<p>I posted this on another forum, but I feel like I can get some advice/feedback from an older crowd.</p>
<p>I want to be a marketing/media analyst researcher, work for the media industry, or possibly in journalism. I also have a concentration on Film and Television. I'm torn between these three degrees for my undergrad: Media Studies, Journalism, and Telecommunications. I'm currently a Media Studies major and have a minor in Sociology OR Human Development & Family Studies. I'm definitely going to grad school so i'm working hard at keeping my grades high and gaining experience. Which degree would be the most reasonable to pursue? I enjoy how broad yet specific the Media Studies program is at my school, but everyone is saying that it's a "fluff" major (which I don't see it as) almost to point where I am peer pressured into changing my major. If I pursue a Master's in Media Studies, am I royally screwed for jobs? And yes, I don't expect to find a job immediately after I graduate...which is why I am going to get my Master's or PhD.</p>
<p>My DH just retired from a very successful hs teaching career, and many of his students went into media studies in college. One of his grads (a female) is a war correspondent in Iraq (yikes! but loves it), another just interned with Ken Burns (the PBS filmmaker), another went on for an advanced degree and is teaching at Columbia University, plus many more success stories. </p>
<p>Media studies probably isn’t the easiest major to find work in (nothing much is right now!), but if you go about it right (good grades, which you have, plus LOTS of networking) you should be able to make it happen. You might want to do another concentration in journalism to boost your odds, if you can swing it. If you know you’re doing an advanced degree, keep researching what’s hot so you get your masters in that area. </p>
<p>My best advice–I majored in something I knew I could get a career in, but years later I regret not pursuing my passion. Maybe you can do both! I once saw a special about a chemist whose hobby was making art. He put them both together to become the Louvre’s restoration artist! </p>
<p>You can do triple major. One of D’s pre-med friends did, graduated in 4 years and currently at Med. School, but you can take longer if you wish. 2 of her majors (Spanish and Latin Studies had nothing in common with her main pre-emd major Zoology. Most of my D’s frineds had at least one or 2 minors or were double majors and most are in Med. School now.</p>
<p>Ha, the “older crowd” might prefer to be called parents or adults.<br>
If you are as determined as you describe, it’s worth trying to contact the same sorts of people who would hire you- find out what they expect, what the career path is- and how they broke into the field.</p>
When I read that the first that came to mind is a minor in Stats, if your school has it. Marketing, news, and entertainment all intersect at the data. </p>
<p>Think about it, somebody’s always polling, or rating, or examining demographics and psychgrapics. If you can write and disect numbers at the same time, you’ll have a powerful combo. </p>