UC Berkeley Graduate Journalism School- Please Help.

Graduate School
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<p>Okay, I've seen a lot of posts about UC Berkeley's Journalism Graduate program. I want to get everyone's opinion here on my personal situation before I call them for more information and pursue this further. I'd really appreciate everyone's opinions, especially if you attend Berkeley.</p>

<p>I just graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcasting/Film in December 2008 and I am 22 years old. I am taking my GRE's next week. I wouldn't be able to be enrolled in Berkeley's Journalism school until Fall of 2010 because I missed the Dec 1st deadline. Anyway, my problem is that my GPA is pretty low. I graduated college with a 3.1 GPA (I know- not exactly a good GPA, but just hear me out). My GPA dropped significantly my senior year because of a family emergency and I had to travel back and forth to go home several times during the year, and my grades suffered because of it. It really wasn't my fault, but there was nothing I could've done- my professors worked with me as best as they could.</p>

<p>I want to do the graduate Television program at Berkeley. I have a lot of experience in Television, that's what I majored in for the past few years. I have news and film projects I could show them, newscasts I've written that have been put on the air, stories I've anchored for- some of which were aired on cablecast news stations. I have also done 2 documentaries. I definitely have a lot of things and a good amount of experience to provide as a foundation to attending there. I also interned at a large television news station for a semester in New York City, and I worked at a large radio station for 2 years in New York City.</p>

<p>I have 3 strong recommendation letters from my television broadcasting professors, 2 of which are extremely well-known in the world of television, and have won numerous Emmy awards. They are very reputable and respected individuals.</p>

<p>I've heard Berkeley is very strict on admissions, however, on Berkeley's Graduate Journalism website, it says the admission requirement that you need is a B average for the last 2 years that you attended undergrad. Technically, a 3.0 is a B average meaning I make the cutoff at a 3.1.... But is there really ANY shot I could get in with my low GPA? I am studying very hard to get a good score on the GREs next week... So lets just say with all my experience, my good recommendation letters, a decent GRE score, and a 3.1 GPA, what are my chances? What do you think I'd need to get on my GREs to have a shot?</p>

<p>If you think I shouldn't bother with applying, do you have any recommendations of schools I could apply to that you think I would have a better shot of getting into? I would love any input.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate your complete honesty. Thank you so much.</p>

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<p>bump.... anyone??</p>

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<p>^ Just out of curiosity, why would you want to be at Berkeley? I mean why not in NY or LA?</p>

<p>I think your superb work experience together with the strong recommendation from your supervisors and previous professors would make you an strong candidate for Berkeley.</p>

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<p>Unless you are a California resident, a 3.1 might not pass muster for Berkeley. I am applying to journalism/Mass Comm programs and I glossed over Berkeley because I thought my GPA was too low, and I have a 3.5. Then again, Berkeley, like Medill and Columbia, is notorious for keeping their admission statistics secretive so I may not be in the best position to answer your questions. I would definitely encourage you to apply however. Your experience is top notch to the point where I question your motifs for going to J-School in the first place. My only experience (and hence my justification for applying) was with my Campus paper, and even then, I was by best estimates, a peon in the hierarchy (i.e. a reporter). </p>

<p>Where did you spend your undergrad? </p>

<p>Personally, I am much more interested in USC's journalism program because Paul Seib is one of my idols! :) Other programs I am applying to: </p>

<p>Medill
Indiana
NYU
Georgetown's CCT program (wroth checking out if you are interested in comm and media theory)
UNC Chapel Hill </p>

<p>Check out this thread for more info:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/32793-top-journalism-schools.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/32793-top-journalism-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Hope this info helps somewhat. I wish you the best of luck!</p>