Journalism transfer student: Am I shooting too low?

Transfer Students
1

<p>OK, thought I'd give this a shot :)</p>

<p>I'm a slightly-nontraditional transfer student, as I basically took a couple years off to work. Looking for a strong journalism program with reasonable financial aid and a nice college atmosphere. I've been looking at mainly western public universities, but am I shooting too low?</p>

<p>California community college transfer w/ AA in journalism: GPA 3.1, major GPA 3.9, SATs (old) 800v, 550m (blah)</p>

<p>Extracurrics/honors:
Editor in chief of 2007 Associated Collegiate Press National Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist weekly student newspaper (The Advocate, Contra Costa College)
Second Place - 2007 ACP two-year college Reporter of the Year
Third Place - 2007 ACP Diversity Story of the Year
Third Place - 2006 ACP Best of Show, two-year Newspaper Special Edition
Honorable Mention - 2006 ACP Best of Show, two-year Newspaper
Winner - 2007 Journalism Association of Community Colleges Pacesetter Award
Winner - More state/regional writing/editing/design awards than I care to count (two dozen-plus)
Communications director for California Generation Dean, youth wing of Howard Dean's presidential campaign - spent Caucus Week on the ground in Des Moines.</p>

<p>Work experience:
Three years as a media relations consultant, contracted to a championship-winning professional sports car racing team based in Dallas.</p>

<p>I can get stellar letters of recommendation from my adviser and my employer and have scads of clips.</p>

<p>Applied to:
University of Alaska Anchorage (accepted)
University of Alaska Fairbanks (pending)
University of Idaho (pending)
Boise State University (accepted)
CSU-Chico (accepted for fall '08)</p>

<p>Where else should I be looking? Mizzou? University of South Dakota? Drake? I'm a bit lost beyond where I've seen, and I'd appreciate any assistance. I like my list so far, but there's something nagging at me saying I'm not reaching far enough.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance :)</p>

2

<p>yes I think you're shooting way too low. I don't see any reach/match schools for that list. Most if not all are safeties imo. Add Mizzou/UNC-Chapel Hill/Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison/USC/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</p>

<p>and since you're a Cali CC student, why not some UC schools?</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the suggestions...</p>

<p>As for the UCs, unbelievably, sadly, none of the UCs have an undergraduate journalism program.</p>

4

<p>Yes you are. You are crazy!! Apply to Mizzou
!!!!!!</p>

5

<p>Nah, Mizzou doesn't take any journalism transfer credit so I'd be essentially starting from scratch. Plus, if you transfer in, you have to take one full semester there as an undergrad before they even consider you for admittance to the j-school.</p>

<p>Great program, but not particularly transfer-friendly. Did I mention that with out-of-state tuition, I'd be looking at $30k per year? :eek:</p>

<p>As an update to this bumped post, I've been accepted to Alaska Fairbanks and Idaho, and have pretty much narrowed my selection down to those two. Going to make my decision after I visit Moscow next week.</p>

<p>I have fallen in love with UAF, though...</p>

6

<p>Well, maryland has decent journalism program.</p>

7

<p>USC, UNC Chapel Hill, and U Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</p>

<p>my advice, apply to those.</p>

8

<p>University of Oregon has a great journalism program and it's on the west coast.</p>

9

<p>Yep, they do, Worried Student. Unfortunately their journalism program doesn't accept Western Undergraduate Exchange students so I'd be looking at full OOS :(</p>

<p>Might go there for grad school, though...</p>