Ok, so I posted a thread about Emerson v Boston University v Northwestern for journalism here a while ago, and I thought for sure Northwestern for a while until I received my acceptances to American, GWU, Brown, Berkeley, UMich, NYU, and Occidental.
I’m in something of a bind here: not all colleges listed have journalism majors, but a journalism major isn’t necessary for me if the school has a good English and Poli Sci program (my intended double major) Emerson is out, because if the college has a journalism major, I’d want to also double major with poli sci.
NYU is pretty much out because of the fact even with financial aid I won’t afford it. Boston gave me the biggest financial aid package (not a full ride but an okay amount). Northwestern didn’t give me much aid, which is a bummer (I’m almost sure I want to do grad school there)
My top colleges right now are UC Berkeley (a far reach since I was a freshman in HS), Northwetern, Boston, and Brown. But I’m really not locked in. Any advice?
What are the cost differentials? If you’re serious about journalism, I’d pick Northwestern (assuming cost isn’t prohibitive). Many students in Medill double major in political science; plus, if you have a bachelors from Medill, you don’t need to get a masters because you already have the formal training. The biggest plus of Medill imo is the network for internships and jobs during your undergrad years (which is an important step to convert that into a FT position after graduation). I think NU is a win-win because you get to combine arguably the best journalism program with a top ranked undergrad.
If you’re serious about journalism, pay very close attention to cost. You are choosing to enter a field with moderate to low pay. If the lowest priced school on your list works for you (and it should or why did you apply), that may be your best choice.
What kind of journalism are you looking into? When I did my own research on the school, I realized that Medill is really only good for what seems to be the big brand commercial journalism–think CNN, but not more analytical thinkpieces that can be found in reputable magazines. Even NYTimes was not talked about a lot on the Medill site.
On the other hand, a Brown education seems to be much more intellectually grounded, and its English (and humanities in general) is very strong. Going there could open you up to more interests and passions and equip you with the kind of critical reasoning skills applicable to a variety of disciplines.
Berkeley is different from Brown and Northwestern as its a huge public school and I’m not sure if the professor-student interaction quality would be quite the same.
I’m never on this forum anymore but thought I’d take a look today. My daughter went to NU and many of her friends were Medill graduates in 2013. They’ve ALL gotten great jobs in their field - some on line, some magazine, some newspapers. Most of them were employed before graduation, some from their summer internships. Excellent school with a lot of alumni contacts and great results.
@dhume98 yes! my GPA/scores were way above the average so they gave me merit aid and a good amount of it but it was a leaning towards safety for me. it is an incredible school though and I am /still/ considering it
@AsianStudent101 that is a great point and I have been considering that! I’m thinking of going more into the latter (i.e. writing and NYT type stuff) but I also have a huge background with broadcasting so…another draw
@amtc Northwestern is crazy expensive and they didn’t give me much aid - it’s still one of my top choices but aid is a factor
With Brown keep in mind the experience. Your time there would be truly enjoyable because there are limited requirements and mandates. You really have the freedom to explore anything that you’re passionate about or that just interests you, all in a stress free environment (no GPA calculations/class ranking, and option to take any class pass/fail)! I’ll be there in the fall (95% sure at least), and I can’t wait!
Here’s my question. If you’re so interested in political science, why have you dropped GWU from your list of finalists under consideration? I realize the university does not have quite the reputation of some of your other options, but it is in Washington, DC – THE place for political news! Are you really hoping to be a reporter covering political news? Give this some serious thought, how attending a university in DC might help launch your career.
That said, those are awesome choices! Congratulations!
If Brown is affordable, take it. Plenty of Ivy grads in DC & in big-time journalism.
Are there ways to make Northwestern more affordable? NU is wealthy & likes to keep it’s yield high, so they might raise their aid if u ask. Even a few AP credits could reduce the number of quarters you’d have to take. Being an RA in a dorm could reduce your bill.
If Brown gave you a better package, can you email admissions and indicate NU is your favorite and you’d definitely attend if it were affordable, but Brown gave you the following package, so (etc). Highlight any circumstances that make your NU package unaffordable at the moment.
I think Brown should be your first choice - it’s an excellent blend of Ivy League prestige with LAC academics and intellectualism, followed by Northwestern and then Oxy in quick succession. Although less prestigious than the other two, Oxy has offered you a lot of aid, is proximate to the city (and the opportunities afforded by it), and has an incredibly strong faculty and support network.
I was admitted into quite a few top-tier schools and went with Oxy (even though my score - 35 ACT - were higher than the 75th percentile) because I received a very generous merit aid package. I don’t feel out-of-place intellectually, and have found my intellectual niche in the community. I think that many people on CC don’t consider the importance of cost (especially the ludicrously high cost of undergraduate education in the US).
Ultimately, visit your top choices and see which one feels right.
If Brown is affordable to you, go there, and then target NU for grad school. If cost is a big issue, then go to BU and save $ for grad school at NU (hopefully!).
Thank you all so much for your help. I hadn’t received my Brown financial aid info when I made this, but they gave me much more than I thought they would, and well, I made my commitment decision to there a day after! I’m so happy!
