Whats the best college to go to if you wish to do a dual degree in English and Creative Writing?
I wish to become a writer and am trying to figure out whats the best college to go to.
I live in Georgia, but I would prefer to go to a college somewhere else (perhaps New York). And for the most part, money is NOT a problem, so lets not worry about that.
I can definitely help you out, but first I need to know a few things:
- Which state are you in? Are you looking for a school in-state to avoid out-of-state tuition (three times the amount for tuition if you’re not a state resident)
- What’s your budget? State schools cost much less than private schools
Depending upon what type of writer you want to become, you may wish to rethink majoring in English.
If you want to become a novelist then English Lit may be a reasonable way to go but many of the most effective writers have a degree in another field so that they can use that knowledge in their writing.
Someone writing science fiction needs a strong science background. SciFi fans can be brutal when it comes to the sciences. A writer of historical fiction might need a really strong background in history - those historical romance readers know their time periods pretty well.
Writers of non-fiction absolutely need a degree in their area of specialization these days. Writing on finance requires a strong business and econ background. Writing the arts requires a high level of arts knowledge in addition to writing skill. Even travel writers find that a higher than average understanding of sociology, anthropology, and geography are essential these days.
I’ve heard it said that “English majors are readers; communication majors are writers.” I’d go as far as to say that a good writer can major in anything and use that degree to build their toolbox. Want to write spy genre? Understand the intricacies of world politics in the period you’re writing about? Maybe a polisci major would help.
If you’re not worried about “degree = job”, a degree with ‘liberal arts’ as the major (not one of the liberal arts - a true major in liberal arts) provides an awesome resource for writers. Same with ‘humanities’ as the major. You cover everything imaginable, but nothing in sufficient detail to equal a subject major. A Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts can be a good tool for a writer (or elementary school teacher) but doesn’t provide much in terms of qualifying for “a real job”.
I’d suggest that you look at many majors and see if there’s something more specific to what you want to write. Then minor in English, Comms, Journalism, or Creative Writing for the writing practice and instruction. While doing that - write a lot. It’s only by writing that we get any better at writing.
When was the last time you did the “I remember….” exercise? Write something every day. Good luck! ☺