<p>How does USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism compare to Northwestern's School of Communication? I've applied to both for their communications studies major, knowing both have good communication programs. How do the schools differ and which one is better in general?</p>
<p>when my daughter looked at this 4 years ago, the main difference was that at NW, you can major in film in the school of comm but not journalism (that was Medill)…at USC, you can’t do film as a major if you are in Annenberg (that is in school of cinema studies)…at that time she thought that was going to be an issue (since she was on the fence in terms of her specific communication major)…</p>
<p>She ended up at Newhouse @ Syracuse…film, journalism, advertising etc all in the same place gave her the flexibility to decide after she was admitted…</p>
<p>and, yes, these were the three schools she compared exactly…</p>
<p>The Annenberg School is considered a premier school of communications & journalism. Here are some factors you may wish to consider:</p>
<p>Location: USC is located in an enormous media/communications center at the crossroads of the Pacific Rim. The National Science Foundation has selected USC to host the country’s primary multimedia research center. The location also offers opportunities for excellent internships, hands-on study and access to top professionals.</p>
<p>Some recent internships for communications majors have been at Quiksilver, Union Bank, Paramount Pictures, NBC Universal, Rogers & Cowan and the Anschutz Entertainment Group.</p>
<p>Climate: The area offers outdoor sports all twelve months. Weekends can be spent hiking, swimming, taking trips to Catalina on USC’s boat, surfing, fishing, sailing, tennis, golf, soccer and visiting Disneyland.</p>
<p>Funding: The school has been supported by generous donations by the Annenberg Foundation. A recent donation of millions for Annenberg Scholarships was announced in early spring. In May a new $50 million dollar donation is slated to build a new complex for the Annenberg School which will be designed for the communications students of the 21st century. The new building will contain the latest technology and will allow students to analyze the impacts on society, culture and the future.</p>
<p>Opportunity: Annenberg combines the two worlds of communication: the theoretical and the applied. At USC you may organize your studies around a concentration. They are:</p>
<p><Media, law and politics
<Organizational and interpersonal communication
<Communication and culture
<Entertainment, communication and society</p>
<p>Peers: Annenberg is quite selective. An added bonus are the large numbers of international students who will enrich your cultural experience.</p>
<p>Faculty: Some of the foremost media scholars are on the faculty at Annenberg. Media scholars such as Dr. Manuel Castells, Dr. Henry Jenkins, Dr. Ernest Wilson, Dr. Martin Kaplan and Emmy Award winner Judy Muller, formerly with Nightline. Professors have won Emmys, Pulitzers, book awards and other honors.</p>
<p>Alumni: Annenberg alumni fill top posts throughout the media industries. Alumni are also represented in government, education and non profit agencies around the world.</p>
<p>Annenberg has an online electronic newsroom and digital editing equipment for radio and TV news production. The communication students are offered a multidisciplinary curriculum.
There is interaction with SCA, School of Theatre and the Roski School of Fine Arts.</p>
<p>Here are some alumni from Annenberg…
Kyra Phillips-Anchors CNN Newsroom–Won four Emmys and two Edward R. Murrow Awards
Tyler Cavell-President, MediaScrape, Inc.
Christy Odell-Executive with The Phelps Group
Peggy Conlon-President, The Advertising Council
Mark Orne-Exec. Director, Market Research, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Kelly Kahl-Exec. V.P. Program Planning at CBS Television
Caroline Leach-Senior Director, Communications, DirecTV, Inc.
Kim Luce-Senior Manager, Scheduling for The Disney Channel
Joanne Brody-President Brody Public Relations
Iman Hobbs-Associate Producer, ABC’s 20/20
Ben Sands-Bureau Chief, Pakistan/Afghanistan, Voice of America News
Peter Sanders-Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Joy Shaw-Reporter, Dow Jones Newswires
Daniel Heimpel-Project Director, Fostering Media Connections
Lisa Leslie-USA Olympian, All American, NBA Inside Stuff</p>
<p>Forgot to add faculty have also received, in addition to the Emmys, Guggenheim Fellowships, PRSA Silver Anvil Awards, Alfred duPont Awards and NCA Research Awards. </p>
<p>In the last three years faculty have received over $20 million in research funding.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Do you know which one’s harder to get into?</p>