Colorcast

Thanks so much for the helpful reply, Jae B. Those are all great suggestions. And congrats on your recent graduation -- I'm a fellow Golden Bear, so I may have read your work in the Daily Cal at some point. Thanks again!

Hello fellow journalism gradcafers, I’m a semi-recent college grad considering applying to J-school in the Fall 2010 application cycle. When I graduated two years ago, I had my sights tentatively set on law school, but a two-year stint as a paralegal at an intellectual property firm has cured me of any misguided legal ambitions (thank God!) I’ve always had a strong interest in journalism, and I’m definitely ready to make a transition. The issue is, although I think my profile is otherwise pretty good (strong grades and academic awards at a top school, a few decent writing samples, strong recommendations) I lack any kind of significant journalism experience. Based on the preliminary research I’ve done, it seems like some programs accept applicants with limited or no experience (Columbia, USC), while others really emphasize the importance of real experience in the field/published clips (Berkeley). I’m not sure if I should just say “damn the torpedoes!” and give it a shot this fall, or if it makes more sense to wait another year, work to secure some kind of position or internship in the field, and apply in the 2011 cycle. Would my application be strengthened enough by the extra year of experience to warrant postponing grad school for another year? I’d appreciate any insights/suggestions.