Clueless rising senior seeks help choosing colleges

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello CC,
I will be a senior next fall and am attempting to narrow down colleges with minimal success. I could really use some help finding good schools to apply to.</p>

<p>About me:
I'd like to think I am more than a number. That said, here are some numbers:
GPA: 4.6 W, 4.0 UW
Rank: Top 5%
SAT: I have yet to take the SAT, but my goal is around a 2150. </p>

<p>Some EC's:
-Non-profit founder (lifetime of community service--too many hours to count)
-MUN honorable delegate
-#1 Writer in District Area
-President and founder of school club
-Officer of NHS, mentoring program, and high school class
-cast member of theatre company
-top 5 finalist of well-known national essay competition
-FBLA district award
-Kohl's "Kids Who Care" regional scholarship recipient
-Scholarship pageant - highest scoring interview and talent; community service award
-AP Scholar
-National Spanish Exam Bronze</p>

<p>Interests: Writing, Journalism, Public Policy, Law, Film/TV
Education goals: PhD in Journalism and JD (Yes, I plan to be in school for a long time.)
Career goals: Journalist/News Anchor/Lawyer/Politician...who makes documentaries (Clearly, I have a decisive personality.)</p>

<p>Dream School: Penn
Auto-Admit to: University of Texas at Austin (I would pay no tuition at UT Austin due to investment in the Texas Tomorrow Fund.)</p>

<p>Finances: About $40,000 saved for college, willing to work to attend dream school
Total "household" income of about $160,000, though one parent will likely not be contributing to college expenses (divorce situation)</p>

<p>Likes: Friendly atmosphere, small class size, emphasis on writing and research versus test-taking, opportunities for applied learning/internships, strong study abroad program, Jewish community</p>

<p>Dislikes: Getting lost in the shuffle, standardization, professors that don't care about their students, apathetic student body</p>

<p>So... please help me add some colleges to my list! Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Try running the net price calculators at each school you are considering. If your parents are unable or unwilling to contribute the financial aid system’s expected family contribution, you need to aim for large merit scholarships or schools with list prices below what they are actually able and willing to contribute.</p>

<p>If you can afford the non-tuition costs at UT Austin automatic admission with full tuition scholarship, then you have a fine safety there, assuming you like UT Austin (however, it is a big school and likely to have large freshman level courses, which you say you may not like).</p>

<p>If you do not like UT Austin or other Texas public universities, then your search for safeties becomes more difficult.</p>

3

<p>@ucbalumnus </p>

<p>I will definitely start calculating net prices for each school I’m considering.
I consider UT Austin a solid safety, especially if I am admitted into the Liberal Arts Honors program.</p>

4

<p>bump10char</p>

5

<p>You’re a long way off, but you should know that if you want to be a journalist, you don’t need a Ph.D in journalism. In fact, a Ph.D in journalism will probably be a hindrance to your career.</p>

<p>Doctoral study is research-based and aimed at students who want to become scholars and professors in a given field. Those with Ph.Ds in journalism study media theory and analyze the profession - they’re not reporters.</p>

6

<p>@ polarscribe</p>

<p>Thank you for sharing that with me, it’s definitely something to consider. I like the idea of becoming a professor at some point in my career, so I may still pursue a PhD. It’s probably too far off to make such decisions. :)</p>

7

<p>Does anyone have any…school suggestions?</p>

8

<p>How far are you willing to travel from Texas?</p>

<p>Assuming you don’t want to stay close to home… (in no particular order):

  1. Northwestern. From what I’ve heard, it’s basically the best (or at least one of the best) colleges for journalism in America.
  2. New York University
  3. American University
  4. Boston University
  5. UNC - Chapel Hill
  6. University of Southern California</p>

<p>Also, I did a quick Google search and you might want to look into the schools on this list and see what you like: [Best</a> Undergraduate Journalism Programs](<a href=“http://education-portal.com/best_undergraduate_journalism_programs.html]Best”>Best Undergraduate Journalism Programs)</p>

<p>You probably want to refer to the advice on this thread too: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/262763-what-best-undergrad-journalism-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/262763-what-best-undergrad-journalism-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck!</p>