<p>I’m currently a high school junior and I recently visited Cal Poly and fell in love. I’m definitely interested in writing and making a career out of it, however I’m torn between what to major in. I have a 27 act score (I know not that good I’m retaking next month) and a 4.06 weighted. I know that certain majors are harder than others to get accepted for, so if anyone could help me out do you think it would be better to major in English or in communications with an emphasis on journalism? I know that writing for a newspaper or freelance is a long shot, so I like English because I could easily get my teaching credential and teach instead. Idk I’m torn haha.</p>
<p>27 is not a bad ACT score. I know someone who got into communications with a 23. As far I know, Cal Poly does not offer a communications major with an emphasis in journalism. They do however offer a journalism major (with an emphasis in either print, broadcast, or public relations), which you might want to check out. </p>
<p>Writing for a newspaper of freelancing is not a long shot. The print journalism industry may be getting smaller, but if you really want to do it, get involved with the Mustang Daily early. This will help you get a local internship with the Tribune or something, which will help you land larger internships. I know journalism majors who have interned for the LA Times. </p>
<p>I guess English is fine if you want to teach. But if don’t really want to teach and would only be going into it as a “safety” than don’t do it. The English program here is pretty good. I’ve really liked all the classes I’ve taken and teachers I’ve had. Usually, if you get involved and look for internship opportunities while still in school, an English major can lead to similar careers as a journalism major if you want it to. I don’t know much about the communications major at Cal Poly, but it seems kind of broad…</p>
<p>Oh also, if you’re applying for most liberal arts majors, such as English, chances are your reading/English portion of the ACT is going to be more important than the math score. My score, 28, was close to yours. However, while I got a 33 on the grammar/English section, I only scored a 22 on math, which brought down the overall score, but I was still accepted as an English major.</p>
<p>Wow! Thank you so much for a detailed answer haha. I got around a 28 on my English portion, with a 33 in Reading, and like you, a lower score in math. That sort of reassures me that there are communications students with lower act scores. After visiting and doing research on Cal Poly, I really think it would be an excellent fit for me, it’s just the matter of getting in.</p>
<p>I really enjoy writing, and I do think I would also like teaching. If I was to write freelance, i would like to have the steady job of a teacher to help me if I ever hit a rough spot. I just don’t know which major would help me with both?</p>
<p>I’m also curious as to what you want to do with your English major. Do you want to teach or write, or what have you gotten involved with as an English major?</p>
<p>I’m interested in going into technical writing. Cal Poly used to offer a tech writing certificate, which was kinda like getting a minor in it, but they don’t anymore. There are actually quite a few ways to get involved with the English or communication major. There are clubs and student groups for both. You could also think about majoring in one and minoring in the other, since Cal Poly offers both an English and communications minor.</p>
<p>If you want to teach, like at the high school or college level especially, English would probably be the better option. You’d also probably eventually want to get a masters, or have to if you want to teach at the college level. If you want to teach lower grades, then either major would be fine. You’d just have to get your credential. Cal Poly has a teaching credential program for multiple subjects elementary education certification that takes about a year, I think.</p>
<p>FYI. Cal Poly only considers the Enlgish and math potions of the ACT and/or the reading and math portions of the SAT. And they will superstore and mix and match between the SAT and ACT. So take both and send in your highest scores. In addition, make sure you have most of the classes Cal Poly wants you to have if you really want to get in.</p>