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Everything posted by kaiphi
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Anybody else applying? I'm applying next fall and my professor said it's best to fill up my resume now that I have the time. I'm a junior at UMBC on track to make Dean's List this semester, which will boost my GPA to a 3.2. I'm an English major on the Communications & Technology track, and I'm president of two clubs, including the academic group the English Council of Majors. I'm on my second official internship and third (and fourth) publication: In the past, I've written for my campus paper (with accolades!), a small local newspaper (first internship), a larger local newspaper (current internship), another small local arts magazine (currently a contributing writer), and I have bylines at various online publications. I had to leave the school newspaper this semester because of the internship. I'm a student member of the National Association of Black Journalists. This year I'm applying to Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honors Society) and Alpha Kappa Alpha (historic sorority). My goal is to have up to two more internships (I'm gunning for n+1 this winter) and a couple of bylines at major outlets (Vice, Cosmopolitan, etc) under my belt by the time I apply. I'll be applying for their Arts and Culture concentration and will also be applying to Columbia and NYU's magazine writing programs. Anybody else applying? Is there anything I should do between now and then to be a more competitive candidate?
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Do y'all include your publication history in your applications? At the moment the schools I'm aiming for don't necessarily ask or deny resumes, and I kinda want to add mine considering it's pretty good, in my opinion. I'm on contract with Mask Magazine (while I freelance on the side and have a growing list of publications, which could really be helpful for a nonfiction resume), a writing tutor and fellow (basically a TA), president of the English Council of Majors. I assume since the MFA programs I'm applying to offer teaching fellowships and I'm publishing my work in some places(with two years left in undergrad; that list will grow!), a resume would definitely help me stand out alongside my samples. Or, at least, it wouldn't help. But I dunno!! Would it help or hurt?
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Calling all Student/ Working Journalists: Welcome and Join in
kaiphi replied to KellyW's topic in Journalism Forum
Hi! I'm Kaila and I'm studying print journalism! I'm still getting my BA but I'm probably going to pursue my Master's. Right now I'm worried about getting into a good program. -
Update: I got the City Paper internship and the editing position at my campus paper Also, I've published essays with bigger magazines and Vice just accepted my pitch for an exposé!! Now I'm looking into DC internships for my senior year, and I'm really gunning for that journalism award. Where do I go from here?
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Thanks, HookedonSonnets! After more research, I'm really attracted to Cornell's program (like, it's my dream school) but it's SO prestigious and I'm coming from a state school. I live in Baltimore so Johns Hopkins is the much more realistic school to aim for, but I also want to study in and move to New York. Basically my dream program would be at a small(-ish, I'm flexible) school in a large city with small classes sizes. I'm also looking for programs with great funding so I don't have to go further in debt for another degree. I don't want to go to Cornell for the job market, but the potential it provides. Basically, if my work is great and I come from the University of Baltimore, I have a slight chance of getting it published or being exposed to powerful people in the industry. Also, I live in Baltimore right now. The ceiling for literary success is so low, and I'm already working hard at my little state school to get a better program. I'd rather succeed at an elite program in a much larger and cultured city like New York, because there are more opportunities (even if they're more competitive). There's much more potential in New York, and that's what I want. (Also I've been trying to move back to NY for years. I'm originally from there.) Plus, I feel like Cornell would introduce me to a larger, harder world of writing. Like, I want to go to an MFA program and be challenged, like really challenged so I can really be the best writer I can be, even if that just means being surrounded by vastly superior writers. As far as getting into Cornell, I probably don't have a shot in Hell. I feel like no matter how good my submission is—and I'm giving myself the year to make it pitch perfect—I'll be passed over by someone from a more famous school, a more local school, or another Ivy. Or maybe they'll choose someone with a larger name and better record in publishing. Not sure how realistic these fears are because I know little to nothing about the MFA world, but just in case I'm prepared to go to JHU or UMD or something. Basically, I don't know what literary perfect is, how I can achieve it, or if I'll EVER have a chance at Cornell. And I don't know where to find help for any of this because how many Cornell writing grads are just hanging around willing to grab a cup of coffee? I'm stressed. Ugh.
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Hi! I saw a "Fall 2016 MFA" board and thought to start another with a twist. I'm not applying JUST yet, but I'm working on my manuscript. Anybody else? Rising junior, English and Philosophy major. My CV looks pretty good, but they're mostly editorials for magazines and creative nonfiction. There's some poetry, but literally no fiction and that's what I'm applying for! But I have no idea where to publish fiction as an undergrad (outside of campus lit journals), especially in my city (Baltimore). Also on my CV is tutoring, teaching, and editing experience (some coming up this year) and a research paper I'm working on. Plus lots of lit-centric extracurriculars and leadership positions. Probably won't add those but should I??? I dunno. Read somewhere that this stuff was relevant and I'm not sure about that but hey, shoot your shot. I'm currently going to a state school and I'm applying to: - Johns Hopkins University - Iowa's Writers Workshop - Cornell University - Brown University I'm only applying to fully-funded programs and I'm aiming high because, wow, that'd be a fantastic education and, wow, a Cornell degree would open some doors (and give my mom bragging rights at work, hehe). If I don't get into any of them, I'm just gonna get a day job, work on my writing, and try again in a few years. Try, try again! Right now, my GPA sucks. It's about a B- and that might just rule out any chances at Brown or Cornell, but then again apparently MFAs don't rule you out if your GPA is a little low as long as the writing sample is legit? I dunno. Another reason why I'm here. Ah, as far as recommendations go I have two good ones from my uni: One is a nationally-recognized essayist and alum of the Writer's Workshop, the other is a travel writer and head of my uni's creative writing program. I don't know who to choose from for the third. I have a friend/mentor currently studying poetry at Brown's MFA program so that could come in handy. I could ask my school's newspaper advisor; he'd def give a good rec but not for, like, creative writing. Err, I also have a pal at Cornell but she works for their art department. Those are my three options right now. I'm submitting two stories. Working on them with the Iowa alum. Err, I think that's it. I don't know what I'm doing, basically. Anybody applied to these schools? Anybody been through this process? How far are you? Any tips? Help!!
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So far, as a sophomore at UMBC, I have: - one reporting internship for a local newspaper that I'm currently in - one contributing writer position to an independent arts magazine (small start-up) - one staff writer position with the campus paper, promoted last week - three references, two from reporters from international companies - proficiency in French (I hope to go into int'l journalism eventually, specializing in francophone countries) About the references: - One is from the faculty advisor for the campus paper: I'm low-key one of the star writers for the campus newspaper; last week they wrote "Go [my name]!" on the board during a meeting. Only been on the paper for three months now! - One is from my editor with the local newspaper; since it's real journalism I'm learning a lot and still making mistakes, but he says I'm doing great for someone my age. Currently working on a long-term investigative piece; we'll see how that goes. - One is just from the editor-in-chief from the arts magazine. I'm hoping the list will grow as I take more journalism courses at UMBC and pick up more internships. I have some references on the back-burner from English professors and campus paper editors who can attest to my writing skills. My plan for the next two years: - editing position at the campus newspaper - research fellowship with a start-up website based in DC this summer; it'd be a paid editorial writing position. They're currently overlooking applications; I hope I get in. - paid internship with the City Paper - my uni's journalism award; it's a small scholarship prize they give to a student for outstanding journalistic work and I think I'm a shoo-in next semester if not this one! - fluency in French - one prestigious journalism internship with either the WaPo or HuffPost; both very hard to get into but I think I'm on the right track?? That's all I have so far, but I have no idea what more I need to do to get into my dream school. I want to go Columbia's j-school because it's one of the best; a degree from there is my best chance at the New York Times. What else should I be working on? I've heard that experience is your best friend as a journalism student (don't worry, I'm not majoring in Journalism) but I feel like in order to get to the better positions you need more, y'know?