Cornell vs. Brown for Creative Writing: Which Undergraduate Program Is a Better Fit?

Brown is the more purpose-built undergraduate choice for a student whose central academic priority is creative writing. Its open curriculum makes it easier to build an intensive, individualized writing schedule.

At Brown, workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and related forms can sit at the center of your academic program. The department’s structure also creates a clearer community of peers who have chosen writing as a primary field of study, while Brown’s other humanities courses can supply material for a cross-disciplinary practice.

Cornell can still be an excellent place to write, particularly for someone who wants creative writing alongside a more traditional English curriculum or the wider resources of a large university. Its English department offers a creative writing concentration, substantial workshop opportunities, readings, and access to a serious literary culture. Ithaca’s quieter setting and Cornell’s strong library and arts resources may also appeal to writers who value space and independence.

The key distinction is curricular emphasis. At Brown, creative writing can be the organizing principle of your undergraduate education from the outset. At Cornell, it is more often a focused path within English studies. For a student seeking the most direct, workshop-centered undergraduate writing identity, Brown has the clearer advantage.