Advice For A Mom New To The College Process?

<p>Journalism is definitely learn by doing. Whether or not one majors in journalism, one must work for one's student media. Even for students planning on magazine or broadcast journalism careers, the preferred student media to at least start in is the student newspaper. That's because one will learn how to identify stories and write stories there. Even the camera operators and editors need to know what a story is, and how it should be covered.</p>

<p>It is getting increasingly difficult for people to enter the journalism field without having an undergrad major. Back in the old days, all one needed was eagerness and a nose for news in order to get an entry level job. Currently, however, one typically needs a thick portfolio of published work and at least one paid or unpaid internship at a professional outlet (and usually one doesn't even get unpaid internships without having done lots of work for one's campus media).</p>

<p>In general, unless one is going to a very top LAC or a place like HPYS, it is difficult to get an entry level job without having an undergrad degree in the field plus a portfolio. Even if one attended a place like HPYS, a portfolio of published works or a resume tape is needed to get a job. </p>

<p>Many media outlets also make entry level hires exclusively from the ranks of the people who spend their post graduation summer interning for the company. Typically, hires also are expected to pass tests on writing, grammar and possibly on current events.</p>

<p>Students who are interested in journalism, probably also are interested in fields such as law, political science, history or psychology. Thus, because students are likely to change their minds about their major, it would be wise to apply to colleges that offer either an accredited journalism program with a daily student newspaper and some strong social science or humanities majors (in case the student changes their mind) or a liberal arts or national university with a daily student newspaper plus strong liberal arts/humanities programs.</p>

<p>If students do well as undergrad journalism majors and get lots of on-hands journalism experience there, getting a graduate degree in journalism is not necessary. In fact, many accredited J schools will not accept students with undergrad degrees in journalism.</p>

<p>Jay Matthews wrote Harvard Schmarvard. Sub-titled, "Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You." Good book.</p>

<p>I don't profess to know much about journalism, but a few of Ds friends are interested in the field.
One worked as an undergrad for AP including interviewing Kerry when he was campaigning in Portland,continued to work for them after graduation and was posted in NYC, decided to live someplace else ( I believe he grew up in NYC) and is still a correspondent in Idaho someplace. His degree was in psychology, the school doesn't have a journalism program.
Another friend is planning on attending the University of Montana. I was surprised at her choice, but apparently they have a very highly ranked program.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.umt.edu/urelations/releases/2004/051404jour.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.umt.edu/urelations/releases/2004/051404jour.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>Is this a fact? :confused:</p>

<p>Many thanks for the GREAT advice! Each and every one of you has been very helpful! </p>

<p>Since we are only familiar with schools in our state, for us, your suggestions are a wealth of information. D spent the last few days researching the suggested schools and has come up with her first list: </p>

<p>NY State: Syracuse, Ithaca
NYC: NYU, Fordham
MA: Boston C, Emerson, (Brandeis maybe ?)
DC/MD: American U, Loyola C
PA: Villanova, UPenn</p>

<p>Is it ok to visit 2 schools per day, or is it better to dedicate 1 day for each? We will have 10 days during D's spring break, but since this is our first time, we don't necessarily have to cover all the schools during this trip.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input!</p>

<p>I might add Ursinus to the list. They are extremely well-known in the communications field (their biggest major I think), and have lots of internship opportunities in the Philadelphia area (likely quite a bit more than Penn.)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ursinus.edu/content.asp?page=AcademicPrograms/MediaCommunicationStudies.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ursinus.edu/content.asp?page=AcademicPrograms/MediaCommunicationStudies.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks mini, will pass this info to D so she can research. I don't think she checked Ursinus. </p>

<p>Originally, D wasn't even considering the ivies because of her stats. She looked up Penn only after reading some of the suggestions on here. She was actually surprised to learn they offered communications, and liked what she read on their web site enough to consider a visit. Honestly, I thought the URM factor only applied to financial aid until I posted on here. We still feel it is a huge reach, so I'm glad you suggested an additional school to consider in the Philly area!</p>

<p>
[quote]
Is it ok to visit 2 schools per day

[/quote]
Hopeful Mom - welcome to the world of Mom-as-application-manager/tour-guide/travel-agent. You are about to find that an amazing number of hours pass planning these things.</p>

<p>To answer your direct question, we found it fine to visit 2 in one day if travel time between is VERY short (eg, Lafayette/Lehigh in Pa; Santa Clara/Stanford in Ca.). This is when treating them as reconnaissance visits, which I believe is appropriate when starting out. It also depends on whether you plan on an interview- can still be done 2/day but requires even more careful scheduling. Our S never did 2 interviews in one day.</p>

<p>You will see when you start to plan that most schools have set tour/info session schedules which you will need to plan around. So a 10am at one school and a 2pm at another can work. Some people go to tour and info, some one or the other. We played it by ear at each place. Theoretically the tour and info session do different things, but at many places there is much overlap.</p>

<p>Now, if you will be in a part of the country which is very difficult/expensive to re-visit and you want to get a full picture of a school, you would need more time - to hang out/eat a meal/view a class... (Others will tell you whether they think this is necessary/good idea every time - we didn't think so).</p>

<p>I found the College Board's college list tool v. useful here. You can list your colleges, click thru to their websites for schedules, etc. and make notes right on the CB "my list" re times/appts you've made/whether interview is offered, etc. I kept track of hotel and car res on same place.</p>

<p>Also, kids are different. My appetite for spending entire vacation on college tours would have never waned. S showed signs of burnout even on shorter trips.
And now the fun begins...</p>

<p>Hopefulmom...I too am a new parent here and my daughter also wants to pursue a career in journalism. She is also thinking about a double major in political science. We live in NYC (Staten Island) and my D also wants to stay on the east coast, but not New England. Her choices so far: Syracuse, American U, NYU, Columbia, Princeton, Marist, Penn State & SUNY Geneseo & Southern CT State. You can see it's a wide range of Ivys, top tiers and safeties, but she is just looking for the best fit, regardless of the reputation of the school.</p>

<p>We have been to Marist already and are leaving this afternoon to go to DC to visit American. I will be posting our observations when we return since there are other posters who have asked as well.
You should have her check out Marist as they have a nice communications program and merit aid as well.
We are visiting Syracuse and Geneseo in March and will be doing both in either one or two days.
Good luck to you & your daughter.</p>

<p>Southern CT State is in New England.</p>

<p>HopefulMom
Our friend's daughter got a full-tuition merit-based scholarship to Loyola (Maryland) last year.</p>

<p>Since both my father and my brother have both been journalists and both have taught journalism, I will point out that the advice above that looking for schools where freshlings are welcomed on the newspaper is great advice. Both my father and brother cared little what subject someone majored in when they hired--they liked a wide range of subjects and well-read individuals who had written a lot of articles for the school paper (mind you, my father would be 97 this year (if he hadn't died when he was 70) and my brother is 74, so this may be an old-fashioned view).</p>

<p>Some of the best jobs in journalism are those of specialists: science writers, financial writers, etc. (My aunt was a cooking writer.) There again: experience combined with knowledge of the field.</p>

<p>University of Missouri has one of the country's best journalism programs. Freshmen can, I think, work on the student-run newspaper, which is the Maneater.</p>

<p>Northwestern has a wonderful program in journalism.</p>

<p>Also in Philadelphia, Temple U has an excellent communications program. It may be a very good safety for her & it will also offer her the diverse student body she is looking for.
For local NJ, but still away from home, she might want to look at Rider U or State College of NJ in Trenton/Lawrenceville area. Good to have safeties & schools where merit awards might be a possibility.</p>

<p>In my experience, there is no DIRECT path to becoming a journalist. I work in the news division at a major network. And I did NOT go to "J" school. I majored in Philosophy at a small LAC, and took some post grad classes in journalism (at a local CC). </p>

<p>My advice for anyone wishing to pursue a career in journalism is to get a good liberal arts education and learn to WRITE. I cannot stress this enough. </p>

<p>The Journalism 101 basics (ethics, sourcing, confirmation, investigation techniques) can be taught most anywhere.</p>