My name is Justin and I am currently applying to NYU's Gallatin School for an M.A. I would love to get some feedback from any current students, prospective students, alumni, professors, admissions persons...just anyone really.
I'm the type of person who isn't really big on GPA and standardized testing. I don't necessarily have all the best scores and really consider myself to have more practical life experience. Some of the profiles of students I've been reading about have been somewhat intimidating on an admissions level. Students who have had things published or have their own their own company. Which isn't really intimidating on a personal level, because frankly, I think I write really well, I've just never bothered submitting anything for publication. Plus someone's "own company" could be anything. I do have a relatively strong academic background but am hoping Gallatin also cares about accepting real individuals who aren't just people who have done everything "right."
Having said that, my GPA from my Undergrad degree is a 3.5. I have a B.A. in Communications from King's College in PA. A small but very good school. I have interned at MTV as a production intern and a local TV station as a production intern as well.
I have worked as an Affiliate Manager at a hugely successful internet marketing company for a year, marketing such brands as Dereon, Apple Bottoms and DKNY. I Have done volunteer work at local non-profit organization called The Wyoming Valley AIDS Council working with people who are living with HIV/AIDS. I have also worked as a Job Developer at a non-profit agency called Esperanza working with people who are on welfare.
I was the secretary of a club in college called the Questions and Answers initiative, which was a club geared towards all minority's of the college. They were encouraged to come to this club's meetings to voice any concerns or hostilities happening towards any minority group of people or between groups of people.
I was also the Entertainment Editor of my college newspaper for one year.
My senior seminar project, which is basically a senior thesis, was to find out if television influences people's opinions of homosexuality.
That's my experience, now, what I want to focus on at Gallatin: Ultimately I really want to become a college professor of contemporary television, contemporary literature and contemporary film. My belief is that there is too much focus placed on historical classics and not nearly enough emphasis placed on our current forms of art and entertainment. There is so much emphasis placed on historical forms of art and entertainment that our contemporary art and entertainment is slipping through the cracks. There are not enough people preserving contemporary classics and eventually our modern forms will be forgotten about.
Which is why I need NYU's Gallatin to pursue an education in contemporary television, film and literature, because frankly there are no programs that combine all three. Plus I am not looking to work in the film or television industry, I am looking to teach contemporary art forms. I also think a major problem with many universities and that there isn't enough focus on these contemporary art forms, with too much focus placed on how to work in these industries, rather than learning about them.
So, after that. What does anyone think my chances are of acceptance? This is something I am greatly passionate about and honestly the only thing I want to do. Does attending information sessions or scheduling appointments to talk with somebody one-on-one help my chances?
Thanks.
