<p>I'm a senior with a fairly lackluster gpa (3.7 on a 5), decent SAT scores (750V, 650M, 690W), and what I think is a strong EC list (Debate Team League Champion and Team Captain, 3 Editorships On School Paper, Technical Director of School TV Studio, Intern for two video production companies, District Chorus Finalist and Select Choir Member, and 3 Year Track member with 1 letter). I'm looking to pursue a career in communications, but my current interest is more oriented towards film. I'd like to go to a school with strong liberal arts, journalism, film, and possibly graphic design programs, just so I have a lot of options. Right now, though, I feel as if I only have my reaches decided. I would like to apply to the Steinhardt school at NYU, and Northwestern. Syracuse is my primary safety school right now. Can you guys help me out with my on-target schools?</p>
<p>oh, and my school uses the 92-100 scale for an A, which hurts me due to my many 90's and 91's. I know NYU recalculates GPA. Also at my school, Honors is 4.5, AP 5, and CP 4.</p>
<p>If you are applying to Syracuse's Newhouse Communications school, I wouldn't really consider it a safety. Newhouse is pretty hard to get into. If you are applying to another school at Syracuse (like arts and sciences), then that is another story. I would say you have a good list of schools lined up though.</p>
<p>UNC is another good journalism school, although I'm not sure how good they are in film.</p>
<p>UNC has a strong program but an out of state application will be more competitive than NYU or Syracuse (92% of freshman slots are reserved for N. Carolinians).</p>
<p>USC's Annenberg School for Communication should be considered. They offer both Comm and Journalism majors. Your stats are right on the mark and the program is strong.</p>
<p>Medill (Northwestern) is still very doable, especially for early decision. While your stats may look below average for the college, your extracurriculars will carry more weight and be evaluated more carefully here than at Arts and Science, for example (and your ECs are quite strong - NU has one of the best debate teams in the country with title wins over several years - you may well find yourself recruitable).</p>
<p>thanks cuse for putting my "safety" school into perspective haha...</p>
<p>and bala, I've really been pulling for USC, but my parents get a bit antsy whenever i mention going to school in CA... perhaps i'll give it another shot. i've been hearing that Florida State has a good communications program as well... any thoughts?</p>
<p>Emerson specializes in pratical arts (or something to that extent).</p>
<p>you won't get into annenberg with a C plus GPA...nor many other elite privates. you might want to focus on state universities instead.</p>
<p>yeah that's why in my 1st post i was worrying that i only had my reaches determined. any state school suggestions for my on-target choices?</p>
<p>and princessbell: i actually visited emerson and decided that it was bit too specialized for me. i'd rather have a good liberal arts education than a purely technical one.</p>
<p>obviously i'd start with the state universities where you call home. instate admits are both easier and cheaper on the pocketbook.</p>
<p>For film and Writing you would want to check out UNCW in Wilmington NC</p>
<p>Wesleyan seems to be what you're looking for. The only thing is, it may be on the slight reach side.</p>
<p>The thing with Syracuse is although Newhouse has a very selective acceptance rate of high school students matriculating, once you're at Syracuse (a possibility is to affiliate with the LAS college) and maintain a certain GPA, you can transfer into Newhouse. I think that of around 3000+ applicants to Newhouse, they accept enough to yield a freshman class of 300. I was going to second Emerson... worth checking into.</p>
<p>good to know, teriwtt. have you guys heard anything about Ithaca College, Fordham College, or the University of Miami? All of these have the courses I'm interested in. Fordham's probably the one I'm most interested in at the moment, just because of its location.</p>