<p>I was just accepted to Northwestern University for journalism, and also to my state school, the University of Maryland. We are an upper-midldle class family and recieved no finaid. My parents are currently weighing the pros and cons of each investment. I think this is a situation many parents face - the bigger name and the better education, or a cheapter university with many of the same benefits? My chief concern is that I believe the superior liberal arts education at NU will better prepare me to write great articles, and that Medill may land me with a better starting job (I know journalism is a tough field to break into).</p>
<p>The amount of debt would not be as large as I have seen in other threads, but still sizeable - 80K, and to be paid back mostly by my parents and partially by me (because they understand it would be very difficult for me to pay back 40K in loans as a journalist!).</p>
<p>Have you faced this decision? What did you choose and why?</p>
<p>Edit: I see there is a similiar thread on UVa vs. Mizzou; I'll definitely refer to that, but any opinions about this situation in particular would be helpful!</p>
<p>First: congratulations! Now, an observation:</p>
<p>I think that framing the discussion in terms of Better Fit rather than Bigger Name may be helpful.</p>
<p>For some, the less-known U may be a better fit for many reasons. And for you, NU MAY be a better fit, only in part because of the benefits of prestige.</p>
<p>Only you and your parents know what kinds of financial hardships may accompany the costlier choice. Now is the time for frank discussions about finances.</p>
<p>In our case, when S was choosing between U of Mich. and Duke, he had to decide whether he was willing to take on significant student-loan debt in order to attend Duke. He would have graduated debt-free from Michigan. He is very frugal and debt-averse, so when he chose Duke, I knew he was very serious about it!</p>
<p>I work in the journalism field (magazines), and I have to say Medill has it over UMd, which is also a fine program. But in terms of reputation, you can't beat Medill. I have worked with many Medill graduates, and they are extremely competent and well-prepared. Medill is worth the money. Just my two cents! Congrats on your acceptances!</p>
<p>$80,000 over 10 years at 7% (if you can get it) is $928.87 per month.</p>
<p>For that amount, you could start your own magazine.</p>
<p>But if they have the money, and are willing to spend it on you rather than a big boat (or a magazine), it seems like you could go where you want. So what is there to justify, and to whom?</p>
<p>The question is whether Medill would really put me in a better position for the best job. Stories like LurkNessMonster's are the kind that would sway them. Basically, I am interested in what kind of benefits a better education and a better name afford a person.</p>
<p>My parents are not concerned about "fit" except for how it affects the financial decision (i.e. one affords greater opportunities). They think I'll fit in great at both places.</p>
<p>I have worked as a journalist (still have three columns) and as the media relations director of a large metropolitan human rights agency, and as media director for a state agency. I once taught several courses on journalism at a community college. I ran a publishing house that did "journalism-type" books, and edited (or ghost-wrote) about 130 of them. I never took a journalism course in my life.</p>
<p>I have no idea where the "training" would be better. Journalism in its old sense is disappearing rapidly, being replaced by infotainment and the blogisphere. If you are being trained in the old journalism, chances are you are being trained for obsolescence. But you do need the opportunity to write, and the opportunity to show your stuff, and a chance to learn the ropes. The best training for writing is to write, and enough experience of the world to have something to write about.</p>
<p>$80k (or $928 a month for 10 years) can buy a lot of opportunities to write, and to experience the world. Of course, if the money is there in any case, there isn't anything to justify.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you are being trained in the old journalism, chances are you are being trained for obsolescence.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is what I keep hearing...the reality is quite depressing! At the same time, it has always been a dream of mine to write for a paper. If I could do write for the Wall Street Journal or National Geographic or anything even for one day before my job got outsourced to a blogger, I would die happy ;). But in all honesty, I take these "warnings" with a grain of salt. There will always need to be an entity to report on things in a sphere the public has no access to that is seperate from that sphere itself. The guard dog, right? The problem is those jobs are definitely getting cut back on, left only for the best, the brightest...which is why I want a great education to help me make the cut.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have no idea where the "training" would be better.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Medill has just restructured their journalism program to expand the training to cover more than "old" journalism. But I am not so much worried about that as I am about the quality of the education /outside/ of the journalism program, which is another reason why I prefer Northwestern. You make a good point about the money being another way to learn more about the world. But I'm not hedging any bets that my parents would give that to me in cash instead of putting it into a school! </p>
<p>My parents aren't loaded...they would have to make some sacrifices to spend 200K on my education. Money is never just "there".</p>
<p>I doubt that journalism is heading for obsolesence. Newspapers are already available online and I don't see anyone cancelling subscriptions to the hardcopy. I do agree we cannot predict the future and the nature of media may change drastically but there will still be employment for the equivalent of today's journalists.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this needs to be your parents' decision. According to their EFC, they should be able to afford the costs, but the reality can be quite different. It sounds like you are very reasonable and not just reacting to the prestige factor. If the decision turns out to be UMCP, then I am sure you will make the best of it.</p>
<p>The business news on major papers is very bad. They are getting mostly us old farts to subscribe and few younger people. Advertising follows the eyeballs. The death spiral has begun with major papers losing big $$$ and cutting staff. NYT, Tribune, LA Times--that level.
The opportunities seem to be in niche magazines and such.</p>
<p>I would like to know where some of the NY Times columnists (as well as those in my local paper) attended school. I have never seen so many grammatical errors in my life. If they all graduated from journalism schools, find out where they were, because those schools definitey weren't doing their job.</p>
<p>Actually, those are copyeditors, except most of them (coming from the journalism schools) were laid off, and replaced by computerized "grammar checks". </p>
<p>(The better question is who wrote the grammar check programs? :eek:)</p>
<p>I think you should go to Northwestern. Not for the prestige but for the environment. Everyday I wake up and am happy I picked the school that I did. Sure, the name was a part of my decision, but I certainly do not peruse my resume first thing every morning. What is making me so darn happy? It's that every day I wake up and I am motivated and inspired by the students, the faculty, the resources around me. When everyone around you loves to learn, a little of it rubs off on you. When everyone around you is going for cool summer research positions and internships it's less likely that you'll think they are out of your range or forget to apply or not have heard about some great opportunities. Yeah, sure, everyone who does the same amount of legwork eventually reaps the same benefits, but it helps to know where to go, whom to contact, what are the best things available for you at any given moment. I think going to a school with a well-reputed program does that for you, and is pretty much the most invaluable thing it offers.</p>
<p>"The problem is those jobs are definitely getting cut back on, left only for the best, the brightest...which is why I want a great education to help me make the cut."</p>
<p>I don't disagree in the least. What I am questioning (not answering, but questioning) is whether the educational difference between the two schools is going to provide the "great education" that would allow you to make your mark (as opposed to $80k spent elsewhere.)</p>
<p>That's my question too, mini. But like I said, I'm not betting on my parents just handing me 80K...whereas they might invest that in my education. Alternatively if I can't convince them an education at NU is "worth it", what else could the money be used for?</p>
<p>Go to NU but make it your business to borrow less than $40 K. That means signing up to be an RA ($10K a year), researching scholarships, tkaing a year off if need be, working 60 hours a week during the summers at HIGH paying jobs.</p>
<p>You can make it work--but don't do it with $80K of loans.</p>
<p>If you go to the forum named "did YOU turn down your top choice based upon money alone?" you'll read (post 39) about an English major who last year turned down Stanford for UMaryland, and is a very happy camper.</p>
<p>UMaryland is very popular among FL kids. No doubt you will be happy there. Still, we looked into journalism schools for stepson and NW ranked SO high.
I would check out course listings, environment, & professors. I'd be open to campus jobs. By being a TA, S's close friend made state school same as in-state. I'd ask prof.s and current NW students about job opportunities for internships. I eally do think its possible to cut way back on loans after freshman year, so go explore the opportunities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions on how to make the money situation work. I will definitely look for things like work-study jobs, scholarships, etc. and print out this info to give to my parents. It's also time to start looking for a summer job! I am extremely energized about NU as a school...I really want to make it happen, but I know what concerns there are.</p>
<p>Also thanks for the referral to the thread, mini. I have been following that sporadically :). CP is indeed a great school. If I decide I want to go on to grad school, CP will definitely give me more options there.</p>
<p>bookworm: How does one become a TA as an undergrad? Did you mean RA?</p>