Dreaming of Masters program at J School: Post Graduate courses to offset low GPA?

Graduate School
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<p>Thank God/dess for this Forum! </p>

<p>I graduated with a horribly low GPA (2.58) from a UMASS in 2004. No I was not a party animal (lol), I commuted to school and I worked full time for the three years of the four I was there. </p>

<p>Flash forward 3 years and I have seriously thought of going to Graduate school for Journalism. I am currently pursuing another undergraduate degree at North Eastern University in technical communications. I currently have a 3.6 GPA (out of 31 credits) and I am a year and a half away from getting a BA in Technical Communications. I work full time and I am matriculated as an online student (which NEU claims will not be reflected on my transcript or diploma) </p>

<p>I do not want to bleed your eyes out with my banter, but am I wasting my time? Will my old GPA haunt me forever? Should I consider applying for Fall of 2009? So far- I have received scant, but cautiously encouraging advice from Admission Councilors.
Syracuse told me that I was wasting my time taking post baccalaureate classes to increase my GPA and Medill is being very tight lipped about the whole situation but nonetheless welcomed me to apply.
Columbia sent me a generic reply informing me of their holistic approach to the application process. </p>

<p>I dont have much experience in the journalist field. I currently work as an administrator for a non profit. I was a contributor to my campus paper back when I was at UMASS and I have written for a number of local publications here in Boston. I am starting an internship with a local Boston newspaper in August. </p>

<p>Medill is my top (but perhaps more unrealistic!) choice currently- simply because they have a strong international lens and I was a big fan of their Immigration Here and There project- being an immigrant myself (a Palestinian who moved to the US from Lebanon in 1999)- the project was a definite eye opener (but alas, I digress- LOL) </p>

<p>I have also considered Emerson (they have an amazing Web Journalism program- which is also highly competitive.), Syracuse (though less so now after the advice they gave me) and Columbia (though I highly doubt my prospects of getting in are high at all!). I do not know if the term safety school applies to Journalism ( the requirements are very competitive across the board) </p>

<p>I plan on taking my GRE's in July and I am studying like a mad man. </p>

<p>I welcome any feedback or advice- the more pragmatic the better. Reality is the best medicine for my situation right now. </p>

<p>Thank you all!</p>

<p>Mohammed.</p>

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<p>I don't see why taking more classes to boost your GPA would be a bad ideal. J-schools don't usually focus that much on GPA -- unless it is low enough to wreck their stats. GPA probably isn't going to the be the critical thing in your application.</p>

<p>I would say do your best to freelance as many stories as you can before you apply, for the biggest publications you can, in as many formats as you can. Get familiar with multimedia -- Medill REALLY cares about this -- and putting together packages that combine print, sound, video and interactive features. </p>

<p>I would also start a blog or something.</p>

<p>And use your background to your advantage. There are not many people with diverse backgrounds at Medill, so you definitely have a hook, I think. The Middle East is a big deal -- Medill has a new campus in Qatar -- so if you're fluent in Arabic, emphasize that, and try to work that into any projects you get!</p>

<p>I really think these are the things that will make a difference for Medill, not your GPA.</p>

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<p>Hey Norma Thank you so much for the advice. Knowing Medill's emphasis would be of great help when the time comes for the Personal Statement! lol. </p>

<p>I do hope that my internship this summer will help me get the footing I need to get into Medill. I am aware of the strengths I have, I am simply worried that my growing edges may be a little too steep for the Admissions Committee. </p>

<p>I am fluent in Arabic and I actually lived in Qatar for 8 years. When I visited last year- rumors of Meddill setting up shop in Doha went viral- though I was a little disappointed that the grad program wasnt exported over as well. </p>

<p>Are you a current Medill student? What is the atmosphere and work ethic like? </p>

<p>Mohammed</p>