<p>Hi, I am a junior in high school. I have 3.51 GPA unweighted, which is very good because I go to a rigorous high school. My grades are a mix of A's and B's. I'm currently taking APUSH and Honors American Lit. I'm also taking my Media Studies elective at Honors Level. I'm also going to do the AP Lit test in May. Next year I'm planning to take AP Econ and AP Stats.
I'm the sports editor of my school newspaper, assistant editor-in-chief of a school magazine, on my grade's class council, and yearbook. I got into NHS this year but I'm not officially in yet until later this year. For community service, I played soccer w/ special needs kids sophomore year; I was a tour guide at a MA gov't building last summer (I'm not saying where, for the sake of being anon); and this year I'm a peer tutor, helping out during my free blocks.
ANYWAY, I want to go into journalism school, maybe with a minor in international relations. While I am considering several schools, Medill has always been high on my (and my parents') list. I'm planning to visit it in April and see a friend of mine who goes there. I'm also working on applying to the Cherubs program, which I've heard great things about.
The thing is, I'm really scared about applying to Medill and what would happen if I got in and went there for school. I know it's a tough school, up there with the Ivy League. I don't want to go to school where I'm getting B's and C's. I know I would get a great education at Medill, but I don't want to go through academic burnout for another 4 years.
I looked at Mizzou, mostly because my newspaper advisor and journalism teacher told me that Mizzou is THE number 1 journalism school in the country. And I realized that I could actually do very well there and my AP scores could actually be used for credit. Most importantly, I feel like I would be so much happier there and less stressed out. However, my parents only think of Mizzou as a 'safety' and they don't seem to take my interest in Mizzou seriously. And at my snobby suburb public school, Northwestern >>>>> Mizzou. In fact, I don't think anyone from my school has gone to Mizzou in recent years.
While both schools are different, I'm actually torn. I know I'm only a junior, but I feel like that in the end, it will come down to these schools. I am leaning towards Mizzou, but I'm scared of the backlash I will get from my parents and peers.
So I guess I'm looking for advice from people who may have had the same problem and current j-school students at either institutions.
THANK YOU FOR READING!</p>
<p>Mizzou’s J school is ranked in the top 3. They do get a lot of top students because it is so highly ranked and the classes are not just a cakewalk. My daughter is a current freshman and while it was her safety school, she fell in love with it when she visited and is very happy there. Direct admits to the J school need to have at least a 29 ACT and be in the top 10% of their high school class. They also have 55-60 Walter Williams scholars a year ( students with min 33 on ACT or equivalent on SAT)</p>
<p>Apply to both and decide later.</p>
<p>Unless you attend a nationally-recognized HS, a 3.5 is not very competitive for NW. Also, you’ll need a 2100/32 to have a shot. Northwestern’s bottom quartile is a 31/2060 (and that includes recruited athletes).</p>
<p>Adamom: From I’ve read, you only need 1 of 3 requirements for direct admission: 29 ACT w/o writing, 1290 SAT (exclude verbal, idk why), OR top 10% of HS class.
My school doesn’t do ranking. My CR and Math together is 1210 (with verbal it’s 1880), but I’ve only taken the SAT once (and I didn’t do it today).
Does your daughter work on the newspaper there or another publication? And how many hours of studying does she put in?</p>
<p>Bluebayou: I think it’s fair to say that my school is nationally-recognized. Let me put it this way: the average SAT at my school is about 1850, almost everyone gets 4/5 on the AP’s, we’re highly competitive in sports, etc. But from what I saw on my school’s Naviance (which basically shows your chances based solely on GPA and SAT scores), I am fine GPA wise but I’m screwed with my SAT. I’ll be taking it again in June and October.</p>
<p>Consider taking the ACT if the SAT does not agree with you. Some students do better on one test versus the other.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus: I did in Feb., but I had zero time for any prep, and I lost all focus half-way in, so my score was really bad O__o and the SAT isn’t that bad, I just don’t really like memorizing vocab.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be a downer, but I have to agree with bluebayou. A 3.5 is very low for Northwestern. I applied to Medill this past fall with a 3.9 UW and 4.1 W, and was rejected, though my test scores did fall in the bottom quartile. Both Northwestern and Medill are only going to become more and more desirable and competitive, so I would keep your options open and check out other journalism school, as well.</p>
<p>Though they’re on opposite coasts, both the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland have very strong journalism programs (I’ve applied to both) and they may be more realistic options for you.</p>
<p>From one perspective journalist to another, I wish you the best of luck! :)</p>
<p>collegechica12: Yeah, my GPA isn’t super high, but please trust me when I say that my high school is really hard-we’re known for having rigorous courses, so I think that they’ll be a bit forgiving. But wouldn’t Northwestern be also concerned with how my SAT scores compare to their applicants? Especially considering the fact the difficulty of every HS varies, so GPA isn’t exactly a fair measure. I know it’s important, of course, but you can’t say that one school’s class is the same level of difficulty as another school’s.</p>
<p>I’m considering Maryland at College Park, but Oregon is out of the question-West Coast is just too far away for school. In fact, Mizzou is as far West as I will go. </p>
<p>and thank you =)</p>
<p>Memorizing doesn’t really work for learning vocabulary if you ever want to actually use any of those words. You need to learn them in context. Some students like the “SAT Novels” [SparkNotes:</a> SAT Novels](<a href=“http://www.sparknotes.com/satfiction/]SparkNotes:”>http://www.sparknotes.com/satfiction/) But an aspiring journalist might prefer to pick up a copy of the New York Times some Sunday, and spend a week or two reading through all of the sections.</p>
<p>@yearbookstalker: Yes, you are correct, Northwestern does consider the rigor of your high school and the courses offered. This is where class rank comes in, as does the number of AP/IB courses offered at your school versus the number you have taken. Granted that you can score say in the range of 2200+ or 32+ (roughly) on ACT/SAT this would boost your chances of acceptance significantly, but Northwestern, as with most selective Universities, stresses the strength of the applicant’s transcript first and foremost. </p>
<p>As someone who had her heart set on and broken over Medill, I’d offer you this advice: be highly involved in your school’s publication pathway (seems like you’re fine with that), look for internships at local papers, blog, do something journalistically outside of school, visit Northwestern and ideally take part in any of their on-campus programs, INTERVIEW (I didn’t do this and really regret it), basically keep your grades up, and stay interested in journalism and Northwestern.</p>
<p>Also, apply to UMCP EARLY (by Nov.15), and, though I understand U of O is far (I’m in state) if come your senior year, you’re looking for more options, remember that a 3.5+ means a guaranteed admit, and the School of Journalism and Communication and the University itself offer a lot of merit aid.</p>
<p>Anyway, that’s my spiel, hopefully it helps you a bit!</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>with a 3.5 and average SAT for your school, you are appear to be an “average” student at a competitive HS. That alone won’t do it for Northwestern, which wants top decile at competitive high schools. (Our HS has a similar SAT score and no way anyone has ever gotten in with a 3.5 that was not recruited.) </p>
<p>Apply broadly, but worrying about an stretch acceptance is a waste of your energy today.</p>
<p>What is your high school rank?</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like your GPA is high enough to be competitive for NU. </p>
<p>What was your ACT score?</p>
<p>The whole “I lost focus halfway thru my ACT” story doesn’t bode well for test-taking in the future.</p>
<p>Ignore what others are saying about being pro-NU. What good will it do anyone to focus solely on NU when there’s a good chance you won’t get accepted. Don’t even discuss it with these people. Just tell them that you’re keeping all options open. Parents and friends are often overly-optimistic about where kids can get into school.</p>
<p>Find some MORE schools.</p>
<p>^ Yes, find some more schools. Absolutely, go where you will be happiest and forget about what people in your snobby suburban school think. </p>
<p>Take a look at the bios on the website an major news broadcaster or newspaper. You will find that their reporters and anchors majored in a range of different fields and attended a range of different schools.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a journalism and IR, you don’t necessarily need to major in journalism. A solid background in iR or in language and area studies would be a better preparation if you have an interest in international journalism. You can still do internships and work on school publications.</p>
<p>Some schools to consider:
Michigan (communication studies + international studies or area studies)
Indiana (good J school + extensive international and area studies programs)
Wisconsin (good J school + extensive international and area studies programs)
George Washington (journalism, IR, political communication)
Syracuse (Newhouse)
Boston U (IR, journalism)
If you were willing to consider the West coast:
U Washington (The Jackson School + Journalism)</p>
<p>Some IR programs have tracks in international communication, too.</p>
<p>My high school doesn’t rank.</p>
<p>I’m usually good with tests, but I didn’t realize that the ACT sections were so long that I just couldn’t concentrate. </p>
<p>And other schools I’m looking at</p>
<p>U of Maryland at College Park
Boston U
Boston C
Michigan (my dad also went there)
Emerson
NYU
NorthEASTERN
Conn College
UNC Chapel Hill (I’m only looking, but I know for a fact that I won’t get in as an out-of-state female)
South Carolina
American
GW</p>
<p>Do many newspaper allow HS students to intern? I try googling stuff but nothing really comes up within the Boston area…</p>
<p>You’re right, it is just one of those criteria, but I was trying to emphasize that the kids who are in the J school esp the journalism honors program are pretty good students. My daughter is more interested in broadcast and she already has an internship in the field. She has friends that write for the paper and others that have radio shows etc. It is a very hands on program and even though it is not as selective, it is an excellent program. Also it is a great campus with great sports, active Greek life and many other extra curricular activities.</p>
<p>FWIW, Medill seems to value applicants who had leadership positions at their school papers or other school publications. I went there and I remember them asking us to stand up on the first day if you were in charge of a publication at your high school – there were a lot of folks standing. Good luck.</p>
<p>Can you afford Mizzou? Is Mizzou in-state or out-of-state for you?</p>
<p>Journalism is one of the few undergraduate things at Mizzou for which it is significantly more selective than the school’s average.</p>
<p>Check Temple. It has a terrific regional alumni network in journalism. Plenty of opportunities in Philly, too.</p>