Need parental advice on communications major...PLEASE!!

Parents Forum
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<p>I posted this in another forum, but thought some parents might have good ideas too, so here goes…</p>

<p>Without divulging my stats (unfortunately I’m not a 4.0, 2400 girl, but I don’t have bad stats by any means, and my ECs are my strong point) I need advice looking for schools to apply to. I want to go into Communications, and I’m having a really tough time finding any school that excites me AT ALL! I seem to find something wrong with every place I visit, and this makes me so bummed out and panicked. I’m not sure what I want to do specifically, but I know it’s going to be something to do with journalism (broadcast, probably not newspaper), magazines, or possibly advertising. </p>

<p>Now here are just a sampling of problems with some of the schools I’ve looked into…</p>

<li><p>Syracuse- I love the program, but I hate the freezing weather and have heard a lot of horror stories about the kids who go there (very snobby girls, lots of JAPs…eeek!) Also, I’m not crazy about the city. </p></li>
<li><p>BU- Liked it okay, but I’ve lived in a big city my whole life and I don’t really love the no campus thing. </p></li>
<li><p>Penn- Liked it, but once again its in a big city, although the campus is way better than BU’s. But come on, I can’t really plan on getting in! Also, I think their comm program is more rhetoric, and I would prefer more of a hands-on thing. </p></li>
<li><p>UNC- Haven’t visited, but I really like the looks of it. Problems are, not sure if I could get in, plus, I know most of the kids are in-state, and I want a more geographically diverse study body. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I’ve visited a bunch more, but you get the idea…lol. Am I being too picky here?! I think there is some sort of curse on me…every time I find a school I like, they don’t offer my major!!! I really like Duke and UVA, but I can’t apply to either of those because they don’t have my major. Also, I like Northwestern, but it’s too close to where I live so I don’t want to apply there. This is driving me NUTS. </p>

<p>Here are the things I’m looking for in a school…nice campus (trees, older buildings, preferably on the East Coast…I’m flexible), friendly kids (just normal people here, not super competitive), good program (great profs, interesting classes, etc). I didn’t think it would be too difficult to find these things until I started looking. I feel like I’ve spent countless hours on this, pouring over websites and guide books…I’m starting to feel hopeless. </p>

<p>HELP!!</p>

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<p>How about Cornell? It's gorgeous, three hours from nowhere, but it is cold.</p>

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<p>University of Missouri--great broadcast program, graduates become TV anchors.</p>

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<p>Ok, I know this is not on the right coast, but Washington State University has a great, highly ranked communications program. It is a residential campus, the core is nice old red brick buildings, plenty of trees, PAC 10 sports, good sized but you can walk anywhere in 15 minutes, a little over an hour from Spokane, nice kids but most are in-state. Of course it would be a big change for you. It is a big enough place (18,000 undergrads, I think) that there are quite a few from CA, overseas etc. Possible OOS merit aid. Broadcast journalism is a VERY strong dept-named for famous alum Edward Murrow. Very hands-on...lots of experience available. They have a nice studio on campus. Plenty of other bright kids in vet-med, pharmacy, engineering etc. Decent honors program. Stats wouldn't have to be perfect if you apply early enough-rolling admission. Check it out and good luck!</p>

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<p>How about UCLA?</p>

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<p>Does anyone know more about University of Missouri? My mom is from Kansas and she doesn't really have a high opinion of the school. Maybe she is thinking of somewhere else, but she is under the impression that a lot of "dumb" kids go there!!</p>

<p>Any more suggestions on the east coast? Does anyone know anything about Penn's department?</p>

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<p>Maybe Emerson College in Boston?</p>

<p>

--<a href="http://www.emerson.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.emerson.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Don't reject Virginia just yet....I think it may provide you everything you are looking for.</p>

<p>In addition, it does have a media studies program, which you may be interested in. But even if you are not, the following people went to UVa and didn't have a degree in communications:</p>

<p>Richard Lowry - Editor of National Review
Tom Touchet - NBC's "Today" Show Executive Producer
Sara James - "Dateline NBC"
Katy Couric - "Today" Show
George Rodrigue - Washington Post, two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner
William Short- New York Times Crossword Editor and NPR Weekend Edition
Tyler Mathisen - CNBC
Brit Hume - Managing editor, Fox News
Taylor Buckley - USA Today Senior Editor</p>

<p>Also, in Entertainment
Melissa Stark, Tina Fey (SNL), Ben McKenzie (The O.C.), and many, many more - see UVa website</p>

<p>Based on your list:</p>

<p>East Coast with nice campus - you visited the campus, you know how nice it is, furthermore, the Rotunda is on the UN World Heritage List - i.e. the same list that has the Taj Mahal (it's one of three buildings in the US that are listed)
- plus it also has a lot of old buildings that are well kept - the whole academic village essentially.</p>

<p>Great Program in Liberal Arts with great professors and the student body is smart, friendly and know how to work hard and party hard.</p>

<p>I would definitely consider Virginia if I were in your position.</p>

<p>I would be happy to answer any more questions you may have.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the suggestion. I agree that UVA is an awesome school. Actually, I would absolutely apply there if it weren't for my math situation. </p>

<p>I am a HORRIBLE math student. My math grades the last three years have brought my GPA way down, so I opted not to take math senior year. Unfortunately UVA requires four years of math. </p>

<p>It makes me so angry, because they only require something like 1 year of history! I've taken four years of history already, but this math thing is keeping me out! GRR!!!</p>

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<p>Ursinus! <a href="http://www.ursinus.edu/content.asp?page=AcademicPrograms/MediaCommunicationStudies.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ursinus.edu/content.asp?page=AcademicPrograms/MediaCommunicationStudies.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I think what you saw on the admissions website is more of a guideline, than a rule. You can contact the admissions office to be sure, but I think if everything else is good and you emphasize on your application that you want to be a communications major, I think they will overlook it. Plus, one other great aspect about Virginia is that it is incredibly cheap for an out of state student for a University of that caliber - see the new program called AccessUVa, where you will incur very low debts if any at all - if money is an issue. Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>The only problem with Emerson is that it really doesn't have a campus.</p>

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<p>Ohio University in Athens has a very good journalism/communciation department, and the students are generally very happy with the school.</p>

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<p>Mini wrote on another thread:</p>

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<p>U might want to check out Penn State...</p>

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<p>Citygal-- you may find you get more helpful advice from the very knowledgable parents here if you delete your unnecessary and pejorative anti-semitic comment from your OP. Some may find it sexist as well.</p>

<p>We are a helpful bunch, but we have our limits....</p>

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<p>Joining in late, but here are some suggestions for schools with communications programs that fit your other needs: Susquehanna U in Pennsylvania, Goucher College in Maryland (it's just outside of Baltimore but the campus feels like it is in the country), Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana (has a very nice journalism program - rare for an LAC), Gettysburg College in PA (ditto to Earlham), Washington & Lee in Virginia (ditto), Wheaton College in Mass., Juniata in Pennsylvania, Flagler in Florida (excellent communications program, outstanding value in terms of cost), Chapman U in California, Santa Clara U also in California, Fairfield in CT, and finally Quinnipiac in CT. I would also recommend broadening your search to include schools with excellent English programs, even if they do not have a specific communications/journalism major -- a good English program that stresses writing and editing and a campus with student media opportunities can be as good a start as a journalism program. Try Vassar, Kenyon, and Mary Washington U for a start. I think you might find many of these schools to your liking. PM me if you want more suggestions.</p>

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<p>By the way, the University of Missouri at Columbia has one of the best communications programs in the country. I would highly recommend it, in spite of your mother's comments.</p>

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<p>I heard DePaul in Chicago has a great communications/broadcast program.</p>

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<p>If you liked Philadelphia take a look at Villanova. Has a broad based communications major within a very strong liberal arts tradition. Friendly kids but not super competitive. The only drawback for you might be the core requirements which do include two semesters of math.</p>