NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm a High School Senior and I am undecided on what 4-year University to attend. I want to Major in Communications and hopefully work as a television producer or in public relations.

Do any of you know of any good Communications schools to consider? Any recommendations? Warnings?

Serious replies will be much appreciated.

Look for schools with very strong alumni ties. A lot of the time, alumni will hire or help out new grads when they go out looking for jobs after college. After all, you can go to the best comm college in the universe, but it won't matter if you can't get on your feet after that degree comes around.

Look for schools with very strong alumni ties. A lot of the time, alumni will hire or help out new grads when they go out looking for jobs after college. After all, you can go to the best comm college in the universe, but it won't matter if you can't get on your feet after that degree comes around.

How do I look for that? See if the school offers internship programs?

No kidding....

Middle Tennessee State University

University of Chicago

Those two schools are extremely strong in production. If you're looking for communications and on the East Coast and need help, message me and I'll see what I can find out for you. Doing that sort of thing is part of my real life....hehehe, and I'll even do it for free.

How do I look for that? See if the school offers internship programs?

Look to see if there are a lot of alumni clubs that work with the school. For example, I go to the University of Southern California, and there are a lot of Trojan Clubs of [city name] or Trojan Alumni Families or what have you that are connected to the school.

If you actually visit schools (which you obviously should do), ask about alumni and alumni organizations. Your parents may know about alumni organizations through their own employment, or maybe your friends or their parents have heard of a certain college being influential in your area.

Oh yeah, avoid Fullsail down in Florida...don't let anyone talk you into even considering this wretched excuse of a school. If you're determined to go to Florida, you get a better education at Valencia Community College in Orlando for a 10th the cost.

Be wary of schools that send you lists of people that are working in the field you're interested in. Generally that's not what you're concerned about. You want to know true placement rates as well as placement times. A school that brags of 90% and above placement may very well have that, if you consider that half their people are working at Burger King. Those numbers are deceptive.

I would like to stay in the Northeast. I don't want to venture out too far unless I have a good shot at getting in.

Well heck, no worries then. You can find pretty much whatever you want in the SUNY system. Have you looked at Oswego?

You can also look into Boston University. Marist and Syracuse are also good schools. Northeastern is pretty decent as well.

If you're willing to come down south a little more, check into Catholic University in D.C.

Might also be interested in Miami of Ohio. Ohio State and UNC Chapel Hill both have good programs if you want to travel this way.

Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Whereever you go, get big time involved in campus media and work really hard for good internships...

Here's a better question to help us and yourself along; what do you want in a university?

The cheaper the better. You’ll be less likely to have items stolen if you go to a cheap college.

If you are interested in a top tier school (by US News rankings) in the metropolitan Northeast, you should consider the University of Pennsylvania (http://www.upenn.edu)

Their Annenberg School of Communications is top-notch. The dean of the school is Kathleen Hall-Jamieson, a brilliant and extrememly well respected woman whom does alot of work in DC.

Penn also has a great alumni network, excellent career services, great campus life and amazing faculty members.

The only downside to Penn is the pricetag. However, they are also very generous in terms of giving monies to financially deserving students.

Anecdote: A friend of mine who went to Penn for Communications is now at CNN, and has been since 2001. She graduated in 2000. Not too bad, eh?

Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Whereever you go, get big time involved in campus media and work really hard for good internships...
I second that. Syracuse has a great communications school, especially if you are interested in TV. Plus, they give you free ice cream if you visit. Warning: VERY expensive if you're not in state.
Also, try to avoid those US News rankings unless you really cannot make up your mind.

I second that. Syracuse has a great communications school, especially if you are interested in TV. Plus, they give you free ice cream if you visit. Warning: VERY expensive if you're not in state.
Also, try to avoid those US News rankings unless you really cannot make up your mind.

Free ice cream? How'd i miss that? ;)

Syracuse is very expensive regardless of where you are from...it's not a state school. Scholarships and financial aid will be your best friends, unless cost isn't a concern for your family. I will echo the person who suggested SUNY schools -- they can also be excellent and more resonably priced as a state school, if you are a NYS resident.

Fundamentally, I think that what you do while in school is just as important as where you go. If you get excellent grades, excel in career related extracurricular activites, and get deeply involved, you could end up with a fabulous portfolio for your hob hunt. A name-brand school and realted connections helps get your foot in the door, no doubt about that, but if you cannot afford it, or cannot get in, you still have many avenues to pursue your career goals.

I haven't a clue about American tertiary education, but I work in a distant part of the field you want to enter, and I'd like to say ... (sits back in rocking chair, taps empty pipe ...)
DON'T make up your mind too specifically about what you want to do. A good uni will give you a chance to try all forms of communication. You may find you're a natural for radio, or a born feature writer.
DO find out exactly what they're offering. Somebody, somewhere, has to teach you the really basic basics (like, when covering anything, always find out where the exits are, the toilets are, the food is, and where you can buy extra batteries or recharge). It's easier if you learn from someone who's done it, and not while things are falling apart all round you.
DON'T ever believe anyone who tells you his name is John Smith. It's almost always Johnne Smytthe. CHECK check check check check check ...
And RosaRugosa is right. In the long run, what counts is you.

I would say EWTG. + all you have to do is talk to your local recruiter and they actually pay you to attend every school. Then when you finish your commitment you could always go to a traditional College and have them pay for that also. Just an option, but its not for everyone so take my words as a grain of salt.

Thanks to everyone who responded, this is all very useful information.

Found something cool. Go to www.princetonreview.com and try out the "counselor-o-matic." Very cool, but don't forget to take it with a grain of salt...

How about Johnson Bible college? Or any other Bible college. They communicate with God.

How about Johnson Bible college? Or any other Bible college. They communicate with God.

I'm sensing sarcasm. I do not want to be affiliated with any religious school. Or religion for that matter.

Oh and the problem with that is that God doesn't talk back.