Graduate Journalism Programs

[future.journo]

After learning the hard way how difficult finding reliable/helpful/informative information regarding graduate journalism programs can be, I decided to dedicate a topic to the subject. I think that if those who've gone through the process can take a little time to share the details of their experience, others will benefit from the (hopefully) non-biased information. For continuity's sake, it would be helpful if you used the format below:

Program Applied To:

Schools Applied To:

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate Institution:

Undergraduate GPA:

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major:

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile):

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile):

GRE AW Score:

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):

Years of Work Experience:

Describe Relevant Work Experience:

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc):

Other:

--

I borrowed the format from the

Edited March 8, 2010 by future.journo

[future.journo]

Program Applied To: MS, MA, MJ

Schools Applied To: Columbia University, Syracuse University, University of Maryland, College Park

Schools Admitted To: Syracuse University (informal), University of Maryland, College Park

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: Columbia, Syracuse (formal)

Undergraduate Institution: Bowling Green State University

Undergraduate GPA: 3.3

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.3

Undergraduate Major: Interpersonal Communication

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 630 (51^st)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 620 (89^th)

GRE AW Score: 4.1

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): ~ 6 months

Years of Work Experience: 4

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Editor, Parent Newsletter; Student Newspaper Club Volunteer

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I believe that my statements of purpose were very strong. I incorporated past and present experiences into my future goals. As someone who hasn't always taken grades seriously, I used my statements of purpose to define my strengths and minimize my weaknesses.

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): I had letters of recommendation from administrators of a high school that I volunteer with, past professors, and a past supervisor. I waived access to my LORs, but I do trust that my recommendation providers described me in a favorable light.

Other: I had a difficult time finding relevant information on schools outside of their Web sites. I often read that j-school is a pointless waste of time and money, but I believe otherwise. My first choice is the University of Maryland. Syracuse is my second first choice only because it's farther away from a big city than UMD or Columbia are. Columbia is -- you guessed it -- my dream school. Getting in there would be like breaking one of Da Vinci's codes. Hope this helps! If you have any questions regarding my application process, feel free to ask me!

[KAMALAGRAD]

Program Applied To: MS, MA, MJ

Schools Applied To: Columbia University, Syracuse University, University of Maryland, College Park

Schools Admitted To: Syracuse University (informal), University of Maryland, College Park

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: Columbia, Syracuse (formal)

Undergraduate Institution: Bowling Green State University

Undergraduate GPA: 3.3

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.3

Undergraduate Major: Interpersonal Communication

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 630 (51^st)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 620 (89^th)

GRE AW Score: 4.1

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): ~ 6 months

Years of Work Experience: 4

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Editor, Parent Newsletter; Student Newspaper Club Volunteer

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I believe that my statements of purpose were very strong. I incorporated past and present experiences into my future goals. As someone who hasn't always taken grades seriously, I used my statements of purpose to define my strengths and minimize my weaknesses.

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): I had letters of recommendation from administrators of a high school that I volunteer with, past professors, and a past supervisor. I waived access to my LORs, but I do trust that my recommendation providers described me in a favorable light.

Other: I had a difficult time finding relevant information on schools outside of their Web sites. I often read that j-school is a pointless waste of time and money, but I believe otherwise. My first choice is the University of Maryland. Syracuse is my second first choice only because it's farther away from a big city than UMD or Columbia are. Columbia is -- you guessed it -- my dream school. Getting in there would be like breaking one of Da Vinci's codes. Hope this helps! If you have any questions regarding my application process, feel free to ask me!

I'm curious. What exactly do you mean you were informally accepted to Syracuse?

[future.journo]

I'm curious. What exactly do you mean you were informally accepted to Syracuse?

I spoke with a professor at Syracuse and was told that they'd love to have me. Since acceptances don't go out until the 15^th, though, it's just hearsay.

[Jae B.]

Program Applied To: Journalism Masters

Schools Applied To: UC Berkeley (M.J.), Columbia (M.S.)

Schools Admitted To: UC Berkeley

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: Columbia

Undergraduate Institution: UC Berkeley

Undergraduate GPA: ~ 3.82

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: Media Studies & American Studies, concentration on "Neighborhoods"

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile):

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile):

GRE AW Score:

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):

Years of Work Experience: 1 year + 1 summer

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Reporter and online editor for school newspaper, communications internship.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. I wrote many drafts. I felt good about both my statement of purpose and my autobiographical essay. Explained how I have been interested in journalism and its issues much longer than my résumé shows.

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. One academic, one work, one both academic & work.

Other: Graduating from undergrad this semester.

[Jae B.]

Program Applied To: Journalism Masters

Schools Applied To: UC Berkeley (M.J.), Columbia (M.S.)

Schools Admitted To: UC Berkeley

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: Columbia

Undergraduate Institution: UC Berkeley

Undergraduate GPA: ~ 3.82

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: Media Studies & American Studies, concentration on "Neighborhoods"

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile):

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile):

GRE AW Score:

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):

Years of Work Experience: 1 year + 1 summer

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Reporter and online editor for school newspaper, communications internship.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. I wrote many drafts. I felt good about both my statement of purpose and my autobiographical essay. Explained how I have been interested in journalism and its issues much longer than my résumé shows.

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. One academic, one work, one both academic & work.

Other: Graduating from undergrad this semester.

Just got accepted to Columbia. I checked the website, no e-mail yet!

[KAMALAGRAD]

I spoke with a professor at Syracuse and was told that they'd love to have me. Since acceptances don't go out until the 15^th, though, it's just hearsay.

Awesome! Did you get your official acceptance yet? I got mine on Friday and am psyched! I only applied to four programs with no safeties as I figured if I was going to continue my education, I would only do it at a place I REALLY wanted to go. Anyway, here's my info:

Program Applied To: MA, MS

Schools Applied To: Columbia, UC Berkeley, USC, Syracuse

Schools Admitted To: Syracuse

Schools Rejected From: UC Berkeley

Still Waiting: Columbia (Wait Listed), USC (Haven't heard anything yet)

Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Irvine

Undergraduate GPA: 3.25

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: Journalism and Film, Double Major

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 380 (OUCH! I know!)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 510 (Better, but still)

GRE AW Score: 5.0

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 year

Years of Work Experience: 7 years

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Working on various publications both in school and outside of it. Aside from print publications I have also worked in radio, at a media center and as an English tutor. I have lots of other work experience, but these are the most relevant.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Really strong. I've always been a great writer and put a lot of effort into it. Hey, why try to be be modest, after all I didn't hide the fact that I suck at math:)

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): To the best of my knowledge really strong, but I waived my right to read them so nothing's positive. I know that the three people I got to write letters for me all knew me well and were three of the best people to write letters for me. I got one from the head of the journalism department, where I earned my degree in journalism, a respected teacher there and my supervisor at the best publication I worked for.

[Jae B.]

I only applied to four programs with no safeties as I figured if I was going to continue my education, I would only do it at a place I REALLY wanted to go.

Word. I had a similar ideology, but even applying to just two schools made my life too busy. I had intended to apply to NYU (their Reporting New York program seemed perfect for me), USC, and possibly Medill among other places. I don't know how you managed so many.

I was wondering: Does the name of the journalism degree you get (M.A., M.S., M.J.) matter to you? Do you know if it makes any particular difference, or if one should have a preference?

[KAMALAGRAD]

Word. I had a similar ideology, but even applying to just two schools made my life too busy. I had intended to apply to NYU (their Reporting New York program seemed perfect for me), USC, and possibly Medill among other places. I don't know how you managed so many.

I was wondering: Does the name of the journalism degree you get (M.A., M.S., M.J.) matter to you? Do you know if it makes any particular difference, or if one should have a preference?

Looks like we have pretty similar tastes:) . I was going to apply to NYU and Medill as well, but decided to narrow it down.

As for the M.A., M.S., M.J. degree matter, it doesn't really matter to me. Also, I do not think that it makes much of a difference if any over all. For instance, it seems like Columbia's program is pretty much regarded as the best around and they award an M.S. degree. However, just about every other top journalism school that I have looked into (except for IIRC Medill) awards an M.A. So if you only had this info you may think M.S.>M.A.

BUT

Columbia also awards an M.A. that is regarded as more prestigious than their M.S. degree. As such you may come to the conclusion that whether the degree is an M.A. or an M.S. is unimportant. What is more important is how the specific program is regarded.

Just my two cents anyways.

Edited March 14, 2010 by KAMALAGRAD

[future.journo]

Just got accepted to Columbia. I checked the website, no e-mail yet!

Congrats! I didn't make it in but I'm happy for you. Are you gonna go?

[future.journo]

Awesome! Did you get your official acceptance yet? I got mine on Friday and am psyched! I only applied to four programs with no safeties as I figured if I was going to continue my education, I would only do it at a place I REALLY wanted to go. Anyway, here's my info:

Program Applied To: MA, MS

Schools Applied To: Columbia, UC Berkeley, USC, Syracuse

Schools Admitted To: Syracuse

Schools Rejected From: UC Berkeley

Still Waiting: Columbia (Wait Listed), USC (Haven't heard anything yet)

Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Irvine

Undergraduate GPA: 3.25

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: Journalism and Film, Double Major

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 380 (OUCH! I know!)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 510 (Better, but still)

GRE AW Score: 5.0

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 year

Years of Work Experience: 7 years

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Working on various publications both in school and outside of it. Aside from print publications I have also worked in radio, at a media center and as an English tutor. I have lots of other work experience, but these are the most relevant.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Really strong. I've always been a great writer and put a lot of effort into it. Hey, why try to be be modest, after all I didn't hide the fact that I suck at math:)

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): To the best of my knowledge really strong, but I waived my right to read them so nothing's positive. I know that the three people I got to write letters for me all knew me well and were three of the best people to write letters for me. I got one from the head of the journalism department, where I earned my degree in journalism, a respected teacher there and my supervisor at the best publication I worked for.

Thanks! I did hear from them and I was über excited. I shared your ideology and only applied to three. I didn't wanna waste money on a school that I really wasn't interested in attending. Congrats on your admits!

[Jae B.]

Looks like we have pretty similar tastes:) . I was going to apply to NYU and Medill as well, but decided to narrow it down.

In my case, it also saved me from having to take the GRE. Once I started studying for it, I realized how much time it was going to cost me to do well!

As for the M.A., M.S., M.J. degree matter, it doesn't really matter to me. Also, I do not think that it makes much of a difference if any over all. For instance, it seems like Columbia's program is pretty much regarded as the best around and they award an M.S. degree. However, just about every other top journalism school that I have looked into (except for IIRC Medill) awards an M.A. So if you only had this info you may think M.S.>M.A.

BUT

Columbia also awards an M.A. that is regarded as more prestigious than their M.S. degree. As such you may come to the conclusion that whether the degree is an M.A. or an M.S. is unimportant. What is more important is how the specific program is regarded.

Just my two cents anyways.

I agree the program is more important. On a different level, I think M.S. is a little weird (Science, really?) and that M.A. is more recognizable than something like M.J. When I first saw M.J., my thought was "Michael Jackson? Michael Jordan? Oh....yeah, I'm never abbreviating that!"

[Jae B.]

Congrats! I didn't make it in but I'm happy for you. Are you gonna go?

I'm not sure it's meant to be for me, either. I'm waiting to see the financial aid and if it'll cover the gnarly $1,000 upfront deposit. Berkeley offered me a great financial aid package, and I love their program. It seems more flexible than Columbia's; you get to do a little bit of everything -- not an ironclad concentration focus. And it's located where I want my career to be. I'm having a hard time deciding. I always thought I'd go to Columbia, but I never thought Berkeley would admit me!

Have you decided which school you're going to yet?

Edited March 14, 2010 by Jae B.

[Lauren35]

This is just out of curiosity, but do you guys ever worry that you won't be able to find a decent, reasonably secure job because journalism is a dying field? That's what I have heard, just wondering.

[Jae B.]

This is just out of curiosity, but do you guys ever worry that you won't be able to find a decent, reasonably secure job because journalism is a dying field? That's what I have heard, just wondering.

Journalism isn't a dying field at all, just a devalued occupation. There is still journalism -- even profitable -- everywhere, but overall it's not earning enough.

The new trouble comes from an outdated financial model relying on advertising (another field in turmoil) revenue, compounded with negative affects of centralized media ownership that, among other things, cuts whatever doesn't earn enough. Finally, there is the media's haphazard usage of the internet that has been giving news away for free.

Still, some news organizations are doing well: small local newspapers, and some larger operations like Politico. And media jobs in social networking and multimedia are expanding.

I strongly believe the field will recover. It's just a matter of how and when.

Frankly, journalism has never been the best paying field, even if there was greater job security in the past. But I consider myself lucky to have found an occupation I am passionate about. I'll find work even if it means freelancing and doing other work until I find a decent job in journalism. I feel good about my decision to continue in school in the meantime; I'll get better at my craft, gain new multimedia skills, improve my portfolio, make new work connections and get to watch what happens in the industry.

[Dith Vader]

Whoops forgot my GRE!

Program Applied To: MA/MS

Schools Applied To: Columbia, Medill, NYU CRC, CUNY, Carnegie Mellon

Schools Admitted To: Medill, CUNY, Carnegie Mellon

Schools Rejected From: Columbia

Still Waiting: NYU CRC

Undergraduate Institution: University of Melbourne

Undergraduate GPA: I don't really know... but I got first- and second-class honours (H2-H1) mostly

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: English Literature and Psychology

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 750 (83%)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 700 (97%)

GRE AW Score: 5.5 (92%)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): ~6 months

Years of Work Experience: Very few, maybe just a few months

Describe Relevant Work Experience: intern at two magazines, now working full time as staff writer

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. I wrote about my personal experiences that led me to adjust my course to journalism and what I plan to do with what I study (long story short, improve media in Indonesia).

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): Not very, I'd think. Two academic and one personal, the personal one is strong because he knows how I work, but the other two are professors who hardly knew me aside from essay consultations.

Other: I have really good writing samples, imho.

Edited March 24, 2010 by Dith Vader

[red_crayons]

Program Applied To: Science Journalism/Communication

Schools Applied To: MIT Science Writing Program, BU Science Journalism, University of Wisconsin Madison Life Sciences Communication, Cornell Dept of Communication (PhD)

Schools Admitted To: Cornell, BU

Schools Rejected From: MIT, UW-Madison

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate Institution: Cornell

Undergraduate GPA: 3.53

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.85-3.9 (educated guess - big improvement through undergrad)

Undergraduate Major: Biology; Minor in French; significant coursework in Linguistics

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 660 (don't remember)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 710 (97%)

GRE AW Score: 5.0 (80-something%)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): almost 3

Years of Work Experience: almost 3 since graduating; 2.5 relevant part-time as a student

Describe Relevant Work Experience: science museum, some outreach/communication in pesticide-reduction program

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I would say very strong - I worked on it for 4+ months! However, I got feedback from BU that it was "too academic" for journalism programs, although they were SO KIND and let me in without funding anyway. I wrote completely separate statements for each school, since the programs were all very different.

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): All 3 letters came from people that I'm still in touch with: former French professor I talk to at least twice a year who talked about my writing/critical thinking skills; former research professor that I worked for doing lab and field research and literature reviews, who has been a reference for a couple jobs and whom I stay in touch with; and former coworker/supervisor from when I worked at a science museum who I'm very friendly with, and who is also leveraging her experience at the museum to pursue grad school (museum studies). I was lucky to have such great, supportive people!!!

Other: I have a hard time reconciling "doing something useful and concrete" with my hyper-reflexive tendencies and love of critical theory. So, I applied to a couple interdisciplinary research programs (Cornell, UW-Madison) and a couple strictly professional programs (MIT, BU), and made my final decision based on where I was accepted, financial offers, and feelings I got about the department through the application process. I'm very happy with where I ended up. Even though I'm going into a research-oriented PhD program, several of the faculty and grad students have worked as journalists and will hopefully offer insights into getting published beyond academia.

I think I'll be walking the practical/vocational vs. intellectual/academic line for my whole life, regardless of how hard I try to pick sides. Both have so much to offer! Certainly Cornell won't restrict me to one side or the other, and I'll have 5 years there to figure out what's best for me. But really, how could I possibly decide??

[JournoLinny]

hello -- Longtime lurker. I was admitted into Columbia's MA program. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about funding decisions. the letter sent to me said April 15, but I was curious as to:

-- whether anyone had procured better information

--whether anyone knew what kind of funding MA or MS students have gotten in the past (if any).

[Jae B.]

I'm eagerly waiting to hear about funding, too.

One person on last year's results page said they were offered $2,000 financial aid...heh.

[sayans.das]

hi

my name is sayan das. i am from India.

i am applying to medill and nyu for journalism courses. i am sitting for my gre in a couple of days and i know my scores wont be sky high. if i dont breach their lowest limit should i apply? i have an amazing essay and great recommendations, a well rounded resume and good journalism experience and samples..... my gpa is around 3.25....

please advice....

please advice me on how to prepare for the columbia journalism writing test?

Whoops forgot my GRE!

Program Applied To: MA/MS

Schools Applied To: Columbia, Medill, NYU CRC, CUNY, Carnegie Mellon

Schools Admitted To: Medill, CUNY, Carnegie Mellon

Schools Rejected From: Columbia

Still Waiting: NYU CRC

Undergraduate Institution: University of Melbourne

Undergraduate GPA: I don't really know... but I got first- and second-class honours (H2-H1) mostly

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: English Literature and Psychology

GRE Quantitative Score (Percentile): 750 (83%)

GRE Verbal Score (Percentile): 700 (97%)

GRE AW Score: 5.5 (92%)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): ~6 months

Years of Work Experience: Very few, maybe just a few months

Describe Relevant Work Experience: intern at two magazines, now working full time as staff writer

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. I wrote about my personal experiences that led me to adjust my course to journalism and what I plan to do with what I study (long story short, improve media in Indonesia).

Strength of LORs (be honest, describe the process, etc): Not very, I'd think. Two academic and one personal, the personal one is strong because he knows how I work, but the other two are professors who hardly knew me aside from essay consultations.

Other: I have really good writing samples, imho.