Pomona vs. Mizzou J-school

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Before I start, please know that I realize have two great offers to consider and am by no means complaining. Also, sorry in advance; this post is nearly as tangled as my thoughts!</p>

<p>A few weeks ago, the University of Missouri--Columbia granted me their Chancellor's Fund for Excellence scholarship, which covers room, board, tuition, a laptop, and various other things. I’m also a Walter Williams scholar--- more information here for those unfamiliar with this (Missouri</a> School of Journalism: The Journalism Scholars and Walter Williams Scholars Programs). I hear belonging to this group makes the school feel smaller. When I got this, I was pretty psyched, and pretty sure I was going to go to Mizzou.
Then, last week, I was accepted to Pomona, my top-choice school. I love its rigor, smallness, and incredible aesthetics.<br>
Also, I’m almost positive I’d like to be a journalist in some capacity, but I’m not entirely certain, and have heard that it’s often better to get your undergraduate degree in something you really love (like political science!) and then go to grad school to hone your journalistic craft.
The problem with Pomona is that it’ll put me $30,000 into student loan debt. Also, in accordance with their student loan policy, the $15,000 I’ve accrued in outside scholarships will only subtract from the amount they’ve given me (my “Pomona grant” of $38,000ish. Expensive school, indeed.) My parents cannot pay for any of it, as each is unemployed.
I’m incredibly conflicted. My mom and dad say I’m stupid not to take the free ride, that I’m an elitist if I don’t accept the honor (it’s only given to one person at MU each year), and that it’ll be great to graduate without student loans.<br>
Most of my friends and teachers say $30,000 is a small price to pay for a potentially life-changing experience.</p>

<p>Either way, I’m going onto grad school, preferably Yale law school or Columbia’s j-school, if I can get in. That’ll add more debt. </p>

<p>So, the way I see it, I have two great options. Pomona is my ideal school, but it’s quite a price to pay. Mizzou isn’t perfect, but, without massive debts looming above my head, I can probably make the experience into something cool. </p>

<p>I’ll add more as I think of more pros and cons.<br>
This is the first time I’ve ever had to make a decision of such great consequence on my own. Scary stuff. Any input you can give is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>youre not being elitist. prestige IS a consideration. that said, i think Mizzou is a GREAT option. their jschool is fantastic and i think that you can have just as good of a college experience. sure, your peers wont be the same as those at pumona, but you should be able to find a group that will replicate that at Mizzou. I live in Missouri, and can say that even though its a big public university, and maybe not in the top 5, it is still a pretty place and a college with character. also, the prestige of your scholarship will = pumona if not surpass it.</p>

<p>that said, if you really want an intimate college experience and a potentially better location, then go for it. if you havnt visited you should try to if you can handle the traveling financially. they will have very different atmospheres. i would say, that unless you FALL in love with pumona, or feel a large enough margin between pumona and mizzou, then pick mizzou.</p>

3

<p>The j-school is Mizzou is practically unbeatable. Combined with the great scholarship you got, it’s tough for me to recommend Pomona. However, Pomona is a fantastic school. If you really feel that the small-college environment (which may be easily simulated at Mizzou due to the scholars program) is something for you, it’s time to figure out just how much it’s worth to you.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the quick replies!
It seems it’s too late to edit my original post. </p>

<p>Perhaps this will make things a bit clearer. </p>

<p>-POMONA-
pros:
*perpetually fantastic weather (yes, this sounds frivolous, but I hate cold.)
*greater diversity, which I assume will yield more interesting conversations
*small, seminar-style classes
*close to Los Angeles, the beach, the mountains, and Orange County, where I used to live
*almost every department is strong. If I find a new interest, I can pursue it without worrying if my degree means something.
*intellectual conversations that extend outside the classroom
*great advising system
*claremont consortium
*more internship opportunities than mizzou outside of journalism</p>

<p>cons:
*massive loans
*plane tickets’ expense
*mom won’t allow me to take my car
*far away from my family (not that big of a problem- I’m pretty self-sufficient)
*I’ll have to do work study
*incredibly competitive (could potentially lower my GPA and keep me from a good grad school!)</p>

<p>-MIZZOU-
pros:
*arguably the best journalism school in the nation
*guaranteed housing, room, and board for four years, regardless of how the economy’s doing
*Walter Williams group makes the school feel more intimate. Might also prove conducive to intellectual conversations like I’ll find at Pomona
*close to my family (approximately 2 hours away from home)
*perhaps less competition (each time this conversation comes up my dad says I’ll be a ‘big fish in a big pond’. It’s inevitably followed by a house-rumbling laugh)
*more likely to succeed in the political realm in my home state than in California</p>

<p>cons:
*crappy weather
*annoying jock/pearl-wearing/beer-pong-playing/Tiger-obsessed culture
*massive school- I don’t want to feel like a number!
*dual majoring might prove difficult
*boring general education classes (just based on what I’ve heard from classmates currently at MU)
*most programs other than journalism aren’t strong</p>

5

<p>Congratulations on the MU scholarship. As you noted, MU is incredibly stingy with generous merit scholarships, and that is quite an accomplishment.</p>

<p>I’ll have to second ElizaB on the recommendation to visit MU if you haven’t already. If they haven’t already told you they will cover the costs for a visit, call the J-school, tell them who you are and explain that your parents’ financial situation will not cover a visit. If they say they can’t do it, call admissions. Call the dean. MU and Columbia are different than Pomona, and you should have an opportunity to assess both places.</p>

<p>Columbia is a nice college town–lots of restaurants, music venues near campus, vibrant downtown that is adjacent to campus, walking and biking trails. It is a pretty big campus, includes a vet college, a medical school, law school, the works. Some great new J-school buildings, as you no doubt know. There is a really good/large/modern/new/elaborate recreation center and gym, if that is a factor.</p>

<p>Since you will be able to enroll in the honors version of the standard freshman courses, you can avoid most of the extremely large lectures, a good thing, in my opinion. The professors will love you.</p>

<p>I generally advise against significant debt, but 30K may not be completely overwhelming. Still, it is not insignificant, and you may be looking at additional costs afterward, depending on the type of graduate program you pursue. Debt limits options. If you want unrestricted options, don’t graduate with debt.</p>

<p>A previous poster made a good point. This scholarship will be a significant enhancement to your resume. It will also guarantee that important faculty will notice you, and that is important for future references.</p>

<p>The J-school students are, on average, the best undergraduates at Mizzou. The smart ones double major in a field outside of journalism; if you do so, that is a good opportunity to get to know more faculty.</p>

<p>Well, it is an interesting choice. Different parts of the country, different types of school, different majors. In some ways, it mirrors my son’s situation a couple of years ago. He was accepted to his favorite school. But, he ended up going with the school that had the program that gave him the most opportunity to get into research right off the bat; that happened to be the school that offered him a full tuition/fees/cash and computer merit scholarship as well. He has never regretted his choice. (On the other hand, both are private schools, and a bit more similar in size than your choices, so not the same situation.)</p>

<p>Good luck with this. I’m kind of hoping you choose MU, but you have to be happy with your choice. Consider your parents’ feelings, too.</p>

<p>NOTE: I just read your later post, and realized you are already in MO or close to it. Ignore all the visiting suggestions.</p>

6

<p>^ tough choice- as you might have seen from another thread Im trying to decide btwn Pomona and Amherst (but I got a full ride from Pomona and most likely from Amherst).</p>

<p>Since both of your parents are unemployed shouldn’t you call/ write Pomona’s FA office and explain your situation? I think if your fin aid for pomona isnt improved then I would choose Mizzou. Either way I wish you the best of luck- and I might possibly meet you at Pomona next year =).</p>

7

<p>You have some misconceptions (and so do your parents?).</p>

<p>You should very seriously consider heading off to Pomona.</p>

<p>Mizzou is a fine school for someone who wants to be there - you don’t. The fit is all wrong. The journalism program is not “practically unbeatable.” It will train you well for a trade but is not intellectual and not academically rigorous - few people understand this. You very well may, as you seem to realize, ultimately choose a completely different major and path (as most undergrads, in fact, do).</p>

<p>There is nothing “elitist” about wanting to spend college at a school that stimulates you, where you can surround yourself by like-minded people. $30k is not a drop in the bucket but it is not a huge debt burden. I strongly agree with the advice you’re getting from your teachers. Pomona may well be a “potentially life-changing experience.” Mizzou, for you, may prove to be four years of regrets and second guessing what might have been.</p>

8

<p>A couple of responses to your second post.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>You won’t find it that hard to ignore the groups that annoy you. That is one advantage to a big place.</p></li>
<li><p>At the J-school, you won’t be a number. At the registrar’s office, the parking office, etc. you will be a number. That is the DISadvantage of a big place.</p></li>
<li><p>Get a nice warm coat. You know it is not really that cold in Columbia in the winter. Geez, I’ve lived in a lot places colder than central MO. Journalists have to be ready to live anywhere, right?</p></li>
<li><p>Not all of the general ed courses are boring. Take the honors sections, they involve more give and take with the professor and your classmates.</p></li>
<li><p>It shouldn’t be hard to dual major. I know a lot of professors whose favorite students are dual Journalism and (x) majors.</p></li>
</ol>

9

<p>I will agree with wbwa that journalism as a stand-alone undergraduate major is not sufficiently intellectual. Double major.</p>

<p>As at all large publics, many of the class options are not stimulating or rigorous. But many are. Talk to those who know, and choose wisely.</p>

<p>I also agree that you should talk to Pomona some more about improving their financial offer. Explain, in a nice way, that you have a generous option.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>why is this a con?</p>

11

<p>I could not agree more with wbwa. You’re truly talking apples and oranges here. Mizzou is a fine journalism school that produces a lot of folks writing for publications around the Country.</p>

<p>Pomona is an elite liberal arts college with a peer group and resources Mizzou can’t touch. It would be a life changing experience. It’s a huge honor to get their top scholarship? You got it because you will be their top student if you attend. At Pomona you’ll be among a lot of smart kids like yourself from all over the world. You learn as much from peers as you do from profs.</p>

<p>I would try to work with the financial aid office and see what they can do. If your parents remain unemployed at the very least you should get more money next year if not this.</p>

12

<p>i would say Pomona. No offense to Mizzou, but I feel like a lot of very intellectual and gifted students would feel let down by the lack of stellar academic programs at Mizzou other than journalism.</p>

13

<p>Mizzou will give you great connections in the Journalism industry (Mizzou Mafia :D)
Pomona, expensive school, no idea about connections, just know that its tiny and rigorous.</p>

14

<p>If the OP wants to major in journalism, it is not completely relevant that there aren’t a bunch of other programs enjoying international fame. The journalism program’s reputation is top of the line.</p>

<p>I don’t think the 30K of debt PLUS the obligation to take paying jobs during the school year and all summer instead of unpaid or poorly paid internships can be completely ignored. The OP has mentioned being interested in politics. MU’s location is quite good for someone who wants to combine those interests. The state capitol is down the road, and there are research think-tanks located in Columbia that work with J-students.</p>

<p>This is not cut-and-dried, IMO. It is true that the concentration of top students is much greater at Pomona, and the opportunity to participate in the consortium makes the school larger. It is not true, however, that the OP will be wandering around Columbia desperately searching for someone with a sufficiently high IQ to have a stimulating conversation. </p>

<p>Law school is expensive. Probably graduate journalism work is, also, since it does not have funding through NIH, NSF, DOD, etc. for its graduate students. The $$$ issue needs to be considered.</p>

15

<p>i’m in a similar situation and i was wondering if anyone had advice. i have to choose between tulane and mizzou’s j school and i honestly can’t decide. i like tulane because of the weather, new orleans, the size of the school, a 20k/year scholarship, and its reputation. i have no idea what i would major in if i went to tulane. but i got a 5k/year scholarship to mizzou’s j school and i am seriously considering it. i don’t know if i want to be a journalist when i’m older, but i think being an editor or writer for a magazine or website is something i would be good at and i would enjoy it too. i don’t like mizzou’s weather and i wish it was a smaller school where frats are less dominant. but i think going to one of the best j schools in the nation would definitely help me find a good job after graduation, while i don’t even know what i would major in at tulane. any advice?</p>

16

<p>fun fact: New York Times Executive Editor (its highest editorial position) Bill Keller attended Pomona</p>

17

<p>Most journalists do not study journalism in college. Most successful business people did not major in business. Elite jobs in every industry hire from elite schools. Pomona certainly won’t have every small paper in America come to recruit, but your resume will certainly get attention at the NYT and for other top journalism jobs.</p>

18

<p>I would say Mizzou if you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you will stay in journalism. However, you do not sound that certain. Mizzou will give you the most financial flexibility; however, Pomona will give you much greater academic flexibility, as well as an environment I suspect you want (the small LAC atmosphere). Assuming that 30k debt is over 4 years and not for 1 year, I think Pomona is worth the extra cost. What is it, like 50% of college students change their major at least once? No other major at Mizzou is comparable to Pomona.</p>

19

<p>OP, would you mind clarifying the potential debt load? Is it 30K per year, or 30K over four years?</p>

<p>If it is the former, the posters on this thread who are discouraging you from MUs-J school should start sending you some money.</p>

20

<p>The OP said that Pomona gave a grant of 38K a year, so that would mean after work study etc about 30K over all four years.</p>

<p>Make Pomona happen. It will be worth it, trust me. It sounds like the school would be perfect for you–you can explore all sorts of other areas without having to worry about the quality of other departments because you know they will be great. Your job prospects will be brilliant as will the networking–not so much with Mizzou. And the worst part about Mizzou (at least for me) would be constantly wondering what could have been had I gone to Pomona–what job COULD I have had? Where COULD I have lived? What COULD I have done? I don’t know if I could live with that.</p>