Hello so I live in Florida and was accepted to UF through PaCE (definitely not ideal, in fact if any of you have any information on the course load/ style of PaCE let me know!) and Emerson. No matter where I end up I will be a journalism major, and although UF does have an esteemed journalism program, Emerson’s journalism program is amazing and nationally recognized! However, it is SO expensive. I don’t have a lot of money regardless (lol) but even more so now than recently, my parents have been having a difficult time financially. I’m going to be an undergrad student, and I HONESTLY do not know whether or not I should take the financial risk for Emerson or stay safe and go to UF. I just want the best chance of being a successful journalist, without drowning in debt for the rest of my life! Please please help me decide!
Remind me- can you select journalism as a major at UF or do you have to apply to the school of journalism in your sophomore year?
Hi @florida418 This is a tough situation. Have you had this discussion with your parents? Would they be able to pay for Emerson? If not, you don’t really have a choice. You can only borrow $5.5K for freshmen year, it goes up slightly after that, but really if you need substantial loans, you will need your parents to cosign.
My personal opinion is that Emerson is not worth it unless your parents have funds to pay without loans and without raiding their retirement accounts. Under the best of circumstances journalism is not generally a highly lucrative career. You really don’t want to go into it with crushing debt.
you can select journalism as a major!
@jym626 you can select journalism as a major!
As @gallentjill said, journalism is a tough field these days. Such limited print and hard to break into reputable online media. Are you interested in journalism per se or broadcasting? Did Emerson give you any money? Emerson has great connections and a program is So. Cal. , but with the UF school of Journalism, you are right there by The Swamp. Go Gators! If cost is a big factor, I repeat, Go Gators! Great school.
@gallentjill yes I’ve had this discussion with them and realistically speaking the money just isn’t there! I definitely wouldn’t want to put a detrimental financial burden on them especially when I have a younger sibling who will eventually go to college as well, also that’s a great point about not wanting to go into that field in debt. Thank you!
@jym626 I’m interested in journalism (print not broadcasting), and Emerson gave me an annual $18,000 luminary scholarship, a federal work grant for $2000, and an Emerson grant for $12,000 a year (not including the loans they offered). However, with an estimated COA of $70,000 the gap is still really wide! So cost definitely is a big factor (unfortunately). Definitely go Gators though!
@florida418 I think thats a very mature attitude. I know you will do well wherever you land!
Stay in the sunshine.
My BFF is a journalist. Newspaper for 30 years (one Pulitzer) and now in public radio. It is not a high paying field either way. Do not go into debt.
In the good news department, her group just posted several jobs at a few different levels (reporters, producers).