10 Best Creative Writing Programs for High School Students
Creative writing has a wide range of applications and benefits. It not only helps you structure and write in different ways but also makes you a better reader and communicator!
In this post, we have compiled a list of great creative writing programs for high school students. We’ve also thrown in some journalism programs for good measure!
10 Great Creative Writing Programs
Location: Online and in-person versions available
Fee/stipend: $575 for the online version, $2,500 for the in-person version
Financial assistance: Several full tuition and partial tuition grants are available.
Application deadline: February 5, 2023
Program dates: Session 1 from June 11, 2023, to June 24, 2023, Session 2 from July 9, 2023, to July 22, 2023
Eligibility: 10th, 11th and 12th graders are eligible to apply
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is one of the most prestigious writing programs in the country, with an estimated acceptance rate between 15-20%. You get to choose one course from poetry, fiction, creative writing, playwriting, or TV writing. The course structure contains a mix of seminars and workshops. The mentors are graduates of the University of Iowa, which holds the most prestigious creative writing program in the country (strange but true)! This is a great program if you’re looking for an immersive experience in a single style of writing.
Location: Online and in-person versions available throughout the year culminating in a 10-day residential program at the end of July
Fee/stipend: Free
Financial assistance: NA
Application deadline: February 27, 2023
Program dates: Year-long
Eligibility: Students must be in the 11th grade, have a minimum GPA of 3.5, and must qualify for one of these socioeconomic conditions.
You will get a taste of life as a journalist in this year-long course. You will participate in a range of activities, including attending online workshops and lectures with renowned journalists from all over the country.
Apart from the usual workshops and lectures, you will have access to a number of exciting opportunities such as visiting newsrooms, making a documentary, and working on the Princeton Summer Journal which is published at the end of the program. Fair warning - this is a highly selective program including a three-round application process and a final cohort of up to 40 students.
Location: Commuter program at NYU's New York City campus
Fee/stipend: Free
Financial assistance: NA
Application deadline: Closed for 2023
Program dates: February 4, 2023 - May 13, 2023
Program Selectivity: Highly selective
Eligibility: Open to 9th, 10th and 11th graders
If accepted to this program, you get the opportunity to study and practice writing for theatre, film, and television. The program takes place every Saturday for 14 weeks, where you will be spending 8 hours in lectures and workshops. It culminates in a yearly showcase where students can present what they’ve worked on. It is an intensive course equivalent to Tisch’s undergraduate curriculum. This has an in-person component, so it may be easiest if you are in New York City.
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan
Fee/stipend: Free
Financial assistance: NA
Application deadline: Closed for 2023
Program dates: June 25, 2023 – August 5, 2023
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders
Primarily rooted in humanities and social studies, TASS looks at systems of power and oppression. While its main agenda is to exercise students’ critical thinking skills, reading and writing essays is a crucial part of the curriculum. You will find the opportunity to hone your writing skills in fields such as history, politics, culture, and more. This is a highly selective program with an estimated acceptance rate of 3-5%. While this may not fit the bill for traditional ‘creative writing’, the way in which it weaves a connection between critical thinking and impeccable writing is likely to enhance your creative writing projects.
Location: Online
Fee/stipend: $900
Financial assistance: NA
Application deadline: April 3, 2023
Program dates: July 9, 2023 – July 14, 2023
Eligibility: Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders
Yale Young Writers’ Workshop will give you an in-depth look at one of the following genres — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or graphic storytelling. With only 12 students per workshop, the highly selective, one-week program ensures each person gets an immersive experience in developing the craft of writing, experimenting with their work, and finding their own voice.
Location: On campus at American University, Washington D.C.
Fee/stipend: Free
Financial assistance: NA
Application deadline: March 17, 2023
Program dates: July 15, 2023 – July 21, 2023
Eligibility: Open to 9th, 10th and 11th graders
Known for its multicultural diversity and unique hands-on training, this renowned program aims to prepare you for a career in journalism. Not only will you get workshops with veteran industry leaders and go on field trips, but you’ll also have the chance to produce news packages for the program’s news site! You will also have some published work to your credit. This is a highly selective program with about 30 students chosen from hundreds of applicants.
Location: On campus at Kenyon College
Fee/stipend: $2,575
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: March 1, 2023
Program dates: Session 1 from June 25, 2023, to July 8, 2023, Session 2 from July 16, 2023, to July 29, 2023
Eligibility: Open to 16–18-year-old students
This program offers a combination of individual conferences with your instructor and peer-led group discussion and exercises. The coursework is ungraded and focuses on students recognizing and working on their writing skills. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for a genre session where one genre or element of writing will be explored in-depth. This is highly selective with 12-14 students per workshop.
Location: On campus
Fee/stipend: $3,500
Financial assistance: Moderate
Application deadline: None. Applicants are reviewed until the program is full, usually in mid-April or May
Program dates: July 9, 2023 – July 29, 2023
Eligibility: Open to students from grades 9-11
Instead of focusing only on the writing style, this three-week workshop focuses on enhancing language and thinking skills that are key for effective writing. The program consists of three 90-minute sessions every day with each having a different area of research. You will engage in writing activities and reading discussions within small groups of 12, so every student gets individual attention. Writings are shared by the workshop leaders as well as peers. While building a portfolio, you will be encouraged to focus on the process and finding your voice rather than the end product. This program is a good fit if you’re looking for informal coursework with a heavy emphasis on critical thinking.
Location: Commuter program
Fee/stipend: $1,125
Financial assistance: Limited scholarships available to Yonkers Public School students
Application deadline: Registrations open in February.
Program dates: Virtual program from July 10, 2023 – July 14, 2023, On campus program from August 7, 2023 – August 11, 2023
Eligibility: Students must be 14 years of age or older
Writing (workshops and collaborative discussions) and theatre (workshops on improvisation, solo performance, character comedy, and the like) come together in this program with students learning components of each as well as their relation to each other. While this is a highly selective program, once in, you’ll find yourself in an interactive and supportive environment in a class of 18 students.
Location: Online
Fee/stipend: $450
Financial assistance: Available
Application deadline: March 12, 2023
Program dates: June 19, 2023 – July 31, 2023
Eligibility: Open to students from the 9th to 12th grades
Hosted by a literary and art non-profit organization, this program pairs budding writers with established ones, making this a highly individualized program. While peer activities are also offered, you will get personalized support and guidance from your mentor. You can choose from poetry, fiction and non-fiction/memoir writing. However, the program’s acceptance rate has been approximately 8-9% in the past so keep in mind that it is highly selective.
If you’re interested in going beyond creative writing and want to explore research in fields you’re interested in (e.g., research in literature!), consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.