Looking for more schools to add to my list

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,

I already have a “Follow the Journey” post on CC, but this one is more geared towards suggestions from the CC community as to some colleges that would be worth considering.

(Intro copied from the FTJ thread) "A little bit about me! I love to write and tell stories. Writing is where I feel the most in my element, and my dream is to be a sports analyst with someone like ESPN. I feel like journalism has always been my calling, but unfortunately, the job market for journalists has never been worse and it doesn’t pay very well…

Which brings me to the other major I’m considering, business. I’m a people person, and good at small talk and forging relationships that you need in the business world. My parents subtly push me more towards this field because they want to see me have a successful life filled with making money. I’m not sure yet. I’m definitely not opposed to going into business, but do I love it? Only time will tell."

I live in the midwest, but I don’t really care where I would end up in the US. Preferably not the South, but I’m open to suggestions.

I’m a Junior from Illinois

My GPA is a 3.92/4 UW

ACT: 34 1st Try: (ENG 35, MA 30, REA 36, SCI 33)
2nd Try:(ENG 34, MA 32, REA 35, SCI 35)

SAT II - N/A

All honors classes, and by the time senior year ends, I’ll have taken 6 APS (English Lang&Lit, APUSH, AP World, AP Econ Macro & Micro, AP Spanish Lang)

4 years of Cross Country, Varsity captain since sophomore year (20 hours a week)
4 years of Track and Field, Varsity captain since junior year (20 hours a week)
Member of NJHS & NHS
300+ volunteer hours, mostly volunteering at a summer camp
Worked a summer at a Mariano’s (grocery store)
After School Matters 9-week summer program (choir/creative writing)

Cross Country and Track have been a big part of my life since freshman year, and although I love them dearly they’re part of the reason why I haven’t been able to pursue more opportunities (strict attendance policy, practice usually gets out around 6 and its a 1 hour commute home).

Schools I have noted so far :
Northwestern (Low Reach)
Syracuse (Match)
Missouri (Safety)

Business schools include:
Michigan (High Match)
Berkeley (Low Reach)
Penn (Reach)

Money schools include:
Stanford (High Reach, Communications, would fall in the new <125 k bracket)
USC (Low Reach, business/journalism, might be competitive for their big scholarships?)
BU (Match, business/journalism, competitive for merit aid)
Michigan State (Safety, business/journalism, highly competitive for merit aid)
Tulane (Low Match, excellent merit aid)

Any suggestions are appreciated!

2

Consider Penn State, Colgate, and Ohio state

3

UNC chapel hill is a no-brainer. Very strong journalism and business schools and meets full demonstrated need. It’s a low reach for you because the OOS acceptance rate hovers around 18 percent.

NYU is another obvious choice for business and journo but obviously you will need money. Stern is a reach (15 percent acceptance rate). Match for any other major, aside from art.

University of Florida for journo. Don’t know how good their aid is.

University of Virginia has a great business school and meets full demonstrated need. High match.

Penn State could be a safety but it’s kind of expensive.

University of Texas is a reach because of the top 7 percent rule, where they have to accept anyone in Texas who is in the top 7 percent of their graduating class. Great business and journalism schools though, especially if you get into the business honors program.

4

Oops, other important things to consider!
20k a year for college is easily manageable for my family, 40k is probably the maximum.
I would like to attend a bigger sized school. No limit to the size, but almost no consideration for a school <2,500
Love urban areas, so if I could stay near them for college, that would be fantastic

5

Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

6

Hey I’m a junior from Illinois too! AND i love writing also. haha.

I’m also looking at Northwestern, but you probably have a better chance of getting in there than I do lol. Anyway I didn’t see University of Chicago on your list. They’re very selective but your ACT is pretty high and they have a very good business.

Also if you wanted to pursue journalism, Mizzou is the best school for it.

7

@Shortstack17 haha that’s awesome!!! Are you looking at Northwestern too? UChicago is not on my radar because besides from Northwestern, I want to get out of Chicago :stuck_out_tongue: Mizzou is on my list too, as you can see :slight_smile:

8

Thanks for the suggestions @NASA2014 @Irreplaceable and @par72

9

There really are a lot of jobs in broadcast journalism. Look at producing - you will have a job at graduation. If you are talented - you will move up, and into management. Good job growth, good pay. I would strongly suggest that you call your local tv stations and job shadow over break or summer. Intern if you can.

10

If you are interested, add University of Missouri to your list.

11

How about Columbia? Long shot for anyone but your stats are solid. School of Journalism top notch. Or consider Fordham. You would be in running for one of their full rides. They have Communications majors plus Gabelli school of business. Excellent internship opportunities.

12

NU is not a low reach for anyone, it’s truly a crap shoot. I second the Columbia suggestion but it’s another reach school.

13

@MaterMia thank you for the words of encouragement! I don’t know if you saw, but the University of Missouri is already on my list, so I’m already taking steps in that direction.

@4Gulls isn’t their school of journalism only for graduate-level students? What draws you to Fordham?

@amtc I agree with you about NU, but check out my schools naviance scatter gram (Sorry it’s so zoomed in, I didn’t want to show my schools name or my own full name for privacy reasons). My scores fall where the red circle lies. For anyone not familiar with Naviance, green is accepted, blue is waitlisted/deferred, and a red x is denied. As you can see, very few people from my school with my stats have been denied (and it’s a sample size of around 650). Not saying that means NU is a guarantee, just that I think I have a better shot than I might be given credit for. http://■■■■■■■.com/view.php?pic=14vtgmt&s=8#.VWMqhVI8LCQ
I haven’t really looked at Columbia, but that could be a very interesting school.

14

Yup, you’re right re: Columbia Journalism grad level. Even so, you might still consider. Fordham on list because NYC and you’d be candidate for full scholarship. They do an excellent job w/ internships - and when it comes to media and business, well it’s NYC! Columbia iss a reach for all. Fordham would be safety for you. If being in a major city is one of your top priorities, explore both further. Good luck!

15

@4Gulls thank you for taking the time to give me advice! New York definitely interests me, although I’ve never been! I’ll always carry a chip on my shoulder because of the whole “second city” thing with Chicago, but it seems like an awesome college experience.

16

@WindyCityKid Yup :wink: though i’m looking more towards their cognitive science program. (I also see writing as a difficult field to work in, especially since I enjoy creative writing most) Oh and are you from the city?

17

@Shortstack17 yeah, don’t worry, I’m not a suburban imposter :wink: while writing is exceptionally difficult to work in, I feel like that’s what makes it so rewarding!

18

@WindyCityKid lol I am xD Yeah I’m hoping to find a school that also has a decent writing program if i decide to throw caution into the wind

19

@Shortstack17 I mean it couldn’t hurt to at least entertain your dream a little bit :slight_smile:

20

@WindyCityKid i try to, but my parents aren’t very supportive of that particular dream. (BTW sry for spamming your thread haha)