<p>so if the new medill opens up more opportunities in technology/media related careers, does it open up opportunities anywhere else?</p>
<p>granted, i'm only a sophomore. but i'm interested in journalism, political science and law... let's say i got into medill and did a double major in political science but then after 4 years i decided i didn't want to be a journalist (because i too am more interested in print journalism.) with that background, could i apply to law school or go into government? or does medill prepare you with really specialized skills that are only really applicable to today's technology/journalism world?</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore in Medill and I just wanted to clarify some of the misconceptions about the equipment requirements for incoming freshman. Medill strongly recommends, but in no way requires, that students purchase the $3,500 (not $6,000) worth of equipment.</p>
<p>In response to Mcailles, I'm positive that as a freshman, the amount was somewhere around $6000. I never bought the equipment, but those who did complained frequently about the cost. You might also note that last years freshmen ('06 highschool class) were the 'guinea pigs' for Medill's new changes and requirements. That's exactly what my freshman advisor called it. Mcailles might be right for those at sophomore levels and above, but I think it's different for younger classes.</p>
<p>Everyone I knew at Northwestern, so far as I know, loves it. Looking back on my own experience, the best advice I can give is not to go to Medill JUST because you like to write, or are a good writer. </p>
<p>Anyways, I just wanted to give a quick update - I transferred (to a state school, if that interests any higher-end-school prospects) and am majoring in a field I love, and I don't regret leaving Northwestern at all. The ability to write is a gift and an art and I love it, and it has helped and will continue to help me for the rest of my life. </p>
<p>If you have a passion, go for it. If it's journalism - the pure act of gathering and reporting and everything else that's coming with its new territory - do it. But if it's something else and you just happen to love writing also, let the writing aide you, not lead you.</p>
<p>After my first few quarters at Medill, I thought about transferring too. You can even look back at my posts and see my desperate requests for advice. Well guess what. I'm still here. I'm a senior. I'm about to graduate. And I've loved my Medill experience. Yeah, Medill is going through a lot of changes. Classes have a different emphasis. But I don't think it'll be for the worse. I like to complain about Medill 20/20 as much as the next Medill kid, but I still think Medill gave me great chances to contribute to public service. There are still professors who really believe in journalism. </p>
<p>I also believe that what makes Medill really great isn't so much the classes as the community of students and faculty who are passionate about writing and muckraking. If the dean doesn't -- who cares. You don't have to interact with him. I've been inspired by some of my professors, my classmates, and the student publications at Northwestern. I've been involved in The Daily Northwestern for several years -- including being editorials "forum" editor -- and that has been a more valuable experience to me than any classroom. </p>
<p>Medill's career services are still great. Without them, I would not have gotten my internship at The Charlotte Observer last year, and The Associated Press this summer. And I wouldn't have gotten a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund internship and scholarship.</p>
<p>Basically what I'm saying is, Medill is worth it. You just have to be willing to put effort into your education. It's not all about sitting in class. If that's all you do, then not only are you wasting your own time, you're wasting everybody else's, too.</p>
<p>someone mentioned something about spending $2500 on 'equipment' as a freshman.. i'm just wondering what specific equipment is required..or recommended .. is it just a tool to create podcasts?</p>
<p>After being nearly finished with two quarters of Medill, we have used/purchased the following equipment:</p>
<p>voice recorder
video camera (w/ firewire cable for connecting it to laptop)
lavalier microphone
tripod
Adobe Creative Suite software (InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Premiere Elements, Photoshop Elements, Flash)
digital camera</p>
<p>It all gets pretty costly, but if need be, you can rent half of the above from Medill and fine the rest on Amazon for a lower price. It's well worth it.</p>
<p>Susa: I am an aspiring journalist as well and an applicant to Northwestern..but share many of your concerns. Do you mind sharing your new career goals, or where you might transfer to?</p>
<p>i read that Medill might get a new name so that "journalism" is no longer part of it. i hope this doesn't happen, but it goes to show that even the Dean doesn't view the Medill curriculum as true journalism either.
What do you think? Should I go to Medill or should I study political science at Barnard?</p>
<p>that's not what i heard. i heard "journalism" would remain but "integrated marketing" or something would be added so it's gonna be a longer name. :)</p>
<p>nix . . . the program is now known as Medill at Northwestern University. And a big marketing offensive was launched to change the name. So the inquisitive mind would ask . . . why would a new manager, an experienced business person, drop the word "journalism" from an established brand name?</p>
<p>They dropped "journalism" because that's not all they are doing. To say you have a master's degree in integrated marketing from a school of journalism just seems to imply far more about a journalism education than it should. I think the name makes sense -- anyone who knows what Medill is knows that the 'journalism' isn't needed.</p>
<p>atardecer0's points are well taken. John Lavine, the current Dean at Medill, started out professionally in a traditional print journalism track moving on to broadcast and multimedia. Along the way he ran newpapers and television stations before moving into marketing communications. He ultimately headed the Integrated Marketing Communications program with a joint appointment at Kellogg for several years turning IMC at NU into THE place to train for future IMC professionals. The program remains one of the best of its kind anywhere in the world. Medill</a> - Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)</p>
<p>Undergraduates at Northwestern (with preference given to those at Medill) can now take advantage of that affiliation and pursue an additional certificate program in marketing through IMC. For those at Medill who ultimately want to make use of their understanding of journalism in particular/media in general and combine this with marketing training to get involved in business aspects of the field, this represents a fantastic opportunity. Medill</a> - IMC Undergraduate Certificate</p>
<p>Medill does represent much more than just journalism today. Writing is still at the core of the undergrad program. But while this serves as a great base to continue moving into a traditional journalism career tract, it also provides a great training ground for those who choose after 4 years to segue to law school or into business.</p>
<p>I just read some of the posts and I'm concerned. I would like to go to Bard College at Simon's Rock, an early college. Then, I would transfer and Northwestern was a good choice. I want to go into print journalism, and not broadcast or photojournalism. I also like NYU and USC. Are they better choices? Thanks!</p>
<p>As someone who has a degree in photojournalism (not from Northwestern) and has taught at Syracuse University's Newhouse School, I can't imagine this switch is going to prepare graduates who are prepared (and marketable) for the journalistic workforce. Every facet of journalism (broadcast, photo, magazine, newspaper) has very specific skills needed to do that particular job. Is there crossover? Certainly, that's what core requirements are for. I just can't understand a program that doesn't require a student to specialize. Why not just create a new track in New Media, or change some core requirements to encompass new media?</p>
<p>I think you may be misunderstanding the revised curriculum. All students still specialize as they once did with upper level classes required in "pure" newspaper, magazine, new media, or broadcast. The one term internship is obviously related to that area of specialization (examples of sites available based on specialization: Atlanta Journal-Constitution v. Newsweek v. MSNBC v. Los Angeles Times Online). But while intro classes previously purely writing driven remain writing focused, they've expanded to include an exposure to and basic mastery of multimedia and web production. The heart and soul of the curriculum remains the written word - that hasn't changed. Neither has the specialization that develops in both the classroom and via internships in the 3rd-4th years.</p>
<p>My best friend taught there and quit for that exact reason. She is now teaching at Columbia College in Chicago and loves it! Most of her colleagues have also fled.(she taught copy editing) If you really care about writing and standards, Northwestern is a disastrous place to get educated!</p>