You should be looking at NPC and getting a budget from your parents now. Researching schools takes time. Applications cost money and take time to complete. Then you’ll be writing more essays for scholarships and honors programs. Why waste the time and effort on schools you can’t afford?
1 Like
This makes me think that your parents may not have a good handle on current college $$ (lots of us didn’t when we started looking at colleges with our collegekids- both costs & financing have changed a lot since our day). Private schools can be more affordable than public OOS schools. You need your parents to be clear about how much college costs these days, how much (if any) need-based aid would be available to them, and how much they are willing to provide. You can only borrow ~$27K total over the 4 years in your own name (they have to co-sign for any more)- and you really, really want to avoid it if at all possible. @tsbna44 is right that it takes a while to get to the well-paid jobs, and the costs of living in a city (where most ad jobs are) are high.
You don’t need a specific “advertising” major to get into the advertising field- marketing is just fine. Internships are the key (more than the name of the college), and they are competitive right from the beginning.
1 Like
Suggestion from my H (BU grad who’s been in advertising for 30+ years): check out Creative Circus, Miami Ad School, and other portfolio programs too. Very well respected, and those grads can get a job anywhere. Not a typical college experience though and not for everyone.
1 Like
If you really want to go into advertising and your budget is wide open SCAD might be worth a look. It is not a traditional school, but they have great job placement. We did a tour a few years ago. There’s not a football team or any of that. It’s all about creative careers.
What is this very special major? It’s very possible that a SUNY does have a major that will get you to your career goal. What IS your career goal?
ETA…I see it’s advertising. I’m quite sure there is some major at some SUNY that will get you to that career goal. @blossom might be a good one to explain how you can get to careers without actually having a major in a specific field.
1 Like
This thread may also be of interest.
An advertising major is not necessary.
Public universities OOS will usually be full pay, so unless you mean your parents’ EFC is 85K+ so 50K is okay with them, do run the NPC on colleges before you apply. It’s pointless to apply to a college you can’t afford, when there are lots that you can afford and could spend time applying to.
1 Like
I am very well aware that an advertising major is not needed to go into advertising. that is why I am applying to school with mass media communications major. i am not really interested in majoring in marketing because it is mainly in business schools, rather than communications schools and i am not super math-y or interested in being in a business school.
1 Like
Yes, I know that I dont need advertising. Some SUNYs have communication majors but they are more interpersonal communications while i am looking for like mass communications. I know I could major in like english or marketing but I don;t want to do that
Hi, I am looking for more of a traditional college feel but thanks!
1 Like
Look at Ohio University.
https://business.ohio.edu/academics/undergrad-majors/marketing/
They also have a great college of communications.
3 Likes
If they base merit on GPA, the OP should get decent merit from UD, UMASS and UCONN (they weren’t 100% transparent last year, my daughter’s GPA and scores matched up).
The issue is what “decent merit” means for this family - running the NPCs is the best option, because 50K could be OKay, or 35K only, or whether OP needs a full tuition scholarship, etc.
While merit aid exists, it’s still pretty uncommon at northeastern flagships, except for Maine’s.
@amalief : what can your parents afford “out of pocket” (from savings and current income)?
Beside Bing, which is affordable for them even if you don’t get any aid?
1 Like
I’m just basing it on my kids, 2 of my kids had the same stats at each other, and both received the same merit awards to bring tuition down to low/mid $30,000 from these schools, but I agree there needs to a budget before the search begins (this was our budget and not all northeast colleges came in this low). TO adds another level of uncertainty.
1 Like
I’ll just comment on the Mass schools. BU and Northeastern have become very competitive. I would think these may be target to reach schools for you. UMass Amherst also more competitive then you would think. So if you really want Massachusetts then I’d add more of a safety just in case. Good luck!!
I think I am looking more for the traditional college experience but thanks! What was advertising at BU like?
Well, he attended many years ago, but he said it was very rigorous. He said the professors were top notch. At the time there was a student-run ad agency, but he’s not sure if that is still there.
Wow. 1360 is low??? For a 2026 grad? That’s ridiculous.
SUNY Purchase has a Communications major that incorporates TV, PR and advertising - it may be too close to home for you, haha, but worth checking out as the price will be right. Do you know if you will qualify for an Excelsior scholarship?
This student wants significant merit aid at some schools where merit aid is competitive. A 1360 SAT probably isn’t going to net a huge amount of merit at some of these colleges.
2026 grad? I guess I must have missed that one! If that is the case, i would suggest this 9th grader relax and actually think more broadly about college.
@amalief what year in high school are you?
1 Like
lol im a senior. graduating college in 2026. it is definitely low for reaches but im going to submit to safeties
1 Like