<p>Hello! I'm new to this forum and I'm delighted by all the great information I have found here.</p>
<p>I hope you will be able to steer me in the right direction! We are just beginning the college search with our oldest daughter, a junior in hs. We would like to start visiting some colleges during spring break, and I can really use some suggestions.</p>
<p>Some background:</p>
<p>My D attends a small private college-prep HS in NJ. Total enrollment is about 432. The school is all-girls, and considered among the most competetive in our area, in this category. D's cum rank through this last marking period is 97.8, only major subjects are included in GPA calculations. The school does not rank officially, but "off the record" she is 3/82. The school provides inhouse SAT prep & routine practice tests freshman thru junior year. Her highest inhouse score this year was a 1320. To date she has taken 11 honors courses, AP classes are reserved for seniors only. Also, H & AP classes are by qualification only, and are weighted +5 for H and +6 for AP.</p>
<p>D's seems to be leaning towards journalism as a possible major. She's interested in a medium-large (but not huge) campus, and wants to stay on the east coast. She is very much a "people person" and is looking for a friendly, hopefully diverse atmosphere (we are of hispanic background). We have already visisted a few of the schools in NJ, but she is really interested in looking at possibilities out of state.</p>
<p>It would be great (and very appreciated!) if you could offer your suggestions for possible safety/match/reach possibilities to put on our visiting list.</p>
<p>Try American University in Washington, D.C.. I think they also may have nice merit aid for National Hispanic Scholars. If you daughter scored about 180 or higher on the PSAT, she's likely to be selected for that program. American has a very good journalism program which includes some instructors who have worked in major media outlets. They also are good in history and international relations.</p>
<p>Brandeis University (in Massachusetts), Boston University, Tufts, University of Virginia, Boston College, Duke, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Brown University... these all seem to be schools within reach. She may even get some scholarships from Boston University and Brandeis University</p>
<p>Well, the school doesn't exactly fit what she's looking for . . </p>
<p>But if she really wants to pursue journalism, I would be remiss in not suggesting UNC-Chapel Hill. Outstanding journalism department and very highly regarded school newspaper. The list of Daily Tar Heel alumni would make your head spin -- Charles Kuralt, Ed Yoder, Jeff MacNelly (editorial cartoonist), etc. It is larger than what she may be looking for, but the campus itself doesn't seem huge. East Coast. Hard to get in out-of-state, but your D's credentials certainly get her in the ballpark (getting the SAT up a little would help).</p>
<p>I'm not a complete shill, BTW, I'm actually a Duke graduate. But I've always been impressed with the Daily Tar Heel and the journalism that goes on over in Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>Synchrogal08 -- Good list, but I would have to unfortunately say that "Duke" and "Journalism" are an iffy mix.</p>
<p>HopefulMom - you probably are aware of this, but many of the large/huge schools have Honors Colleges which create the college-within-a-college, small school intimacy, interactions with professors, etc. experience. So, when you see recomms. of some of the larger schools, you may want to consider visiting and seeing if the Honors College experience makes them of interest to your D.</p>
<p>I'll add a few - these are generally considered the "top" journalism programs in the country: Syracuse, Northwestern, Univ. of Southern Califonia, U of Missouri at Columbia, Boston U, and NYU. Some other very good programs on the east coast worth looking at: Ithaca College, Emerson College, Susquehanna, Qunnipiac, UNC Chapel Hill. The most important things to compare when looking at journalism programs is (1) opportunities for internships (2) faculty who have "real world" experience (3) a wide range of classes that stress writing and editing skills.</p>
<p>Some additional schools with good journalism/communications programs: Goucher, Wheaton College (Mass), Fairfield University, Fordham University, Loyola College of Maryland.</p>
<p>Excellent journalism programs to be found in Northwestern (IL), Villanova (PA), Washington and Lee (VA), DePauw (IN), Wheaton (MA), UCLA (CA)(but way huge school)</p>
<p>Because your daughter is a under represented minority, she should not hesitate in applying to any college or university, including those in the Ivy League. She should not limit herself to those, but she shouldn't reject them out of hand because of cost or competativeness.</p>
<p>Because she is only leaning toward journalism, she should be flexible in screening the colleges she want to learn more about. For instance the University of Pennsylvania does not offer a degree in journalism per se. But it does offer one in communications which has many courses in print and broadcast journalism and some in even more diverse subjects like framing public policy and health communication.</p>
<p>Other colleges and universities listed in previous posts have good suggestions too.</p>
<p>Originaloog is correct - I have a friend whose daughter has been very pleased with her communications program at UPenn. She is graduating this spring and already has a job lined up working for a political consulting firm in D.C.</p>
<p>If you haven't, read the Gatekeepers for a view inside the admissions process at Wesleyan, and to see how attractive a top performing Hispanic student is. Remember that students often will change their majors, so don't just pick a school based on one department. Also, let her lead the school selection process.</p>
<p>Hopefulmom, I think your daughter has a shot at many selective colleges. She has an excellent gradepoint and her Hispanic heritage should offer a "hook" that would compensate for her relatively low SAT scores. In addition to scores and grades top schools are looking for a commitment to extracurricular activities. Journalism would be a good example. She should start working on an EC resume.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about focusing on her major at this point as kids are prone to change and change again. I'd try to expose her a range of small LACs, medium and large size universities so that she can get a "feel" of what's right for her. Having good safeties is critical, but at the same time, she should aim high. (Sounds contradictory doesn't it? It is.) Her counselor should be able to help you with a visit list or you could consult a college book (as well as taking advantage of the excellent advise from experienced parents here.) Good luck and welcome.</p>
<p>I agree with the recommendation about Syracuse. It has an excellent journalism program as well as nice merit aid for underrepresented minorities.</p>
<p>The best preparation for journalism isn't journalism or communications.... it's history, philosophy, political science, comparative literature, etc. Check out the bio's of the editorial board of the WSJ, or the list of recent Pulitzer prize winners.... </p>
<p>I would encourage her to get a top-notch education in learning to read and think critically.... she can pick up the mechanics in grad school.</p>
<p>Originaloog is right - a non-URM with a 1320 would not have a snowball's chance in hell (unless he or she was a legacy or athlete) at an Ivy. She's been handed a chance, and I say go for it, but obviously apply to some of the other schools as well.</p>
<p>blossom -- I agree with the first part of your message, but not necessarily the second. A solid liberal arts education is great preparation -- a lot of people major in one of those areas, or do a major with a minor in journalism or vice versa. </p>
<p>But rather than think about Grad School, I would suggest that somebody possibly interested in journalism look at the campus newspapers. That's where a lot of nuts and bolts comes in. And most of them are NOT strictly for the J-school students, so dive in and get involved. The best campus newspapers are very sophisticated these days. Harvard Crimson, Daily Tar Heel, etc.</p>
<p>Carolyn mentioned Ithaca College and I'll just give that a second nomination. My daughter has a close friend majoring in journalism there. She's a sophmore and was given tons of merit aid, actually a full ride. She's planning on doing two study abroads, including one this Spring. It would be easy to combine a visit of Syracuse and Ithaca and that would also give you a great contrast of very different types of schools with a journalism program.</p>
<p>I agree with Blossom, but read my comments in the context that I really, really, really don't like reporters. In my dealings with them, and in reading their articles on topics I was familiar with, I found them as a group, to be lazy, arrogant, careerist, and often not very bright. </p>
<p>Generally, I think most reporters who major in journalism are very badly educated. They know how to write, but they don't know anything else and have no context for their stories. A major in history, business, political science, international relations, religion, economics or anything but journalism, and writing for the school paper, would be the best preparation for a career as a reporter. </p>
<p>So there. This has nothing to do with your daughter, except you shouldn't let her grow up to be a reporter.</p>
<p>Since your daughter has expressed an interest in journalism, dig up a copy of "Harvard, Schmarvard" by Jay --- I'm drawing a blank. It will give you some good perspective on a nutsy process, but it also gives some background on his experiences working for the Harvard Crimson - Harvard is notorious as a place where it is more about the ECs than the education.</p>
<p>The journalism issue sounds like an interesting debate topic - is it learn by learning or learn by doing?</p>
<p>S attends a very small school, and they welcome freshman writing for paper. also pay them for articles. When I attended large state U, NOT welcming to freshmen.</p>