<p>I'm having a hard time choosing between Stanford and Northwestern for my MA in Journalism. Cost is not really an issue, but location definitely is. I'm a bit of an urbanite, and I'd prefer a big city environment (I'd rather not have a car wherever I am.)</p>
<p>So here's my main question: do I choose the top-notch school with a very good program (Stanford) or the great school with the program that is consistently ranked as one of the top journalism programs in the country? (Medill at Northwestern.)</p>
<p>I was hoping that anyone who has experience in the field or with either or these schools could help me out. I know that Northwestern's program requires students to take classes in both Evanston and Chicago - does any have any experience with this commute? </p>
<p>Any insight would be extremely helpful. Thanks.</p>
<p>There’s an intercampus shuttle that takes 25-30 minutes between Evanston and Chicago. I also believe NU grad students (and I’m guessing undergrads) get free public transit in the Chicago area (incoming doctoral student this year, so not sure on details).</p>
<p>But anyway, neither are really in the big city (Palo Alto is 30 miles from SF; Evanston 11 miles from Chicago). BART doesn’t connect in Palo Alto and I believe the closest South stop is Millbrae, so you’d have to drive there and train the rest to SF and the rest of the bay. Evanston does have shuttles, buses, and the El (Elevated Train) right outside campus, so that’s a plus; but with Stanford not requiring you to commute between campuses, this can still be a strain.</p>
<p>Also, climate is different. NorCal can get cold, but Chicago is on another level.</p>
<p>Either school, I feel, will be great and you can’t go wrong. I’m not indoctrinated in NU culture just yet, but as a layman, I’ve heard of Medill J-School without ever having any interest in Journalism whereas I’ve never heard of Stanford having a notable J-School at all (the top ones being Medill, Mizzou, and Columbia, from what I can recollect).</p>
<p>///</p>
<p>Edit: Apparently there’s Caltrain serving Palo Alto. You can always take that to BART and connect from there. I’m from SoCal so public transportation is alien to me.</p>
<p>^Caltrain is a commuter train; it’s expensive to ride and doesn’t run very frequently. Also, it drops you off at the southeastern end of SF; it’s unlikely that’s where you’d want to be. So from there, you’d still need take the street car (called Muni) to downtown or whereever you actually want to hang out. Also, even though CalTrain station is just outside Stanford campus, because of the size of the campus, it’s a good 20-30 min walk from the graduate dorm to Caltrain. In other words, it’s a two-hour trip just to go to SF without a car! </p>
<p>Evanston borders Chicago. It is 11 miles from downtown Chicago. While the downtown is very large and impressive, the favorite hangouts for most locals are in the neigbhorhoods north of downtown, towards Evanston. Palo Also is a very wealthy suburb and doesn’t have the feel of a college town at all. Medium home price there is well over a million dollars. Evanston is more urban, bigger, and not as rich (though still nice and clean). </p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the academic focus for each program. All I know is Medill name is supposed to be second to none in journalism or media/PR fields. The indusry/alumni network within the field is also bigger and stronger.</p>
<p>I think you should look at other universities. Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism is in the heart of Phoenix. Phoenix is a georgeous city. I bet you’d like it. Apartments are very affordable too. You can get great 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartments for less than $600 a month. Heck, living in Cleveland is more expensive than that. Phoenix is one of the most affordable places to live in the country. Arizona State is known as a top program and the name added more prestige. The assistantship at ASU is full tuition remission, $11,000 salary, medical, and dental insurance.</p>
<p>On the flipside, there’s Southern California. Living in Los Angeles is expensive is he**, so maybe the dorms are included in tuition costs which should be covered by an assistantship. They do a great job working with new technology, you have multiple areas to specialize in, and they have great connections with top media companies including ESPN, NBC, ABC, Walt Disney, and The Los Angeles Times. USC is one of the best options in the country. The gifted reporters usually enroll in the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism. I mean they offer me admission and the assistantship I may go for it especially if I can stay at the dorms for free assuming the assistantship covers it. They also give you a $20,000 salary on top free tuition, medical, and dental insurance.</p>
<p>I cannot comment on Stanford Journalism. However, my daughter graduated from undergrad Medill in 2008. She is in NYC. I was skeptical of the NU/Medill name being that influential. But it is! The Medill name has been remarkably helpful in my daughter’s early career–getting her interviews, networking contacts via the Listserv, and on-the-job connections with other NU/Medill alums. It is an amazing connection. My daughter has a job that has been only filled by NU/Medill alums, going back 3-4 hires. Her quote, “Medill runs this town.” </p>
<p>When she was an undergraduate at NU, she did not have a car at all. Getting around the city of Chicago was not difficult for her. She took the El. Walked extensively in Evanston which met nearly all her needs, even when she lived off campus. There is a shuttle that runs between the Evanston and Chicago campuses that will be more than adequate. The major detraction of Northwestern (vs. Stanford) is the weather. </p>
<p>That said, journalism has changed rapidly–and not for the better. Jobs tend to be low paying and hard to find. Sad because newspaper journalism is disappearing with all the on-line blogs, talk radio, TV, etc.–many of those have no journalism training. We need good journalists.</p>
<p>You’re right about the field. I would like too see more reporters with real education and training. I thonk there is a change on the way. You will see more journalists with a B.A. in Journalism take the jobs. I have a B.A. in Journalism from Cleveland State and I wouldn’t mind Stanford if I could get an assistanship and have enough money to live off campus. Off campus living would be the real challenge. Arizona State is a very appealing option. Living in Phoenix is relatively easy to do and I figure if I get the assistanship, i’ll be fine. I don’t about Northwestern. Living in Evanston is expensive I bet but I know Northwestern is one of the top programs.</p>
<p>I also want to get out of the snow, so Northwestern is terrible for climate, but I wouldn’t mind Northwestern if I could go there without worrying about massive debt.</p>
<p>True that. The best parts are the neighborhoods between Evanston and downtown Chicago: Rogers Park, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, etc. Those neighborhoods also cost a lot less to live in than metro Chicago or Evanston, so if you’re not opposed to taking the El to campus, you can find a 1BR apartment for around $700-800 or a studio for even less than that.</p>
<p>Well I’m starting this fall so other schools are not really an issue at this point. I narrowed it down from eight schools to these two. I’ll definitely be attending Stanford or Northwestern.</p>
<p>Very helpful! People have been saying that those areas would be great places for me to live. It makes a lot of sense to me - living halfway between Evanston and the downtown newsroom (where I would spend a lot of time) seems like the best option. Do you have any idea of where the El stops around those areas?</p>
<p>If you want to take Caltrain to San Francisco, bikes are allowed on the train. As long as you know the train schedule ahead of time and plan your trip accordingly, you should have no problem.</p>
<p>A warning though, Caltrain is threatening to discontinue its weekend service, unless big uncle CA gives them more money, which CA doesn’t have. It’ll be interesting to see if Calpain actually follows through with their threat. I’m assuming they won’t, and of course I’ll eat my words if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>The price for apartments between downtown Chicago and NU vary considerably. Once you get north of lincoln park or the Fullerton red line stop the price drops considerably. I recommend looking for places to rent north of the Fullerton red line stop an d not getting a place near Evanston where prices can increase a lot. Evanston is very wealthy. Check it out just in case I am incorrect on Evanston apartment or renting a house or a floor of a house. I advise looking along the Chicago CTA red line for housing north of Fullerton. also som stops include th 'purple line express" this only runs during rush hour but is very quick to travel from evanston to downtown Chicago. It takes about an hour or an hour and a half on the CTA Red line from evanston to dwntown Chicago. Use google maps an check out the areas. By now I’m sure you’ll guess that I would say go to NU for journalism. Respected nation and world wide. Good luck.</p>
<p>As posters haver mentioned above Rogers park is a good area to live in. Much cheaper than some of the more expansive areas on the north side of Chicago</p>
<p>Also, the “cta upass” that oymaa has referenced is not available for undergrads at NU. At most only medill undergrads get one. Check with NU about CTA passes and deals . Many Chicago universities give undergrads cta upasses. Not sure about grad students.</p>
<p>Sk8runr24 - It takes an hour and half? Wow, I thought the trip would be much quicker! How is the distance between Lakeview/Lincoln Park/Rogers Park and Evanston via the El?</p>
<p>Also, Rogers Park seems like a great place, but is it safe? Like I said, cost is not too much of an issue. I’d definitely prefer a really safe area (even if it’s a bit pricey) over an affordable area where I would feel nervous about getting home from the El stop. If anyone can speak to this concern, it would be great!</p>
<p>Hello! I’m a current UChicago student-- and just chose Stanford’s journalism program over Northwestern (as well as Columbia and NYU). I’d be happy to talk to you about my decision process via PM, if you’d like.</p>
<p>Journalist 88 go onto google maps and you can click on the public transit option and it will estimate how long it will take for each location you punch in.</p>
<p>Most of the north side of Chicago is safer than the southside or west side. You can look up crime stats on each neighborhood probably on a city of Chicago website. Of course your still in a major city and there will be higher concentrations of crime.</p>