<p>So I've gotten into Indiana University and university of Missouri. I also got into Penn State, but I don't want to go there. I am from Illinois so I'm out of state for all schools. I think I want to go into PR. That would be offered in the schools of journalism. Mizzou has a top 5 jornalism school and Indiana has a solid journalism school. For my future, would it make more sense to go to the better program (Mizzou) or the better overall university (Indiana)</p>
<p>Consider which one you can get through with the least amount of debt.</p>
<p>Least amount of debt is one excellent view. </p>
<p>Also, look at the courses (of your major) and make sure they are of interest and applicable to you and compare those. When comparing programs, make sure you compare apples to apples. What part of Missouri’s program makes it Top 5 and is that part important and of interest to you? Just to illustrate (because I don’t know much about journalism), Missouri may be Top 5 because of their Investigative Journalism but the area of journalism you might be interested in is just average at Missouri and comparable to the other schools on your list. </p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
<p>If you go to Penn State you’ll be able to observe, first hand, the PR handling of a major scandal. </p>
<p>I would actually go where you’d have the least amount of debt and the most options in your broad field of interest.</p>
<p>What does “better overall university” mean? In what sense? Whose eyes? USNWR – like, maybe, the difference between #43 and #57? ESPN? Your uncle in Canada who has heard of Isaiah Thomas and Bobby Knight?</p>
<p>Or your own sense of what will constitute a better experience? That’s the only “better overall” that is really relevant.</p>
<p>I don’t know that much about the respective j-schools, but I do have the sense that if you really wind up in PR, not to mention journalism, having gone to Missouri would give you some small edge. What I have really no idea about is whether either college is better if you change your mind, develop new interests, etc. That’s a very relevant consideration, because many/most people DO change their minds about what they want to do during college.</p>
<p>Very few of the people I have known in journalism over the years (I used to do PR) went to journalism school. </p>
<p>Unless you are looking at the business end, you need to be able to write (and know something about something).</p>
<p>Well Mizzou claims to be the very top in J-Schools with the claim of being the first in the U.S. (this part is actually true). I’ve also heard some about Indiana University’ J-School, but they don’t have the prestige.</p>
<p>One important thing to consider is whether or not you are dead set on PR. If you aren’t, IU might be better. But look at your other major options, and the strength of those programs. Who knows, you may want a minor is something totally random (which can be useful as a PR specialty, or whatever).</p>
<p>The difference in their ranks on U.S. News is 15 places, which is sort of marginal if you don’t worship the rankings.</p>
<p>If you qualify for Journalism Scholars at Mizzou, it might be a really good opportunity. (Rank in top 10 percent OR 29+ on the ACT OR 1290+ on the SAT (CR+M)) It allows you to take classes in your major from the beginning, rather than starting in junior year.
Also, the Honors Program can get you some scholarships.</p>
<p>I don’t think the difference in rankings between the 2 schools is significant, but the J school at Mizzou is consistently ranked in the top 3. Their strat-com program which encompasses PR is top notch. If one decides to change fields it is still a very good flagship university that offers a wide variety of majors.</p>
<p>Don’t know what “PR” is (public relations?) but it doesn’t matter for my points. Most entering college freshmen will be undecided or change their major. Therefore you should look at the overall school and not only a single major. Choose the school that you like best and seems the best fit- include academics, finances and social aspects.</p>
<p>"What does “better overall university” mean? In what sense? Whose eyes? "</p>
<p>The eyes of the OP, of course.</p>
<p>Well Indiana University is stronger in all other catagories outside of journalism. Im curious, would a future pr employer look at the journalism school or college in general</p>
<p>Unless the program is well recognized as “best in class” or recognized within the industry as exceptional, they will look at the school.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine most employers in the U.S. having a clue as to the relative merits of University of Indiana and University of Missouri. If the OP thinks its a better school, well, fine, that’s really all that matters. (And, hey, I think there are at least 20 schools in the U.S., likely more, where the average highly intelligent student can get a better education than HYPS.)</p>
<p>You should explore where J-students work post graduation. Very often, schools have strong ties to certain companies, which of course helps you to find that first job after graduation. Also look in their internship opportunities. Some schools just have a more aggressive program that helps students get out there. And finally, consider the area around the schools. Are there opportunities to work nearby as you build your skills and make connections?</p>
<p>Both Indiana and Mizzou will serve you well. Choose the one you think is a better fit financially, socially and educationally…see which one has more kids participating in internships, see which one has more “new school” emphasis, electronic media, social media etc. and those types of factors.</p>
<p>I am a little confused about where PR people tend to come from. I know quite a few Kelley (IU bus grads) that work in PR. I know people who do PR/communications for non-profits that graduated from IU SPEA). I have yet to meet a person that went to j-school in the position.</p>
<p>^^^ I know at least 3 people in high-level PR jobs who went to j-school, were professional journalists - print and broadcast - before segueing into PR (for more money, more predictable hours.) Two went to Missouri, one to Syracuse.</p>
<p>Well do people in PR get trained as pr specialists in the journalism school?</p>
<p>Just looking at the two schools, the only j-school that has a public relations concentration is IU, but it is through IUPUI. It is possible to take some of those courses while still staying in Bloomington and driving to Indy a couple of times a week for classes/internships. That program is at IUPUI because of the internships at Indy business and with organizations like IndyRacing, etc. Mizzou has a few concentration like strategic communications.</p>
<p>“Well do people in PR get trained as pr specialists in the journalism school?”</p>
<p>No, they mostly get trained as journalists. It’s just that an effective journalist has a lot of the skills demanded by PR: extremely good written and oral communication skills, camera presence, working often under stressful circumstances and under tight deadlines. Also, as journalists, they develop valuable contacts and relationships with PR people - it’s who they often have to interview, after all - which helps them gain a foothold in the profession.</p>