rparkerV

It's really important that you bring your GPA up to a 3.0 or higher before you apply. Most programs require a 3.0 at the lowest. After that, a good GRE score and intruiging resume could make up for a low-ish GPA. I am assuming you are taking summer classes, since most app deadlines are in January...I guess you could bring up your grades in the fall as well if you send in your transcript right after grades come out.

Hey there, I am approaching my final year of my M.A. in communications program. I have 5 more classes + thesis left. I can't decide if I want to write the thesis in the fall or spring. I could do a better job if I waited until the spring, but I would like to have the thesis as a writing sample for my apps when I apply, since Apps are due in January at most places. What do you guys think I should do? Also, I took the GRE my senior year of college. Thus, I have had a full year of undegraduate education and a year of graduate level education at a top-15 university with a relatively unknown comm program, so I imagine that my score would improve if I retook it. I got a an 1110 two years ago (630 verbal, 480 Math, 5.5 Writing). I took it in September of 2007. The program requires 10 courses + thesis. My program does not calculate a GPA, but so far my grades are B+, B+, A, A-, B...thus, my cumulative is technically 3.46 which I would like to improve to at least a 3.6 before I apply for Comm Phd programs. I am not slacking, my program is insanely rigorous! Obviously, my math GRE score needs to improve and my verbal/writing is about where it should be. Do most graduate programs take the better scores or average them? Should I wait until late fall (since I am taking 3 classes this summer and more this fall)? I am done with my statistics classes so my math skills are probably better now but my verbal will improve as I read/write more and learn new words just by nature of being in a master's program. I'd love to network with other people applying for PHD programs this upcoming year. So far, I need funding to go anywhere (can't take out any more loans). I am kind of unsure as to which programs I am qualified for (a lot depends on my GRE retake). Let me know what you think of the programs I am applying for/whether they are matches or complete reaches. UPenn and Stanford seem to want a 1300 on the GRE, so I probably won't bother applying unless I get at least a 1250 on my retake. UPENN, Annenberg Stanford Cornell UCSD U. Miami UNC NYU Columbia (PHD in journalism, not sure about this program since I am interested in all aspects of mass communication) UGA Texas U. Washington U. Maryland (?), Michigan (?), Wisconsin (?), Northwestern (?) LSE (doubt I would move to London since I know no one in the UK, but I like that they don't require GRE scores)

I started calling the department today. It seems that I will just need to apply, get in, and then hopefully get a scholarship. I am way early in the process (the application deadline isn't until January or so), but I am trying to figure things out. It would be really heartbreaking to get into such a wonderful program and then not be able to afford it. Alas, I wouldn't be the first person to have that happen to... If only I was a trust-fund baby! Life would be so much easier.

Thanks for the reply! I think that policy is ridiculous. A doctorate program can take around 5 years, and going in uncertain about getting funding is simply not an option for me. I understand that people take out loans to go to law school/mba programs, but when you hope to be a college professor or teacher, I could be paying off loans forever (especially considering the debt that I have accumulated while getting my B.A. and M.A.). Most phd programs that I have looked at offer free tuition to all students and give a 20-30k a year stipend for TAing to cover living expenses. I realize an doctorate of education is different, though. The program sounds wonderful, but I doubt I will even bother applying knowing this.

Hi, I am interested in applying for a the Doctorate in Communication program at TC at Columbia. This is under the Science and Technology department. I have been trying to figure out if they offer funding to doctorate students. I know it is pretty normal for Phd programs to give their phd free tuition + a stipend, but this doesn't seem to be the case at TC. Am I correct? I would love to be in the program, but I can't take out any more student loans... Any info would be great. Thanks.

What exactly is the difference between mass communication and communication studies? I understand communication studies deals with the sharing of symbols over distances of space over time. Mass comm deals with media designed to reach a very large audience. However, wouldn't the two overlap? I always took degress in comm studies and mass comm as sort of the same thing...Could you clarify?

Hi, I am probably not of much help to you, but I am interested in applying for UNC-CH's PHD in communication program for next year. Is that the program that you are applying for? Also, what program are you referring to exactly at UCLA? I only thought they had a comm major for undergrads. Just trying to inform myself as I choose which schools to apply for over the next 8 months... Thanks!