<p>Hi, I was looking around and didn't see a thread for this camp this year so I thought I'd start one. I'm applying this year, and it would be nice to get some other applicants and alumni on this thread. I have a question I was hoping someone could answer: on the application, it says that you can submit sample pieces. Do these sample pieces have to be newspaper articles with journalistic style, or can they be any type of writing? (I was thinking of maybe submitting some critical analysis essays from English class)</p>
<p>Hi, I’m the co-director of the program. Happy to answer any questions anyone has. You can submit any kind of writing you want, as well as video. I will tell you that critical essays don’t carry as much weight as more traditional journalism, but if that’s what you have, then we’ll take it.</p>
<p>Ok thank you very much for responding! Could you explain the video concept a bit further? I haven’t seen any information about it on the website. What should the video be about?</p>
<p>Search youtube under JCamp, applicatino and AAJA and you’ll find some examples. It can be anything from a straight ahead testimonial to a musical number. Show off your creativity! Here’s a favorite example: [J-Camp</a> Video Submission: Crystal Qian - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>I’m applying. Am also applying to the Al Neuharth Free Spirit journalism conference, and am finishing that application up because it is due a lot sooner than AAJA’s. </p>
<p>@CE527M Damn that camp looks like an incredible opportunity as well! It’s a shame I just learned about it, or I would’ve applied :(</p>
<p>Hopefully we’ll both get into AAJA’s! I’ve still got to write the short personal statements, and then I’m pretty much done. How about you?</p>
<p>I haven’t done much haha, but I figure the rest won’t take me terribly long. I’ve got outlines for both essays, and it’ll be easy getting the other documents. I’m still waiting to ask my English teacher for a recommendation because she’s been sick the past week. Who are you getting a recommendation from? Also, how many samples are you submitting?</p>
<p>I asked my journalism mentor, who was also a teacher of mine a few years ago. I asked my journalism teacher for a rec for the other program.</p>
<p>I’m submitting 3. </p>
<p>Same, I’m submitting 3 as well and getting a recommendation from a similar teacher. My main concern is that my work samples only deal with a specific topic. The only type of journalism I’ve done is music, and the rest of my app shows that as well. I’m worried that the camp will think I haven’t broadened my horizons enough.</p>
<p>Hmm…maybe have your recommender mention that you’re a great writer in all fields even though you only have experience in music?</p>
<p>That’s not a bad idea, thank you!</p>
<p>Currently working on my essay questions and these 250 word limits are killing me!!</p>
<p>Ah, I need to start on those…I halfway started one of the prompts. Hopefully I can keep it nice and concise. </p>
<p>Haha yes, hopefully you don’t end up like me with 500+ words for each prompt and have to spend hours editing them down. Are you doing a video?</p>
<p>Nope, just writing samples.</p>
<p>Does anybody know how selective AAJA is? Around how many total applicants get accepted?</p>
<p>@orwellians I’m not sure what the exact acceptance rate is, but a past CC thread mentioned it being 10%. I have no idea how accurate that is, but I wouldn’t be surprised by it being that low, since this camp is definitely very selective. Many people apply, and they only accepted 42 people last year.</p>
<p>Yeah, that low acceptance rate makes sense, since AAJA is an all-expenses-paid national program with only 42 spots. Between AAJA and Northwestern’s Medill Cherubs program, though, do you happen to know which one is more prestigious? Somewhere on Medill’s website they said they generally have “2 applicants for every spot”, which puts the rate at around 50%, which isn’t that selective. However, I see Medill being consistently mentioned as one of the most prestigious j-camps on this site, so I don’t know what to make of it. Would college admissions officers differentiate AAJA/Medill on an app based on selectivity, or is it all pretty much the same to them?</p>
<p>@orwellians I doubt college admissions officers would know the exact acceptance rates or bother to find out about them. I don’t know much about the Medill Cherubs program, but it seems like another strong journalism program on par with AAJA. I would worry less about which one will look better on a college application, and just go to the one that appeals to you more.</p>