<p>My DS has been accepted to both schools for Communications/Interactive Media...have visited both and like each for different reasons. Where would you / your child prefer and why? </p>
<p>I would personally prefer TCNJ because of the better-prepared student body.</p>
<p>Well, Hanna is entitled to her position, which she clearly labeled “personal”. But my position is “better-prepared student body” is a meaningless load of something. Better prepared for what?</p>
<p>I speak as a NJ college grad who worked for a couple decades in radio, TV, print, and public relations. I left the business when my second child was born and have worked in subsequent years as a (non-communications) recruiting business owner. I graduated from Glassboro State (now Rowan). A buddy there developed AT&T’s first website. A former colleague, who covers Trenton for ABC in NY and Philadelphia, was just inducted to the Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She went to Ramapo. Two of my crewmembers have worked for years with David Letterman. One went to William Paterson, the other attended Stockton. Another guy took a different path and became GM of the NY Jets. He graduated from Cincinnati. Another, a Villanova grad, eventually became president of the Philadelphia 76ers. He quit that to own radio stations.</p>
<p>Of course, I worked with many others who went to Ithaca, Temple, Syracuse, Northwestern, and other well-known, well-connected media schools. I guarantee you that “well-prepared student body” had absolutely zero influence on their long careers.</p>
<p>What were the key factors were their (A) Passion, (B) Persistance, and (C) Talent (in that order), and that they each found a school at which they could shine. So, if I were your son (and not knowing what area of media interests him), my suggestion would be to choose the one that feels best. The one where your son can envision himself “hanging out” with other talented passionate people, joining in and getting an opportunity to play outside of the classroom, and then building a nice portfolio/audition tape. That and a little stick-to-it-iveness go a long way. I ranked talent third only because there are so many talented people who give up for various reasons (#1 being a person of the opposite sex). Many of the media greats marry late because they are married to their media passion in their 20s and even beyond.</p>
<p>Rowan and TCNJ are both good schools. I think that Rowan has more going on during the weekends. TCNJ’s buildings have nice facades; it’s probably prettier. But it’s only your son’s actions and attitude that really matter.</p>
<p>Forgot something: Phillies play-by-play guy Tom McCarthy went to Trenton State (now TCNJ).</p>
<p>SpacemanEd, Thanks for your feedback…we have “spoken” before and I really value your input and reading about the great experiences you and your family have had via Rowan. Decision time is quickly approaching. Planning to make another visit. Will keep you posted! </p>
<p>“I guarantee you that “well-prepared student body” had absolutely zero influence on their long careers.”</p>
<p>If the question had been about career planning, I would have answered that I saw no difference between the schools in this field. The question was which I would choose and why. For me, the why is almost always going to be about the college experience.</p>
<p>“Better prepared for what?”</p>
<p>College-level academics. If the OP is only worried about the practical broadcast classes and career prep, maybe it doesn’t matter. But if I’m in freshman English class, and everybody’s going to take freshman English, I want to be with kids who are better prepared for that environment. Otherwise it’s less of an educational experience and more of a hoop to jump through.</p>
<p>I would choose the campus I like best. That includes checking out the off-campus housing. </p>
@SpacemanEd, It’s been quite awhile!! I hope you and your family are well! I’m back at College Confidential and thought I would reach out with an update!! My DS just finished his second year at Rowan in the Honors Program and could not be happier! His college experience has been incredible and is going too fast! I’m hoping you remember our many conversations…he is journalism major with a comm studies minor and concentration in interactive media. He’s become very active in WGLS radio since December of Freshman year and has just taken on position of Sports Director for the fall! Getting involved in that was a wonderful step for him. Living in the Whitney Center has been amazing and although he is in Communications, all of his friends are engineers. I’m so happy for him…he was just accepted into the Summer Intern program at Sirrius XM radio in NYC so he is building a nice resume. Now in the Fall we can start the search all over again with my DD who will be class of 2018!!! Thanks again for all your help and input!! Cheers!!
If I interpret @SpacemanEd’s comments accurately, there’s no need for a search for your DD - one school will work out the same as the next.
I would love her to go to Rowan as well but of course, she wants to do something different…that would be too easy. Plus, selfishly, I love the "visit’ process and time to be on the road together 