[Where to Apply? Where to Go?]

Don't know for sure where I'm going yet. I only applied to my two top schools, UC Berkeley (M.J.) and Columbia (M.S.), and got into both as of today. Additionally, Berkeley is my soon-to-be undergrad alma mater.

...To have an undergrad and graduate degree from the same school, or be braver and go someplace new? I love the San Francisco Bay Area, born and raised and plan to have my career here, but I've also always wanted to go to New York.

My decision will primarily come down to financial aid, I think. Berkeley already offered me extremely competitive financial aid I couldn't be happier about.

Columbia is one year, Berkeley is two. Big difference in terms of commitment, and, from what I've heard, the paces of the programs. And I'm thinking about the size of the schools...the Columbia J-School is larger than Berkeley, and I already got the "big school" experience in Berkeley undergrad.

I went to the welcome event for UC Berkeley's J-School, and really loved it. I can't imagine I'll be able to go to Columbia's welcome event, figuring travel expenses and that I'll be finishing undergrad then.

HEY! You do have a tough decision ahead of you. Coming from NYU and also now going to UCB, I know the worlds are very different. Of course, I understand the financial situation because we share the deal so that can be tough. Any word from Columbia about aid? I transferred (for a number of reasons) out of UCSD to NYU mid-UG, and couldn't have been happier. I had one professor from UCSD that wrote me recommendations, but I honestly believe she sabotaged them because she was very upfront that she didn't want me going anywhere BUT NYU. Her reasoning was that (film) school was pointless if it didn't carry with it a new perspective. I find journalism to be similar in that way. Granted, I'm from the Bay Area and my career is here too... so coming back home wasn't exactly a "new" experience, but the school has an entirely different feel than either of my UGs.... lol, never been to a UG with a football team.

Either way, we should chat. You know where to find me.

[Let the rejections/acceptances roll in]

Accepted: UC Berkeley, Northwestern (Medill)

Boo: Columbia (couldn't afford, did undergrad in NYC would rather change it up), UNC (couldn't care less, not sure why I applied)

Still waiting on one. Thinking that means my rejection got lost in the mail, but this particular school has lost other parts of my application already. It's been a pain in the butt. I don't think I want to go anyway if this is the pre-attending state. I won't list the name just now.

Accepted/Rejected to other non-journalism programs, pretty dead-set on Berkeley (fellowship helps, but it was first choice going in - note: documentary focus)

All-in-all, happy with the way things turned out. Just waiting to hear about my complete financial packages...

[Anyone going to UCSC - UC Santa Cruz]

Accepted, but I have better offers elsewhere :/ sorry