<p>I'm a senior from IL applying to colleges and am pretty sure I'd like to major in journalism (and possibly advertising as well). At the same time, I'm afraid that I'll change my mind in college and end up going into a competely different area. And some of the schools I am applying to I'd love to have a journalism degree from, but I wouldn't want a degree from the school in a different area. So I'm basically unsure if I should go to the school with the excellent journalism program, but is weaker overall, or the excellent school overall, but with a weaker journalism program. I don't think getting into the schools will be an issue for me (not to sound conceited, but my stats are well above average for most of these schools), the problem will be deciding. So please offer your feedback on the schools I'm applying to (listed below), especially their journalism programs. I REALLY appreciate it.</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin-Madison (first choice right now)
Marquette University
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagin
Boston University
Syracuse University</p>
<p>(The last two I would only be able to go to if I got an amazing financial aid package or merit scholarships, but they sound so appealing, I can't cross them off my list)</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin-Madison (first choice right now) - overall good school but i don't know anything about their programs sorry
Marquette University - no clue
University of Missouri-Columbia - only go here for journalism, nothing else - if you aren't sure don't go here!
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - no clue
Boston University - FANTASTIC advertising program, one of the best in the country, and im pretty sure their journalism is good too
Syracuse University - Best communications school in the country</p>
<p>That being said, you probably DON'T want to double major in advertising and journalism. If you want to go into advertising, major in advertising. A journalism major will only get you a job writing or doing PR, nothing else. Not really a point in doing both of these :-/ It sounds like you want to be a writer, so you might pick one and double major in English or Creative Writing if that exists?</p>
<p>I had Northwestern on my list forever, but crossed it out because I feel it's too competitive of an environment for me. (Although I'd probably be able to get in, I don't think I'd thrive there.)</p>
<p>Thanks again for your advice--maybe I'll enter journalism undeclared, and then I can decide which specific area I'd like to go into. I'm thinking advertising may give me more options though. And I do like to write, but I could never be an English or creative writing major--I can't imagine being assigned 1,000 page books to read in a week!</p>