Today I got an email about an offer from Questbridge to interview for the Princeton Summer Journalism Program. I’m honored and would love to experience Princeton before I decide to apply in the fall. I am also going to be editor in chief of my school’s newspaper, so I’m sure I would learn a lot of helpful and beneficial information. However, I am not going to be pursuing journalism, but I will be pursuing biomedical engineering. Writing is just a hobby of mine and the program looks for students who want to pursue journalism. Do I accept the phone interview or is it not worth it because it is unrelated to engineering?
Congratulations, @anitomy. From what I’ve heard, the Princeton Summer Journalism is an incredibly selective program. I would recommend to at least do the interview. This offer reflects very highly on you, and I have no doubt that it will be very beneficial.
Do you have other summer plans that can’t be put off? Do you need to make $ over the summer, or is there any other program you are waiting to hear from? If not, then why wouldn’t you do it? You are not committing to being a journalist for the rest of your life, and you are not even committing to Princeton. You are committing to a summer program. Strange as it sounds, by now it is too late to get into any programs for low-income kids (scholarships go fast!) and the question I would ask is, do you have a chance to get into any of the others? S for example was a QB pre-college and college match finalist but did not get offers for any summer programs.
But by all means be honest and tell them you plan to study biomedical engineering, bc they might want to give the spot to someone who is more decided about journalism.
Great advice, @momcinco.
@dominicbayer @momcinco Okay, thanks guys! I’m deciding to go on to the interviewing stage. Even though I don’t want to pursue journalism, I’m sure I’ll learn a lot about how to be a great editor and writer and I’ll get to experience living in a college!