Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is an intensive creative writing program for high school students at the University of Iowa, offering a transformative 2-week summer residential experience where young writers immerse themselves in workshops taught by graduates of the legendary Iowa Writers’ Workshop – widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious MFA program.
Iowa Writers’ Workshop Heritage
UNESCO City of Literature Distinction
Notable Alumni & Publishing Success
Overall: 3.3/5 Iowa Writers’ Workshop connection valuable but program limitations reduce impact
This program represents the gold standard in pre-college creative writing education, offering direct access to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop tradition that has shaped American literature for nearly a century. Unlike generic summer enrichment programs, IYWS provides authentic workshop experience identical to what MFA students receive – small groups critiquing each other’s work under the guidance of rigorously selected emerging literary voices.
The program’s selectivity (15-20% acceptance rate) based almost entirely on writing samples ensures students work alongside genuinely talented peers who share their passion for craft. The intensive workshop model – meeting daily for core courses supplemented by readings, craft discussions, and peer review sessions – mirrors professional writing programs and prepares students for college-level creative writing courses.
The Iowa connection cannot be overstated: this is where Raymond Carver revolutionized the short story, where Flannery O’Connor found her voice, where countless Pulitzer winners began their careers. For students serious about writing, studying in this environment with instructors who’ve been shaped by this tradition provides incomparable mentorship and inspiration.
When evaluating elite creative writing programs, we typically recommend several alternatives:
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference
The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Program
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project from literature review to data collection/analysis, culminating in a final presentation (and often a written report/slide deck). Instruction blends college-style lectures, labs, simulations, and data analysis, with emphasis on experimental design, statistics, and scientific communication. Many sections include guest talks and demonstrations; some offer local site activities depending on the topic and campus.
Overall: 3.7/5 — strong, hands-on subject depth with tangible outputs; solid enrichment signal, moderate admissions lift.
Ideal for students who want hands-on biomedical/engineering depth and a finished project to discuss in applications and interviews. Best for families prioritizing skill-building + tangible outputs over brand-name signaling.
Program Overview
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project from literature review to data collection/analysis, culminating in a final presentation (and often a written report/slide deck). Instruction blends college-style lectures, labs, simulations, and data analysis, with emphasis on experimental design, statistics, and scientific communication. Many sections include guest talks and demonstrations; some offer local site activities depending on the topic and campus.
Program Statistics
Administrative Details
Zenith Experience (Ratings)
Overall: 3.7/5 — strong, hands-on subject depth with tangible outputs; solid enrichment signal, moderate admissions lift.
Which Families Is This Program For?
Ideal for students who want hands-on biomedical/engineering depth and a finished project to discuss in applications and interviews. Best for families prioritizing skill-building + tangible outputs over brand-name signaling.
PROS
CONS
Alternatives to Consider
parent of a college-age student
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project
parent of a college-age student
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project
parent of a college-age student
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project
parent of a college-age student
Focused, lab-based STEM immersion: Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) runs three-week, non-credit research programs across biomedical and engineering fields (e.g., Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Surgical Research, Forensics, Pharmacology, Oncology, Genetics). Students work in small cohorts led by PhD/MD-level instructors and industry researchers to complete a guided research project
Alex’s daughter was in the 7th grade when she began her college prep guidance with Zenith Prep Academy. Although Alex attended a Top 30 university in the US himself, he realized how challenging the admissions process had become, and was unsure of what classes, activities, and competitions would help his daughter best explore her passions and find her area of interest. He was looking for a highly customized strategy for his daughter to build the right extracurricular profile so she’d be able to stand out from the tens of thousands of other students with similar academics. Alex has been so happy with his relationship with Zenith that he’s looking forward to signing up his younger kids when they’re old enough.
Lana had quickly realized her son’s school wasn’t challenging or engaging enough for him. He was a very bright, driven, and articulate student who had specific fields that he was interested in. He and Lana wanted to know how he could further his interests in these fields through more advanced classes and different competitions, projects, activities,
and more.
Although Robert attended high school and college in the US, given that his son went to a hyper–competitive high school (ranked top 100 in the United States), he wanted a highly customized strategy and plan for their son to further his academic interests and build the right extracurricular profile to stand out from his peers in their high school and in the college applications.
Given that his son was doing well academically, Rajesh wanted guidance on resources, programs, and classes that could provide his son with exposure to different fields and majors – in turn helping him identify his interests and turn his passions into activities, helping him attract the attention of his choice universities.
Manisha’s daughter was an 11th grader when they started working with our college counseling team. A first–generation parent, she turned to Zenith to guide her daughter toward how to best use the one year they had left before college applications, highlighting her daughter’s strengths and interests to ultimately help her shine on college applications. With Zenith’s help, Manisha’s daughter gained acceptance into her dream university.
Victoria's daughter was a 9th grader who, apart from her involvement in sports, hadn't engaged in any academic or extracurricular activities. Although Victoria went to a top 15 university herself, she realized how much college admissions had changed over the years and turned to us for guidance and our expertise in helping her daughter discover her true passions, nurture her interests, and develop a competitive profile for the top universities she was looking to attend.
