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has anyone done a summer program before?

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has anyone done a summer program before? Empty has anyone done a summer program before?

Post  sinyr Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:28 am

I wasn't sure where to post this question. I hope this category is all right.

A few months back I took a PSAT test. I did well - well enough so that quite a few colleges have been sending me letters. Today I got a letter from Stanford giving a bit of info about their summer programs. My mom got terribly excited and I got sick. I'd really, really love to take a Creative Writing course - but I'm scared!

So my first question is: What do you know about this kind of summer program? Have you ever been in one or known anyone in one? What was the experience like?

(BTW: I'll be in a group with 8th and 9th graders if I get in.)

My other problem is if I can get in at all. Academic-wise, I don't need to worry. I'm also sure my current English teacher will give me a pretty good recommendation. My issue is that I need to submit 5 to 20 pages of my writing.

I'm nervous.

So I love writing - but I write for fun. I don't edit, unless it's an assignment for school. For those I always get it done in time and get a fine grade, but it stresses me out. And that's SCHOOL. It's not something big like a summer course at STANFORD.

pale

Anything you know about this kind of program would be helpful, or any guesses you have. How much do you think they focus on the written bit? Also, do you think it would be a good idea to ask the internet to critique some of the work I use? I almost feel like that's cheating, though.

But if it's not... Do you know any good critique sites? I tend to have bad experiences with them, because of condescension and harshness.

Crying or Very sad I wish I could be as sure of my creative writing skills as my essay skills. But essays are pretty formulaic. Mad

Thanks for reading.

*** Oh, also: I'm allowed to submit short stories and poetry. I actually write more poetry than prose, though it's not quite poetry. They're tidbits of description and unusual thoughts. When I try to write a poem thinking I want/need to write a poem, it always turns out terribly.

**** Well, when I set out to write anything thinking that way, it turns out terribly. When I'm just inspired, my writing will have much better flow and I'll actually be a bit proud of it, but it'll be cliche as heck.
sinyr
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has anyone done a summer program before? Empty Re: has anyone done a summer program before?

Post  Maggie Tue Mar 08, 2011 3:28 pm

Wow! How exciting! I don't know anything about summer courses like that or anything. Or even Creative Writing courses in general. I'd say the best you can do is do all the research you possibly can. Look for reviews (of Stanford, especially!) and see what people are saying.

But just a tip about reviews, only people who want to tear down schools and such really post reviews, so a lot of what you'll read will be negative. Learned this from experience during my own college research. The only way you'd really find out is to talk to others who have gone through the same thing.

Maybe you could contact Stanford and ask if they can put you in touch with anyone who has been through the course before?

Also, as far as critiques I'm not sure if that's cheating or not. I don't think it's cheating if you brush up on your skills NOW and write papers and send them to people for critiques, but then again I'm not sure where. I'm not particularly filled in on what's out there critique-wise.

Google is a wonderful tool, haha.

Good luck to you though! Sounds so awesome and exciting.
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