD’s displeasure with Kenyon, other than its location. English and Creative Writing are the College’s “crown jewels” and I’ve only heard great things about their humanities programs and social science programs. Best of luck to your DD and kudos to her having the courage to change course.

There's a really small amount of space for her major in Creative Writing, and she's actually struggled a bit to get the pre-req classes, which really was a surprise to me. You used to need to apply, but now it is based off course registration time. She also feels there's not much overall support for the humanities (this likely won't change no matter where she goes), but she's looking for a place that has more talks and outside academics coming in and lecturing. And the overenrollment has really gotten to her, and apparently living conditions are terrible.

I wouldn’t want to go to a small school in the middle of nowhere either, but aren’t freshmen going to have a hard time getting preferred classes anywhere? It’s the case at my child’s SLAC too.

She sounds unhappy, but it also sounds like she has so many complaints that it’s hard to offer solid suggestions—it sounds like she hates the size, the location, the dorms/food, the course offerings (at a school known for strength on that department), the peer group, and the “lack of support for the humanities.” That’s a lot.

Are you sure it’s not about something personal/traumatic? It would be easier to write a good transfer narrative if she had fewer reasons rather than a million.

Part of it is me trying (and failing) to translate a moody teen. Kenyon purposely keeps a small numbers and class size to intro creative writing to effectively cap the majors, so all the amazing classes you'd want, you cannot get unless you can pierce through this cap. Her list currently has Uchicago, Pomona, Reed, Tufts, Davidson, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Macalester, which is pretty reasonable and most would solve her complaints. There's a few articles about the creative writing resources (or lack-thereof) at Kenyon.

I do get it, I have a son at a SLAC and he hasn’t been thrilled with his experience either. Getting into preferred or pre-req classes is very hard at his school too. I think it’s endemic: it’s a major issue at Tufts as well.

I know Haverford and Bryn Mawr well and have a hard time believing they are going to be sufficiently different for her. They are *tiny* schools and the kids I’ve known that who have gone there, even the ones who have liked it, have found the intimacy suffocating at times. I also know several kids who transferred out of Haverford because they couldn’t find their people. There are not that many lectures, talks, etc (small schools!) and the student body has some similarities IMO to Kenyon’s. I know it’s a little bit closer, a better area, and has the tri-College consortium, but I would have hesitation that going there would really solve her problems.

Yeah, size can really affect things. DC goes to the Claremont Colleges, and this problem doesn't really exist. Sure you may have a problem getting into an intro creative writing class at Pomona, but you can go to the ones at Scripps, Pitzer, Mudd, or CMC. The schools operate as a small university, which means talks from outsiders are achieved through multiple departments and schools (Cornel West came on campus and the speaking costs were funded by three different colleges). I think the poster either needs a 5C situation or needs to go to a small university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She did none of her homework about the location or academic departments before enrolling at Kenyon. Now she’s outsourcing her transfer search to mom, who is outsourcing it to internet anons.

I predict this will not go well.

Better off staying at Kenyon.

Not if OP’s DD is miserable there. What about Oberlin? Denison? Miami U? I agree with the other suggestions in neighboring states, Macalester, Carlton, and of course U Chicago, which also has an excellent English department and CW program. I’m curious about your DD’s displeasure with Kenyon, other than its location. English and Creative Writing are the College’s “crown jewels” and I’ve only heard great things about their humanities programs and social science programs. Best of luck to your DD and kudos to her having the courage to change course.

There's a really small amount of space for her major in Creative Writing, and she's actually struggled a bit to get the pre-req classes, which really was a surprise to me. You used to need to apply, but now it is based off course registration time. She also feels there's not much overall support for the humanities (this likely won't change no matter where she goes), but she's looking for a place that has more talks and outside academics coming in and lecturing. And the overenrollment has really gotten to her, and apparently living conditions are terrible.

I wouldn’t want to go to a small school in the middle of nowhere either, but aren’t freshmen going to have a hard time getting preferred classes anywhere? It’s the case at my child’s SLAC too.

She sounds unhappy, but it also sounds like she has so many complaints that it’s hard to offer solid suggestions—it sounds like she hates the size, the location, the dorms/food, the course offerings (at a school known for strength on that department), the peer group, and the “lack of support for the humanities.” That’s a lot.

Are you sure it’s not about something personal/traumatic? It would be easier to write a good transfer narrative if she had fewer reasons rather than a million.

Part of it is me trying (and failing) to translate a moody teen. Kenyon purposely keeps a small numbers and class size to intro creative writing to effectively cap the majors, so all the amazing classes you'd want, you cannot get unless you can pierce through this cap. Her list currently has Uchicago, Pomona, Reed, Tufts, Davidson, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Macalester, which is pretty reasonable and most would solve her complaints. There's a few articles about the creative writing resources (or lack-thereof) at Kenyon.

I do get it, I have a son at a SLAC and he hasn’t been thrilled with his experience either. Getting into preferred or pre-req classes is very hard at his school too. I think it’s endemic: it’s a major issue at Tufts as well.

I know Haverford and Bryn Mawr well and have a hard time believing they are going to be sufficiently different for her. They are *tiny* schools and the kids I’ve known that who have gone there, even the ones who have liked it, have found the intimacy suffocating at times. I also know several kids who transferred out of Haverford because they couldn’t find their people. There are not that many lectures, talks, etc (small schools!) and the student body has some similarities IMO to Kenyon’s. I know it’s a little bit closer, a better area, and has the tri-College consortium, but I would have hesitation that going there would really solve her problems.

Yeah, size can really affect things. DC goes to the Claremont Colleges, and this problem doesn't really exist. Sure you may have a problem getting into an intro creative writing class at Pomona, but you can go to the ones at Scripps, Pitzer, Mudd, or CMC. The schools operate as a small university, which means talks from outsiders are achieved through multiple departments and schools (Cornel West came on campus and the speaking costs were funded by three different colleges). I think the poster either needs a 5C situation or needs to go to a small university.

Maybe she should add Scripps to her list then since she was open to Bryn Mawr. I have doubts about Davidson for her but don't know enough to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She did none of her homework about the location or academic departments before enrolling at Kenyon. Now she’s outsourcing her transfer search to mom, who is outsourcing it to internet anons.

I predict this will not go well.

Better off staying at Kenyon.

Not if OP’s DD is miserable there. What about Oberlin? Denison? Miami U? I agree with the other suggestions in neighboring states, Macalester, Carlton, and of course U Chicago, which also has an excellent English department and CW program. I’m curious about your DD’s displeasure with Kenyon, other than its location. English and Creative Writing are the College’s “crown jewels” and I’ve only heard great things about their humanities programs and social science programs. Best of luck to your DD and kudos to her having the courage to change course.

There's a really small amount of space for her major in Creative Writing, and she's actually struggled a bit to get the pre-req classes, which really was a surprise to me. You used to need to apply, but now it is based off course registration time. She also feels there's not much overall support for the humanities (this likely won't change no matter where she goes), but she's looking for a place that has more talks and outside academics coming in and lecturing. And the overenrollment has really gotten to her, and apparently living conditions are terrible.

I wouldn’t want to go to a small school in the middle of nowhere either, but aren’t freshmen going to have a hard time getting preferred classes anywhere? It’s the case at my child’s SLAC too.

She sounds unhappy, but it also sounds like she has so many complaints that it’s hard to offer solid suggestions—it sounds like she hates the size, the location, the dorms/food, the course offerings (at a school known for strength on that department), the peer group, and the “lack of support for the humanities.” That’s a lot.

Are you sure it’s not about something personal/traumatic? It would be easier to write a good transfer narrative if she had fewer reasons rather than a million.

Part of it is me trying (and failing) to translate a moody teen. Kenyon purposely keeps a small numbers and class size to intro creative writing to effectively cap the majors, so all the amazing classes you'd want, you cannot get unless you can pierce through this cap. Her list currently has Uchicago, Pomona, Reed, Tufts, Davidson, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Macalester, which is pretty reasonable and most would solve her complaints. There's a few articles about the creative writing resources (or lack-thereof) at Kenyon.

Be careful with Reed as drug usage among students is common--much too common. Haverford & Bryn Mawr are woke schools. Very woke, not mainstream. If your daughter is not a SJW (social justice warrior) she probably would not like the culture at either of these two LACs outside of Philadelphia.

OP: I understand your daughter's concerns and applaud her courage to seek a better environment. Her current school is small and isolated.

Consider:

U Chicago
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
WashUStL
Emory
Davidson College
College of William & Mary
Tufts

College of Charleston Honors College--should receive substantial scholarship money.

Ole Miss (University of Mississippi Honors College)--will receive substantial scholarship money & enjoy close mentoring from MFA Creative Writing faculty.

Every Big Ten Conference school has special programs for motivated students who know what they want, but you need to research each university's offerings. You will be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She did none of her homework about the location or academic departments before enrolling at Kenyon. Now she’s outsourcing her transfer search to mom, who is outsourcing it to internet anons.

I predict this will not go well.

Better off staying at Kenyon.

Not if OP’s DD is miserable there. What about Oberlin? Denison? Miami U? I agree with the other suggestions in neighboring states, Macalester, Carlton, and of course U Chicago, which also has an excellent English department and CW program. I’m curious about your DD’s displeasure with Kenyon, other than its location. English and Creative Writing are the College’s “crown jewels” and I’ve only heard great things about their humanities programs and social science programs. Best of luck to your DD and kudos to her having the courage to change course.

There's a really small amount of space for her major in Creative Writing, and she's actually struggled a bit to get the pre-req classes, which really was a surprise to me. You used to need to apply, but now it is based off course registration time. She also feels there's not much overall support for the humanities (this likely won't change no matter where she goes), but she's looking for a place that has more talks and outside academics coming in and lecturing. And the overenrollment has really gotten to her, and apparently living conditions are terrible.

I wouldn’t want to go to a small school in the middle of nowhere either, but aren’t freshmen going to have a hard time getting preferred classes anywhere? It’s the case at my child’s SLAC too.

She sounds unhappy, but it also sounds like she has so many complaints that it’s hard to offer solid suggestions—it sounds like she hates the size, the location, the dorms/food, the course offerings (at a school known for strength on that department), the peer group, and the “lack of support for the humanities.” That’s a lot.

Are you sure it’s not about something personal/traumatic? It would be easier to write a good transfer narrative if she had fewer reasons rather than a million.

Part of it is me trying (and failing) to translate a moody teen. Kenyon purposely keeps a small numbers and class size to intro creative writing to effectively cap the majors, so all the amazing classes you'd want, you cannot get unless you can pierce through this cap. Her list currently has Uchicago, Pomona, Reed, Tufts, Davidson, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Macalester, which is pretty reasonable and most would solve her complaints. There's a few articles about the creative writing resources (or lack-thereof) at Kenyon.

Be careful with Reed as drug usage among students is common--much too common. Haverford & Bryn Mawr are woke schools. Very woke, not mainstream. If your daughter is not a SJW (social justice warrior) she probably would not like the culture at either of these two LACs outside of Philadelphia.

OP: I understand your daughter's concerns and applaud her courage to seek a better environment. Her current school is small and isolated.

Consider:

U Chicago
Northwestern
Vanderbilt
WashUStL
Emory
Davidson College
College of William & Mary
Tufts

College of Charleston Honors College--should receive substantial scholarship money.

Ole Miss (University of Mississippi Honors College)--will receive substantial scholarship money & enjoy close mentoring from MFA Creative Writing faculty.

Every Big Ten Conference school has special programs for motivated students who know what they want, but you need to research each university's offerings. You will be surprised.

(I wrote the post above.)

Maybe a list from a third party would help:

https://collegetransitions.com/blog/best-colleges-for-creative-writing/

Lists 35 universities & colleges (Kenyon College did not make this list).

For any school of interest (whether or not among this list of 35), it is easy to research the background of the creative writing faculty.

[Anonymous]

Iowa has an awesome writing program, not sure about history.

[Anonymous]

Also, the best writing program for film & TV is at USC (Big Ten's University of Southern California). Very serious program.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why posters are suggesting massive colleges if that's your daughters list, not every LAC is the same. Wellesley (not 5 minutes out of boston but about the same time as Bryn Mawr to Philly), Wake Forest, St Johns potentially, Kalamazoo, Davidson, Williamette University, and Claremont Mckenna/Scripps are the best fits from the top of the head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why posters are suggesting massive colleges if that's your daughters list, not every LAC is the same. Wellesley (not 5 minutes out of boston but about the same time as Bryn Mawr to Philly), Wake Forest, St Johns potentially, Kalamazoo, Davidson, Williamette University, and Claremont Mckenna/Scripps are the best fits from the top of the head.

I can't imagine having Wake and Kalamazoo on the same list. One is southern and preppy to the max, the other is super-woke. Not to mention they're several academic tiers apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why posters are suggesting massive colleges if that's your daughters list, not every LAC is the same. Wellesley (not 5 minutes out of boston but about the same time as Bryn Mawr to Philly), Wake Forest, St Johns potentially, Kalamazoo, Davidson, Williamette University, and Claremont Mckenna/Scripps are the best fits from the top of the head.

The above post seems way off base. Claremont College College is a great school, but not a place for one interested in history and/or creative writing.

Scripps just doesn't fit with the desire to study history & creative writing. Some students complain about the social environment at this all female school.

No to Willamette.

St. John's Colleges (Santa Fe & Annapolis locations) is also an odd recommendation for OP's daughter. Would have to begin again as a freshman and study a fixed curriculum for all.

WFU for creative writing ? Not sure, but have never come across that connection in the past several decades.

Kalamazoo in Michigan ??????

[Anonymous]

CORRECTION: "Claremont Claremont College" should be "Claremont McKenna College".