15 College Writing Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in writing, programs can be a worthwhile way to develop your craft. College writing programs for high school students offer a structured way to explore this interest beyond the classroom. Through workshops, assigned readings, and mentored writing sessions, these programs teach you how to draft and revise original work, participate in peer critiques, analyze published texts, and present your writing to an audience.
Why should I participate in a writing program in high school?
Many of these programs are hosted by well-known colleges and universities, offering you early exposure to college-level instruction, faculty mentorship, and campus life. They may cover areas such as fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, media writing, and performance-based storytelling. You’ll also build skills such as collaboration, critical reading, and revision. Participating in a college writing program for high school students can strengthen your college applications by providing substantive experiences to reference in essays and peer-reviewed writing samples to include in a portfolio. You may also build connections with university faculty, professional authors, MFA students, and peers who share your interest in writing.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 college writing programs for high school students. The programs featured in this list emphasize small-group workshops, structured feedback, and opportunities to share or present work through public readings or showcases.
1. Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (virtual and in person)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 40 students
Dates: July 1 - August 3 (tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live and intend to attend college in the U.S. | required minimum unweighted GPA is 3.5 out of 4.0 | must have a combined family income of less than $65,000 or qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in your high school, or qualify for SAT or ACT fee waivers
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a free, year-long college preparation and journalism program for high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds. The program begins with online workshops and reporting assignments and concludes with a 10-day residential journalism intensive at Princeton University. You’ll learn core journalism skills such as interviewing, news and feature writing, reporting on social and political issues, and editing, while working closely with professional journalists and Princeton faculty. Throughout the summer, you’ll produce original articles and collaborate with peers to write, edit, and design a student newspaper, The Princeton Summer Journal, which is published at the end of the program. The experience also includes visits to major news organizations and opportunities to cover real-world events. After the summer, you will continue working one-on-one with a dedicated college adviser through senior year, receiving support with essays, applications, and the financial aid process.
2. USC Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement
Location: USC Annenberg, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 26 high school students
Dates: June 16 - July 3 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: March 3 - April 14 (tentative; subject to change)
Eligibility: Los Angeles County high school students from the communities surrounding the USC University Park and Health Science Campuses
The USC Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement program is a free, three-week summer experience that introduces high school students from Los Angeles County to college-level study in journalism, media, and civic leadership. You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, interviewing, public speaking, debate, and multimedia production skills while examining how media and journalism shape civic life and public discourse. The curriculum also includes college advising and college essay preparation sessions. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through multimedia projects, discussions, and coursework similar to a first-year college experience. You will learn directly from USC Annenberg faculty, students, alumni, and media practitioners, gaining exposure to academic and professional pathways in journalism, communication, and public relations.
3. Multimedia Journalism Workshop (MJW) at The University of Alabama
Location: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 - 15 students
Dates: June 7 - 13
Application Deadline: January 1 - April 15 (tentative; subject to change)
Eligibility: Open to high school students from all backgrounds and locations
The Multimedia Journalism Workshop at the University of Alabama is a six-day residential program focused on reporting and writing for print, online, and multimedia platforms. The program will introduce you to journalism, training you in interviewing, news reporting, feature writing, editing, and meeting publication deadlines. You will collaborate with professional journalists who serve as editors and mentors, offering direct feedback on reporting and written work. Through field reporting and site visits in Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities, you will cover real stories and issues that inform your journalism assignments. The workshop focuses on producing original content, with students contributing written articles and multimedia pieces to the MJW Journal and the program’s website. Through this hands-on newsroom-style experience, you will gain practical insight into how reporting, writing, and editing functions operate in a professional media environment.
4. Yale Young Writers' Workshop
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT (virtual or in person)
Cost: $3,085 (residential) | $2,660 (commuter) | $1,380 (online)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 21 - 26
Application Deadline: January 16 - April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16 - 18 years can apply to the in-person programs | both rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16 - 18 years can apply to the online program
The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is an intensive creative writing program for high school students offered in both on-campus and online formats. You will work across genres, including fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, through structured workshops that emphasize drafting, revision, and close reading of published texts. Small group workshops focus on sharing your writing, providing detailed peer feedback, and learning concrete strategies for critique, style, revision, and the writing process from experienced writers and instructors. The on-campus workshop also includes experiential learning activities, such as visits to Yale’s museums that serve as an inspiration for ekphrastic writing projects. Online workshops offer genre-specific courses such as poetry, graphic storytelling, and fiction, using live discussions and guided exercises to transform ideas into polished stories. Across both formats, the program emphasizes mentorship, sustained writing practice, and building a supportive community of young writers.
5. The Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Academy
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (virtual or in-person)
Cost: $950 (in-person program) | $750 (virtual) | financial aid and discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 7 - 16 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Early registration deadline is on June 1, and the final registration deadline is on July 1 (tentative; subject to change)
Eligibility: High school students
The Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Academy is an immersive journalism program that offers an introduction to the operations of an independent collegiate newspaper. You will learn core writing and reporting skills, such as news and opinion writing, interviewing, investigative journalism, and research, through workshops and panels led by current Harvard Crimson editors. The program emphasizes hands-on journalism, with students drafting original articles and building a portfolio of completed works by the end of the session. You will work one-on-one with Crimson mentors who provide detailed feedback and guidance on revising and strengthening your writing. Offered in both in-person and virtual formats, the academy also includes reporting opportunities and discussions with professional journalists. Students may have the opportunity to see their work being published in The Harvard Crimson and receive a certificate upon completing the program.
6. Writers Week: Summer Writing & Theatre for Teens at Sarah Lawrence College
Location: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY (virtual or in person)
Cost: $1,195 (virtual session) | $1,950 (on-campus session)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 students per workshop
Dates: July 6 - 10 (virtual session) | July 20 - 24 (on-campus session 1) | August 3 - 7 (on-campus session 2)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 - 12 who are at least 14 years old
Writers Week: Summer Writing & Theatre for Teens at Sarah Lawrence College combines creative writing and theatre to explore storytelling across media. Led by MFA student instructors, the program includes writing workshops in genres such as poetry, flash fiction, speculative fiction, romance, and fantasy. In the afternoons, you’ll shift to theater-based workshops that examine how narrative, characterization, and the creative process in general operate on stage. You may work with different forms, such as screenwriting, sketch comedy, and musical songwriting, to understand how writing translates into live storytelling. With small class sizes and a collaborative structure, the program emphasizes regular feedback, experimentation, and reflection on your creative process.
7. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Writing Program
Location: California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Valencia, CA
Cost: $5,174 plus $155 transaction fee for CA state residents | $10,475 plus $313 transaction fee for out-of-state and international students | $20 application fee (need-based fee waivers and financial aid available for CA residents)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40% acceptance rate
Dates: July 6 - August 1
Application Deadline: November 1 - February 28
Eligibility: Open to students currently enrolled in grades 8 - 12
The CSSSA Writing Program is a four-week intensive for motivated high school writers working across genres such as fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and dramatic writing. You will participate in a core class that introduces each genre, along with a focus workshop that allows you to get more practice in one particular genre or form through sustained drafting and revision. The program is workshop-driven, requiring you to write frequently, share your work, and engage in detailed peer and faculty critique throughout the session. You will learn directly from professional writers and educators, with guest sessions from published authors, editors, and agents. Weekly colloquium sessions allow you to present your work publicly and reflect on craft alongside faculty and peers. Students may also contribute to the CSSSA Writing Anthology, which documents selected work produced during the program.
8. Iowa Young Writers' Studio Summer Residential Program
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500 plus $10 reading fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with limited spots per session
Dates: June 14 - 27 (session 1) | July 12 - 25 (session 2)
Application Deadline: January 19 - February 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Iowa Young Writers' Studio Summer Residential Program is a two-week immersive experience in creative writing held on the University of Iowa campus. You will enroll in one core course, such as fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and University of Iowa MFA programs. The program focuses on workshops and seminars where you share original work, receive detailed critique, and build core skills in craft, revision, and observation. Daily activities, such as stretch writing exercises and outdoor observatories, emphasize close attention to the world as a foundation for stronger writing skills. You will also attend readings by published writers, participate in collaborative projects, and join discussions on writing-related topics such as literary translation and the revision process. The residential format brings young writers together in a structured yet flexible environment that balances guided instruction with dedicated time to write and connect with peers. The Iowa Young Writers' Studio also offers online courses for high school students in the summer and winter.
9. Georgetown University’s Creative Writing Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $3,725 (residential) | $3,095 (commuter) | $50 application fee | scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 - 18
Application Deadline: The early bird deadline is January 31, and the final deadline is April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 - 12 with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Georgetown University’s Creative Writing Academy is a week-long intensive experience that immerses high school students in the study and practice of creative writing. You will spend your days in lectures and workshops focused on poetry, fiction, and personal prose, learning craft techniques such as character development, story structure, description, and revision strategies. Working with graduate instructors and faculty, you will generate original work and receive structured feedback through peer critique sessions. The program also includes off-site writing excursions in Washington, D.C., such as responsive writing activities at museums and cultural sites. You will attend readings and discussions led by published authors that examine literary form and writing careers. Through this combination of expert instruction, workshops, and field-based inspiration, you will develop original work while gaining insight into the professional landscape of creative writing.
10. The Juniper Institute for Young Writers
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (virtual or in-person)
Cost: $1,325 (online) | $5,100 (residential) | $2,200 (commuter) | scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 50 students, with writing labs capped at 10 students
Dates: In-person program dates: July 12 - 25 (session 1) or July 26 - August 8 (session 2) | online program date: August 3 - 7
Application Deadline: March 9 (in-person programs) | April 9 (online program)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, as well as graduating high school seniors, can apply to the residential and commuter programs | online program is open to students in grades 9 - 12
The Juniper Institute for Young Writers offers both a two-week residential program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a one-week online option for high school writers focused on creative writing. In the residential program, you will live on campus and spend weekdays in writing labs, craft sessions, and workshops led by professional writers and UMass MFA students. You will receive close mentorship through small-group instruction and, during the second week, one-on-one mentoring with an instructor as you work toward a focused writing project. Participants also take part in readings, writers’ life talks on publishing and revision, and field trips to literary and cultural sites in Western Massachusetts. The online program mirrors this structure through live writing labs, craft-focused sessions, and write-ins with other participants, allowing you to collaborate with like-minded peers and instructors. Across both formats, you will build a sustained writing practice, experiment with form, and gain experience sharing and revising original work in a structured workshop environment.
11. Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop
Location: University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC
Cost: $1,470
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 14 - 19 and June 21 - 26 (students can choose to attend one or both weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions are full
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop at UNC Asheville offers high school students a one or two-week pre-college experience focused on creative writing and literary craft. You can choose to attend one week or both, selecting between workshops focused on character-driven fiction and poetry or poetic forms and personal prose. In the first week, you’ll work with local authors and poets to develop fictional characters or expand your poetic techniques through guided exercises and collaborative workshops. The second week emphasizes experimenting with classic and contemporary poetic forms, alongside writing essays, memoirs, and auto-fiction with attention to voice, structure, and narrative stakes. Across both sessions, you’ll generate new work, revise drafts, and participate in collaborative critique in a workshop-based environment. Students are encouraged to share their work in an end-of-week public reading for family and friends, gaining experience in presenting original writing to an audience.
12. The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH (virtual or in-person)
Cost: $2,575 (summer residential) | $995 (summer online) | $695 (winter online) | need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 - 14 students per workshop
Dates: Summer residential: June 21 - July 4 or July 12 - 25 | summer online: June 14 - 19 | winter online: January 24 - February 28
Application Deadline: Early January - March 1 (summer residential) | March - April 13 (summer online) | November 1 - December 18 (winter online)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors aged 16 - 18 years
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops give high school students the opportunity to develop their creative writing skills in an intensive and collaborative environment with peers who share their common interest in the creative craft. Offered as both a two-week residential program at Kenyon College and shorter online workshops, the program involves daily writing sessions across genres such as poetry, fiction, and essays. You’ll participate in generative workshops that emphasize drafting, revision, and close discussion of craft, with instructors and students writing and sharing work alongside you. Small workshop groups and one-on-one conferences with published writers provide you with access to structured, individual feedback throughout the experience. Depending on the format, you may also attend genre-focused sessions, visiting writer readings, and participant readings where students share their work. Across all options, the workshops focus on building stronger writing habits and a deeper understanding of how writers revise and develop their ideas.
13. Reynolds Young Writers Workshop
Location: Denison University, Granville, OH
Cost: $1,700 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 48 students
Dates: June 19 - 28
Application Deadline: January 19 - March 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors
The Reynolds Young Writers Workshop is an intensive eight-day residential program where you develop your skills in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Held each summer on the Denison University campus, the program places you in small-group morning workshops where you draft, share, and critique original work. Afternoons are devoted to craft sessions led by Denison faculty and visiting writers, focusing on addressing genre techniques, revision strategies, and close reading. With a limited cohort of 48 students, the program emphasizes individual mentorship from award-winning authors. Evenings feature informal readings by faculty, giving you exposure to professional writers and their work. Through this structured yet collaborative format, you’ll build a sustained writing practice while engaging with a close-knit community of peers and mentors.
14. Sewanee Young Writers' Conference
Location: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN
Cost: $2,600 (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 85 young writers; each workshop has a maximum of 12 students
Dates: June 28 - July 11
Application Deadline: December - March 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 11
The Sewanee Young Writers' Conference is a two-week residential program where you’ll immerse yourself in creative writing alongside peers who are equally committed to the craft. You’ll participate in small morning workshops in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or playwriting, where you’ll draft new work and exchange detailed feedback. Workshops are capped at around a dozen students, allowing for individual mentorship and one-on-one conferences with experienced faculty writers. Afternoons are devoted to talks about literature and craft, Q&A sessions with visiting authors, and short classes on literary forms, along with dedicated time to write and edit independently. Evenings feature readings by faculty and guest writers, giving you regular exposure to professional literary work. By the end of this program, you’ll leave with a portfolio of new writing and a clearer understanding of your creative process. The Sewanee Young Writers' Conference also offers an online creative writing workshop in the winter.
15. Brigham Young University (BYU)’s Young Authors Academy
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Cost: $509 plus optional food and housing costs of $289
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited number of spots available
Dates: July 6 - 11
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 14 - 18 years
The BYU Young Authors Academy is a one-week residential summer program where you’ll focus on developing fiction writing and storytelling skills, particularly in genres popular with young adult readers. You’ll enroll in two small-group writing electives that cover topics such as character development, worldbuilding, plot structure, revision, and narrative voice, with opportunities to write and revise original work. Instruction is led by BYU English faculty and locally and nationally recognized authors. You’ll also have access to regular feedback through workshops and peer critique. Outside your class, you’ll attend author talks and book signings, offering direct exposure to professional writers and illustrators. The program takes place on BYU’s campus, where you’ll live in residence halls and collaborate closely with other high school writers throughout the week. By the end of the academy, you’ll have drafted new material and gained a clear understanding of how writers develop and refine publishable stories.
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