Johns Hopkins University The Writing Seminars

Reviewer's Name:

-

Review Date

December 02, 2009

Year of Graduation:

2006

Review Title:

Building on an already stellar reputation

Full Review of the Program:

The basics of the Hopkins program are great funding, an autonomous department comprised of top-notch writer/teachers, experience teaching bright undergrads, a robust visiting writer series, and a warm culture of graduate peers.

It’s a small and selective program that is deepening and growing richer, now that it offers the MFA. For those that are interested, you can take a range of grad-level classes (the coursework requirements were minimal—the program recognizes the students are there to write), apprentice at “The Hopkins Review,” be mentored by faculty who are recognized as among the best in their genres, and most important, write.

For fiction writers, all styles are taken seriously and are seriously discussed; no one school favored over another, which provided a wonderful balance. Classes are small enough that you’ll produce a great deal; with luck, even a polished manuscript. Naturally, you’ll improve your writing chops.

Advice to Prospective Students:

Like all programs, it's what you make of it. If you want to go there to produce, you will. I'm still regularly in touch with my classmates, who are now dear friends, and still in touch with my professors, who are available for advice/questions.