<p>I have been accepted to both, but am having trouble deciding. I love journalism and really see it as a potential career, but am afraid of feeling restricted if I go to Medill. I LOVE Brown’s open curriculum, social scene, and basically most everything about Brown but am unsure of whether it will prepare me for the cut-throat journalism world–without journalism classes or strong journalism ties (actually don’t know about this–do they have strong journalism ties with magazines/papers/etc?). </p>
<p>What are the chances that at Brown, I will be able to get as good a chance at a journalism career than at Medill? Medill, I know, will put me on a fast-track career, catapult me directly into journalism, and I am afraid of straying and going to Brown and not knowing what I want to do, and graduating without a job. I can see myself at both schools, despite their having different scenes. Think I’d just end up a diff person if I went to Medill vs Brown or Brown vs Medill. I already have friends at Medill, but only know a few people at Brown, so there is another factor.</p>
<p>They are really different schools though! You have defined the central dilemma well. </p>
<p>My question is, why would you "not know what you want" at Brown? Do you think the curricular freedom would distract you from your career goals-- and if so, are these goals certain enough to base your education on?</p>
<p>I suspect the sacrifice is losing specific journalism connections & prep VS losing the ability to explore more and make sure journalism is really what you want.</p>
<p>My nephew recently picked Mizzou purely because of the well-regarded journalism dept-- and is now transferring due to bad overall fit.</p>
<p>No department should trump overall contentment IMO. Look at the two school cultures and where you would be happiest and fit best. </p>
<p>Disclaimer: I am probably the least pre-professional parent on this board. :) I also went to Brown and loved it there.</p>
<p>I am encouraging my D to major in Art because she loves Art! I firmly believe that deeply engaged and happy people will find their way career-wise.</p>
<p>One thing about Medill is that you won't be purely restricted to journalism. You have something like 30 requirements to fill, and only 8 or so are journalism courses. They like you to be actually knowledgable about the stuff you're writing about, so you will get a well rounded education. </p>
<p>Brown does have journalism courses, and there are great opportunities to write. If you take advantage of, say, the BDH and become an editor or something, I think that experience + Brown education will probably serve you just as well in entering your journalism career as Medill. At Brown, you'd have to be more proactive about it (which is kind of what Brown is all about anyway.)</p>
<p>I would visit both, since the school cultures are pretty different. I agree with SBMom that fit is probably the most important factor here.</p>