Oberlin, journalism and other questions

<p>Hi there! I am going to be a senior in high school in the fall (I live in Austin, TX) and in deciding where I am going to apply I have come up with some questions....</p>

<p>I am interested in Oberlin, everything I have heard about it sounds good and I think I would like it there. But, I am hoping to double major in journalism and sociology (How hard is it to double major? is it too ambitious? advice? Or should I do spanish?) But, Oberlin doesn't have a journalism major. I'm still considering it, though, because it has so many cool student publications that I would like to be a part of. Also, do only grad students get to be really involved? Or could I as a youngin'?</p>

<p>I guess I should say: when I get out of college I want to be very involved in non-profits (like I am now) but actually work for them. BUT i dont want to lose journalism because I'd like to do that to. is that...crazy? idk!!!</p>

<p>I'm also considering UT Austin, A&M, Hendrix, Wesleyan, and others...my reaches are probably Northwestern, U Chicago...I don't really know, is the thing! </p>

<p>ANYTHING! helps. </p>

<p>I'm just trying to figure things out. Suggestions on where else I should consider? Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Thanks yall!
Hirrah</p>

<p>Other Schools to Consider:</p>

<p>UNC Chapel Hill
University of Missouri-Columbia
UC Berkley
Syracuse</p>

<p>“Also, do only grad students get to be really involved?”</p>

<p>Oberlin is a liberal arts college so it doesn’t have grad students. Ditto Hendrix. If you are looking at Oberlin, you should also consider Grinnell. No journalism major either, but a lot of cross-applicants between the two schools, and Grinnell has made a commitment to nonprofit mgt. ([For</a> Applicants - Community Enhancement & Engagement | Grinnell College](<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/communityenhance/partnershipprograms/studentapprenticeships/applicants]For”>http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/communityenhance/partnershipprograms/studentapprenticeships/applicants))</p>

<p>As for journalism, all the schools have student publications - a newspaper, literary journal, humor, etc…See if you can get an internship in your college’s PR, Marketing or Communications Office - or at a local non-profit with a mission you care about.</p>

<p>@HirrahBarlas - I attended Oberlin from 2006-2010 and desperately wanted to major in photojournalism by my second year. It was a bit too late to try and do an independent major, but I realized that I would rather gather as much knowledge and experience (I am ever thankful for liberal arts), while working and photographing as much as possible.</p>

<p>I worked with the Oberlin Review as a photo editor for three semesters and photographed with them for five (I also photographed for the Office of Communications, occasionally for The Grape, and almost every department on campus). I also arranged private readings with professors to explore different methods of storytelling and advanced photographic technique. I spent two years writing for the Oberlin blogs as a student, and pursued many personal projects in photographic storytelling.</p>

<p>I know that none of the things I listed equals a journalism major, but in completing my cinema studies major, I ended up with a ton of media and tech skills (increasingly more important in the age of internet), plus lots of knowledge on how to construct stories. I now work as the Social Media Coordinator in the Office of Communications at Oberlin College. I wouldn’t say that I’m a journalist, but I write constantly, photograph and video often, and always have to have my ears perked for a good story.</p>

<p>I also want to direct you to a blog post written by Professor David Walker '72 [on</a> this exact topic](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/learning/jobs_gradschool/newsworthy.shtml]on”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/learning/jobs_gradschool/newsworthy.shtml).</p>