Safety Schools for a Communications Major??

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm applying Fall 2013 and tbh, my stats aren't that great...
I'm an IBDiploma student and my gpa (cumulative) is around 3.30 and my SAT is (predicted) about 1850...I'm planning on retaking it next month though.
I have great ECs though...internships in my field of study, club president, tons of community service and I can write pretty good essays...and I'm pretty sure I have good recs too :)</p>

<p>Now I want to apply as a communications major (PR/advertising/marketing). Ideally, a large city school and most importantly, a school that has good employment/networking opportunities for international students. </p>

<p>I have two safeties so far - Pennstate and Syracuse (although I doubt Newhouse is hardly a "safety")....any suggestions on what might be good safeties for this major?</p>

2

<p>You’re an int’l? How much will your parents pay? </p>

<p>A safety has to be affordable. So, the amount your family will pay will make a difference. </p>

<p>I’m not sure that PSU is a safety unless they’re likely to accept a full-pay int’l for the money you’d bring in.</p>

<p>edited to add…
In another thread you say that your parents will pay all costs…good.</p>

<p>What schools are you applying to?</p>

3

<p>I’m not concerned of the financial aid right now…to answer your question, yes I will be able to pay full tuition.
Do you think applying to the honors program at PSU (even though I don’t want the $4000 scholarship) will affect my chances of getting in?</p>

4

<p>Rejection for an honors program does not automatically mean you would be rejected by the general program. If you think that you would like the honors program, go ahead and apply to it.</p>

<p>As an international student, after graduation you can work here for the time permitted under the OPT rules. When that time expires, if you haven’t found an employer who will sponsor you for an H1B (work), you will have to leave. Given the cost and hassle of the H1B process, and the fact that there are plenty of US candidates for jobs in the field you want to go into the likelihood of finding an H1B sponsor for yourself is infinitesimally small. You need to know that now. This means that you need to be speaking with potential employers in your own country so that you can find out which colleges and universities in the US they prefer. Their list may be completely different from any list that we could give you. You also need to ask the alumni office and/or career center at each college/university about the local alumni network in your home country. Speaking with those alumni before you apply may help you make your decisions.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

5

<p>Take a look at Northeastern. They have a big push now regarding international co ops. It would be more match then safety.</p>

6

<p>Penn State’s decision is 2/3 your GPA and most students with a 3.4 and below are directed to a branch campus, so it’s far from a safety for you. You can apply to Shreyer also but odds are minimal that you can get in (they typically admit students with extremely high stats AND amazing extracurriculars).
Being full-pay and for these stats, I’d say Ithaca would be an excellent safety for a communications major. However, it’s not in a big city. Check out the CUNY’s, plus schools in Chicago, Atlanta, and LA if you want to be in a big city.</p>

7

<p>Arizona State offers a strong communications program and admits the vast majority of applicants. </p>

<p>Hofstra and the University of Kansas might also be worth considering. One of my former apartment mates is a double major in film and communications at the University of Oklahoma. She likes the program, although I don’t know how strong it is in relation to other schools.</p>

<p>If you want to go to school in a country club, consider High Point University and the much better regarded Elon.</p>