<p>Oh, maybe their retirement? Or your future grandkids? Just because they CAN afford it, doesn't mean its WORTH it (or that they'd have this pesky 80K sitting around rotting).</p>
<p>Most good journalists will tell you to major in something besides (or in addition to) journalism! Look at the schools' programs in business, political science, econ, etc. -- areas in which you may want to specialize as a writer. This will give you context and depth to the things you seek to report. Tom Friedman of the NYT was a Middle Eastern studies major at Brandeis. Look at the columnists' bios online at the newspapers where you'd like to work -- a lot of them were NOT jrl majors.</p>
<p>I was a polisci/journalism major from a well-reputed flagship U. and the journalism jobs paid $12K/year back in the mid-80s -- IF one coud land one. I went into a field that used both my wriitng and polisci abilities (paid about the same, but my writing abilities got me lots of attention and faster promotions) and was able to carve out writing positions from every job I've held since.</p>
<p>Sometimes I think we forget that the name/dept of the school is not going to get you where you want to go except maybe the first job out of school. You can be a great writer, but how's your initiative, your drive? What motivates you? Just don't let a big name be your only decision maker.</p>
<p>I have a member of my family who attended U of Mich majoring in English - got his hands in many things after graduating - working for publishing companies, freelancing, public radio commentary etc. It was his willingness to try many things and do them well that landed him with an excellent position with a major weekly magazine around the age of 30. He works hard, tries new things to add to his resume all the time. </p>
<p>There is not just one good place for you. Follow your heart, but think of your future (and your parents as well) when you make your decision. And yes, I totally support the idea to invest in your education $$$-wise no matter what.</p>
<p>"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>Two years of world travel, blogging all the time. Five years of volunteer work in Africa, where you can begin as a free-lancer for transnational magazines. Four summers doing intensive language study so that you will be useful to an international newsgathering organization, with lots of money left over. A couple of years working out of Geneva. A volunteer writer for something connected to the World Health Organization. After some training, a volunteer grant writer for community-based organizations. Money to start your own publishing house (I did).</p>
<p>If you are not worried about money, and not forced to pay back $80k, there is SO MUCH you can do. You probably aren't old enough to realize it all yet (I certainly wasn't when I entered college), but, debt-free and money in your pocket, the world is your oyster. (And communications at UMD isn't chopped liver.)</p>
<p>Take a look at all graduates of Northwestern or, for that matter, at all the journalism schools combined. You quickly see that there aren't nearly enough jobs for all of them as journalists, and every year, an equal number is coming out of school. So, and I am sure about this, the majority don't become journalists (though lots end up in good careers). Those that get ahead in journalism "have an edge", and the edge usually consists of good writing skills, lots of useful worldly experience, some contacts - especially in places that depend on journalists, like Washington, DC, and a lot of luck.</p>
<p>As I've said in other posts very similar to this one- This is a dollars and sense(!) question. The only "selling point" of the hugely additional cost of one school over another would be if one prepared you far better for a career, thereby instantly significantly bumping up your starting salary. When you say that if you choose the more expensive school you can't pay YOUR debt with the wages you expect to earn then I think that answers the question. You'll have a tough time feeling confident in the business world as a young adult if you say to yourself: I graduated from a very expensive, well known school, but my mommy and daddy still have to pay my bills because I didn't get a job good enough to be a self supporting adult.
College is an investment, look at what you'll pay in exchange for what you expect to get later as a result.</p>
<p>thf, if your parent's are willing to pick up that portion of student loans which are beyond your means, attend the university which is best suited for you. And you are correct, entry level journalists are generally not paid well and their share of the debt may be the whole enchalada during those first years.</p>
<p>
[quote]
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? )
[/quote]
Maybe the question is really ... who decided that a computerized spelling and grammar checker was good enough?</p>
<p>A colleague of mine sent his daughter to Northwestern U. to study journalism. According to him, the program rank number one in the country. After graduate she went to get a Harvard’s Law degree and earn 6 figures salary immediately. I think that it is possible to go to Northwestern in your case and justify the decision on financial ground as well.</p>
<p>Exactly HOW many journalism students in the entire country go on to Harvard for a law degree? And how many, already $80k in the whole, then take on another $215k for same?</p>
<p>Hey! Saw this back on the first page, and figured I'd give you an update.</p>
<p>I really appreciate the advice :). </p>
<p>I have decided on UMDCP, partially (ironically considering a recent post) because of my interest in law and graduate study. I will probably also major in international relations, because it seems like a great way to combine my interests in history, economics, and the environment. I'm pretty amped about college...I feel like I've got so much ahead of me!</p>
<p>Congrats! and have a blast!</p>
<p>Inverse:</p>
<p>Exactly what is the relationship between the fact that the person chose Northwestern and the fact that she went to the Harvard Law School?</p>