My daughter is a HS senior and is having trouble finding the right fit. She wants to be a communications major (PR, marketing, and/or Advertising) . She has a background in theater and voice too, but only want to do that as an EC in college. She has narrowed it down to Boston University(school of communications), Syracuse University (Newhouse), American Univesity (college of communications) and Mulenberg College. These are obviously very different schools. We are very confused. Any advice? Thank you!!
There is no “one right answer fits all”. First she where she gets in and see what is economically feasible. Of the schools that meet the first two criteria it will become a choice between a large urban school (BU/American), a large campus driven school (Syracuse), and a LAC (Muhlenberg). I know a couple of people who have been very happy at Newhouse but all of the schools on your list have different attributes and none of us know which might be the best fit for your D. I would suggest waiting to see where she gets in and then trying to visit on accepted student days before making a decision.
I believe she will get into all of them. These are either target or safe schools. We are trying to figure out if she should apply to Newhouse ED, but can’t get back for 2nd or 3rd visits. She does want a campus, which Bu doesn’t have, but American does. Also, her 2 older brothers went to Syracuse, one for bio chemistry, and one for public health.
I know next to nothing about the field of communications, but what even I have heard is that Newhouse is excellent. So I definitely think she should apply there, but since you are unsure maybe ED is not the way to go. People on CC seem to really love Muhlenberg, but personally as someone who grew up and went to college close to the school, I don’t see it as a good choice for a strong high school student, except for maybe those interested in pursuing pre-med. The advantage of American over the others you list is location, which could benefit her for internships.
Syracuse is supposed to have a wonderful communications department. I know many who go there and they all love it.
Thank you!
after she gets in do the admitted students days and see what she likes best
We are talking about 4 schools. If they are all safeties, why apply ED and constrain herself. After getting all of the admissions, go and revisit each school and give her the opportunity to discover something about herself that she didn’t know so that she can make a well informed decision.
To cast the net a bit more widely, you could also consider these universities with excellent reputations in journalism and communication arts and sciences: University of Missouri-Columbia (https://journalism.missouri.edu/programs/) and Michigan State University (http://cas.msu.edu/). Don’t underestimate your daughter’s background in theater and voice – especially if she becomes interested in broadcast journalism or film.
Thank you so much!!
This is somewhat off-topic for the OP, but I have to counter the idea that Muhlenberg is only good for “maybe pre-med.” They have an outstanding, widely-lauded theater program, and a young man I knew who graduated from it is making a good living in theater. I realize that the OP isn’t looking at that as a major, but I think for other readers it is an important point.
Michigan State is amazing. Huge school though, so she has to like that.
I agree!
Has she visited the four you listed? I agree with a poster above – once she has acceptances, she should go see her top 3 choices for accepted student visits if she can.
Yes, we have visited all 4 schools. I think we will wait and go to accepted students day at these schools. She is leaning towards one of them, but maybe not strong enough for ED.
Has your daughter considered Ithaca College?
I think it could be a very good fit.
Yes she did visit Ithaca as well as Vassar, Emerson, F&M, Northeastern, GW, Brandeis, Cornell, Fordham and Wesleyan. She only felt a “fit” at the 4 schools I mentioned at the top of the thread. But yes, Ithaca has everything she wants as well, great school!
My advice: if she’s not in love with any of them, don’t apply ED. Do RD and then do the overnights/campus visits to accepted schools. Six months from now, on campus, in a dorm room, one of them will probably feel great.
Also, once she is admitted you can weigh the financials. Although my daughter was full pay - the merit awards and tuition costs varied enough for the schools she got accepted to that they did play a role in the decision (basically ruling out schools she felt weren’t worth the high cost). If you apply EA (don’t know if any of those 4 have EA) - you might be able to go to admitted student days early (before the RD decisions come out). For my daughter we did 3 admitted student days to make up her mind - they really tell the story and help students decide where they “fit”
I am surprised that Emerson is not on her list. Has she considered it? Very career-focused, excellent reputation.