<p>What if I can't afford a Northwestern? Just another idea, I want to become a sports writer. Any opinions?</p>
<p>Apply to UNC-- it's a great school and has a really good j-school also</p>
<p>In journalism, what's more important than the school you attend is your paper trail (I say this with relative certainty, having interviewed with an editor at Sports Illustrated who told me, "I don't care about the school you went to. I don't care about your grades. I care about your clips.")</p>
<p>Go to a school with a strong student paper and a strong sports scene. One of my friends turned down Cornell and JHU to go to Syracuse for sports journalism. And write, write, write, wherever you are.</p>
<p>My daughter, who also wants to be a sportswriter, will be attending University of Maryland-College Park starting this fall. UMCP has an endowed professorship in sports journalism, as do Penn State and, I believe, Texas. Syracuse, Missouri, and Northwestern are very well known for turning out sports journalists. </p>
<p>I completely echo some of the previous comments about the import of clips. We have talked to sportswriters and editors in general (including those at exremely well known newspapers and periodicals) as well as placement people at various colleges, and the unanimous reaction was that beginning journalism jobs were largely achieved through: (1) the quality and quantity of articles you have written which have been published; (b) your experiences at internships you are able to get while in school; and (c) the alumni network your school provides. </p>
<p>We did a lot of research on this, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, either in this thread or via a pm. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Thanks GatorEng23 for your help too. Dadtimesthree and anyone else, I love sports and English/writing is my best subject; I am a sophmore in HS, going to be a junior in the fall. How important is it that I write for the school paper? I do not, and I was wondering if it matters in how successful I will be in college and writing for the paper then. Is it good enough to just love to play and follow sports news in high school and take the highest English courses (AP and honors) as I am or is it a definite need to be a part of the school paper? Thanks. Any extra info on colleges and this, you can PM me or write here. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Northwestern has one of the best, if not the best.</p>