Hi everyone! Like a lot of you I am trying to decide on a college by May 1st, but I never thought it would be this hard! I was accepted to the University of Michigan early action, and have a full ride in terms of need based financial aid and merit scholarships. The university will pay for everything, including a 4 year loaner laptop, and I will hopefully graduate debt free. I am from Michigan so the school is familiar (at this point, after several visits and events there - they are super heavy on recruitment initiatives) and I know friends that are attending, and the prestige, resources, and opportunities that could be provided are endless.
All of this sounds great, and I was all set to accept, but then I was admitted to American university. Getting in didn’t surprise me, but how much I would like it did. They have a School of Communications and as a prospective journalism major, I fell in love with it. Even the classes that weren’t specific to journalism were so interesting to me, and I could see myself taking and enjoying every single class within the school of communication. I was also admitted to a 160 student scholar program that would allow me to conduct research and attend a unique first year seminar etc. However, the financial aid wasn’t as good (although it’s hard to beat free), as I would graduate with 22,000 in debt (excluding loan interest). This doesn’t seem like a lot, especially when yearly tuition is 60k, but to a financially challenged person who has the opportunity to go to a prestigious school for free, it is quite the difference.
My main problem is that U of M doesn’t have a journalism program that comes any where close to Americans. Their school of communication, location in D.C., and endless internship opportunities as well as study abroad are highly enticing, and I would be willing to sacrifice U of M for it all. If I went to Michigan I would be pursing a double major in environmental science and English or communications, however this doesn’t excite me like American does. Their communication degree revolves around mass media, mainly Television and radio, and I wasn’t as interested in this side of communications.
I feel completely torn, each situation is win/win and lose/lose. I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas, opinions, support, or a similar situation. I have less than 12 days to make a decision and I don’t know how I will do it.
Some thoughts: Michigan has a much better reputation overall nationally and internationally than American. I do not know how much the “pedigree” of your undergraduate degree matters in journalism, and whether a strong journalism program makes a difference. One thing to note is that journalism is not a career that pays much and coming out debt-free would be a real bonus.
Michigan. Nobody chooses AU unless there are personal family reason or financial considerations. Journalism is not a necessary major. Most journalists and pulitzer prize winners never studied journalism. Besides, AU’s Journalism department, although certainly good, is not on par with Northwestern, UNC or Mizzou. Frankly, only NU and UNC are worth considering over Michigan for a journalism major. Go to Michigan, work on your writing skills (Michigan’s creative writing program is one of the best), double major in a field you can cover as a journalist, such as Political Science or Economics or PPE, write for the Michigan Review or Michigan Daily, get internship, do a year abroad etc…
Welcome to the Wolverines!
I am a journalist. This is my advice: Do not major in journalism. A journalist has to know and be curious about a lot of things. Go the University of MIchigan, which is a MUCH better school than AU, and major in whatever strikes your fancy. It really doesn’t matter. Take a wide variety of courses to learn about the world. Read a lot of newspapers. Study abroad during your junior year.
But this is the most important thing: On day one, go to the office of The MIchigan Daily and tell them you want to join. The Daily is one of the top student newspapers in the country. Your experience on the Daily will outweigh any possible journalism course at American. And I know that editors of The Michigan Daily all get excellent journalism jobs upon graduation.
The Wall Street Journal is full of ex-Daily editors. Not one of them majored in journalism.
Please take the above advise rankinalexis and listen to it! Michigan debt free is easily the best choice here.
I see you also mentioned research. Michigan makes it pretty easy to do it your freshmen year as well. Look into MRC (Michigan Research Community) and UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program).