So far, as a sophomore at UMBC, I have:
- one reporting internship for a local newspaper
- one contributing writer position to an independent arts magazine (small start-up)
- one staff writer position with the campus paper
- three references
- proficiency in French (I hope to go into int’l journalism someday, specializing in francophone countries)
My plan for the next two years:
- editing position at the campus newspaper
- research fellowship with a start-up based in DC this summer, similar to The Huffington Post; it’d be a paid editorial writing position (still waiting for them to get back with my application!!)
- paid internship with the City Paper
- my uni’s journalism award; it’s a small scholarship prize they give to a student for outstanding journalistic work and I think I’m a shoo-in next semester if not this one!
- gain fluency in French
- one good journalism internship with either the WaPo or HuffPost; my best, closest bet is the Baltimore Sun. Both very hard to get into but I think I’m on the right track??
That’s all I have so far, but I have no idea what more I need to do to get into my dream school.
I want to go Columbia’s j-school because it’s one of the best; a degree from there is my best chance at the New York Times and/or go into international journalism.
What else should I be working on? I heard experience is your best friend as a journalism student (don’t worry, I’m not majoring in Journalism) but I feel like in order to get to the better positions you need MORE, y’know?