More College

For those of you who do not know, I graduate from Cardinal Stritch University next May. For those of you who don't know the level of my ambition, I'm going to graduate school for my M.F.A., preferably in creative writing and publishing and then go on and get a job at a publishing company. There are a handful of schools I have in mind and, if you're interested in browsing Poets & Writers list of top 50 graduate programs, you can go here.

Also, these schools are in no particular order. Except maybe Iowa. Which is funny because it's home to the number one writing program in the country...

Yes, Hawkeye country also houses the best creative writing program in the United States. However, locations means a lot to me and I don't know if I can stay in the Midwest, regardless of how happy that would make my mother, who is moving to Des Moines after I graduate from Stritch. But the faculty and alum are hard to ignore.

University of North Carolina-Wilmington. One of my mentors, Dr. Laura Misco, went to graduate school there, along with author Brad Land (Goat) and loved it. They also have a publishing laboratory, which as the name implies, helps the students get a better understanding of what happens when a book is good enough to hit the shelves. This school is also in the top 50 in the country and the location, for me, is ideal; East Coast enough, but southern enough to be warm and suitable for my preferences.

New York University. The above picture is of Greenwich Village, which is where the Creative Writing program bought a building for their students only. My own personal studying space in the Village? Can I get a hell yes? Although New York has horrible winters like Wisconsin and the traffic is hell, I loved New York when I visited and NYU's reputation is amazing. So many talented people have graced its halls and I would love to have the chance to be taken under the wings of amazing people.

University of Texas-Austin. Yes, Texas. Initially, I was uncertain about the number three program in the country but, after talking with one of my good friends who went to Austin for South by Southwest this past Spring, I started to reconsider Austin. It's art-friendly, fun, cultural and filled with people from all over the country and world. The university itself is home to THIRTEEN libraries. The nightlife is amazing and there seems to be no shortage of things to do.

And, of course, I have to consider the West Coast...

Mills College, located in Oakland, California. The undergraduate program is all-girls only, but the graduate program is co-ed and it is the first in the country to have a Book Art and Creative Writing program, which is what caught my eye. The program seems made for me. My fear is location; Oakland is commonly known as a dangerous place, but it's something I'd have to think about if I went there.

There is no photo of my next possibility but it's California College of the Arts, San Francisco. There is another campus, located in Oakland, but I think I'd feel right at home in San Francisco. There is so much to do. Plus, Dave Eggers writes out of San Francisco and the first 826 Valencia is housed there, too. When I saw Dave speak in Pittsburgh, I was inspired by the work he does. I would love to contribute to something like that.

That's UC-Irvine. My poetry mentor, Dr. Abby Gambrel, is an alum of this place and is also top ranked. Although it is "in the middle of nowhere," as she told me, the curriculum was great and, I can tell you from experience, Abby knows her stuff. This is one of my lower-ranked choices, but it is still one of them and I'm still considering it.

Now, let's go abroad...

National University of Ireland, Galway. I've always dreamed of going overseas to study. The ultimate way to stimulate my imagination and my writing.

University of the Arts, London. Oh, I'd just be in the heart of London. No big deal. Only a dream come true. I'm having a difficult time finding additional program information, but I have some time to browse.

That, my friends, is my list of possible places to continue my education.