I completed my first year at UCSB and decided to transfer out. When I initially did apps I just applied to public schools and didn’t really do proper research to find the type of school I wanted. So I’m trying again. My top choice of major is political communications, but it’s not offered at very many schools. I’ve figured out some key criteria that I’m looking for, and now I’m asking for suggestions of schools to consider as I build my list.
- small class sizes, most classes not taught by TAs
- top choice of location is Boston, but also looking in other locations. I'm not really interested outside of the Northeast. -
- Prefer city environments, don't want anything super isolated
- not religious
- would love a speech and debate (not just debate) team
- I prefer career-oriented and hands-on learning to programs that are extremely theory based. This point isn't as important, since I don't actually know what exact career I want. Sounds a bit ironic, but I like the idea of internships, and less theory. I know I'm interested in the political communication field.
- since not many schools have political communication, I'm interested in a politically focused communication program, or vice versa. A program I can customize to encompass both topics.
Loosely considering (and I know these don’t all meet all my criteria): Emerson (top choice), Northeastern, Tufts, Wellesley, Simmons, Suffolk, American, George Washington.
Help me build my list!
My background:
- Comm major at UCSB. Didn’t like the program. Too theory-oriented, focused on comm research (which I find to be the quite boring side of comm).
- 3.88 college GPA (A’s/A+'s/A-'s in all but one class)
- 4.2 high school GPA
- SAT 1430, math 690, English 740
- Serious dancer throughout high school (no longer), some work background, mock trial in college, speech and debate in high school
- particular interest in reproductive justice, sex education, and public speaking
- currently on a gap year- travelled to 18 countries and counting
I gave some very specific criteria here, but above all, I’m looking for help finding schools in the Northeast where I can study political communications, or where the school’s strengths will be conducive to creating a similar path of study.