Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Hey. I wanted to know if anyone knows of any good communication schools (broadcasting) that aren't too pricy. BU would be my dream but the price makes the school unrealistic. My father makes a fairly decent amount of money but my parents are divorced and he doesn't want to put more than $15,000 a year into my education. My mother makes next to nothing but my grandma will put in $10,000 a year for my education-- so I'm basically looking at a school no more than $30,000. Oh yeah I live with my mom but I don't know if that helps me any in financial aid. Anyone have any ideas about schools and financial aid? Thank you in advance.

By Jerseygirl05 (Jerseygirl05) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 12:27 pm: Edit

bump

just going to bring this up.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 12:40 pm: Edit

Try University of Missouri at Columbia - it's a public school with an excellent journalism department. Other public schools with good journalism/communications programs: Indiana University U of NC at Chapel Hill, U of Pittsburgh, U of Wisconsin, James Madison (Virginia).

All are good for communications/journalism and even as an out of state student you'll be within your price range. Obviously, you should also check out the communications programs available within your own state system.

If you have your heart set on a private school, try Trinity University in Texas - good school, low cost. Linfield College in Oregon gives a lot of merit aid to good students and has a decent communications program. Marquette University or Creighton are two other possibilities.

By Jerseygirl05 (Jerseygirl05) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 01:13 pm: Edit

Thanks for the schools. I was actually looking at Chapel Hill. I want to stay on the east coast and private/public doesn't matter. I'll look into U of Pittsburgh too.

By Xyz155 (Xyz155) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:01 pm: Edit

Definatly check out Pitt and even Temple.

By Jerseygirl05 (Jerseygirl05) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Temple looks like a good safety. I like the idea of being in a city. Thanks.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 03:10 pm: Edit

Another thought: The University of Maryland-College Park has a very good journalism program.

If your grades are better than average for these schools, you might check out the possibility of merit money at: Quinnipiac, U of Scranton, Simmons, Emerson, Ithaca, Susquehanna, Juniata, Syracuse, Villanova, Fairfield, Fordham, Muhlenberg.

Merit awards will be based on GPA/SAT scores, not financial aid. And, I wouldn't rule out Boston U - or other private schools - either - apply for financial aid and see what is offered, you might be surprised. Just make sure you have a few financial safeties as well. Good luck.

By Sportsguru5 (Sportsguru5) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 03:20 pm: Edit

Carolyn, as a prospective communications major, I'm curious about any facts you can give about the industry in general, and specifically Syracuse's Newhouse school (you mentioned that you graduated from there). I would like to work in the sports media, but specifically in sports talk radio.

SAT: 1360, ACT: 30, WGPA~ 4.1

Applied to Northwestern, Syracuse, Boston University, NYU, UConn

Accepted by University of Michigan

Highly doubt I get into NW, somewhat confident on SU and BU, no clue on NYU

By Musefinity (Musefinity) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 03:24 pm: Edit

Jeez man, $30,000 is a big college budget.

I'm doing Communications, too, only Visual. My dream school is UNC, they have GREAT Journalism. But my realistic school is University of Missour-Columbia who has great Communications as well (Walter Cronkite). I got a bunch of scholarship money to MU so I'm sure you can too, it's not that hard. The other schools I'm looking at are University of Maryland-College Park, Indiana University-Bloomington, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Good luck.

Oh, Syracuse has wonderful Communications as well. I would died to go there: that's where my Uncle lives and the city is absolutely beautiful. (The campus is nasty though.) It was too much money for me however. I love you Carmelo even if you ditched Syracuse for the Nuggets!

By Jerseygirl05 (Jerseygirl05) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 03:57 pm: Edit

I looked into Syracuse and the only thing that I really didn't like was its location. I like Emerson, especially since it is in Boston. I looked into Rutgers as a safety (being from NJ) but, of course, they do not have the kind of communications I am looking at. I plan to look at the other colleges suggested here.

Sportsguru5 & Musefinity, good luck with your admissions!

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 05:27 pm: Edit

Yes, I did graduate from Syracuse's Newhouse school. It served me well - I had many opportunities for internships and took advantage of them. The classes were very career-focused. They really want you to get a job. The alumni network and career placement offices are pretty good.

The communications industry is difficult to break into unless you do internships and really push yourself to develop skills and a good portfolio by graduation. Expect to spend at least a few years in a low-paying entry level job in the middle of no where in most cases, especially in broadcasting. Some people get lucky and get a job in NY or LA right away but they're the exceptions not the rule.

Syracuse isn't a bad place to go to school. Actually, I liked Syracuse alot and this is many years ago when it was not half as nice as it is now. Most Syracuse students spend the majority of their time on or near campus and there are plenty of neat restaurants, bars, shops within walking distance to keep you occupied.

The worst thing about Syracuse (aside from the outrageous tuition!) is the weather. Bring your long underwear. But then, the weather's not too great in Boston or Chicago (Northwestern) either...

By Barrons (Barrons) on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 09:26 pm: Edit

U Washington seemed to get quite afew people placed with KJR a top sports talk station in Seattle. I watched several start as interns and progress to having a show within 3-5 years. Larger cities seem to have the best shot for interns so I'd look at schools in large cities first--especially if they have pro and college sports to cover.

By Anotherdad2 (Anotherdad2) on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 01:06 pm: Edit

Cornell has a communication major in the AG School. Tuition in-state is 14.5. You may want to look at it.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 01:54 pm: Edit

Other good schools beside the ones that were mentioned: University of Minn.-Twin Cities, Michigan State, University of Florida, all of which are well within your budget.

Ithaca College and Marquette also have good communication/journalism programs.

It's important to go to a university that offers lots of hands on experience -- has a solid daily newspaper on campus, and excellent broadcast facilities (if you plan to be in broadcast journalism).

Also use the "message search" feature because this subject has come up before, and people have gotten other great advice.

By Pattykk (Pattykk) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 08:15 pm: Edit

Carolyn: How is the communications program at Ohio University?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 09:03 pm: Edit

PattyK - I've heard Ohio has a good communications program but I don't have any first-hand knowledge of its program.

Another public with a great communications program is the University of Oregon. Reasonable tuition even for out of state students.

By Nan817 (Nan817) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 01:07 am: Edit

Carolyn, how would you rate Penn State's communications school?

By Barrons (Barrons) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 09:06 am: Edit

Ohio and Oregon are more known as Journalism schools. Communications is a different major.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 01:07 pm: Edit

I don't have personal knowledge of Penn State's program, however, it is not on the list of schools with strong communications/journalism programs in Rugg's Recommendations of the Colleges. Rugg's lists schools by majors identified by the schools themselves as being particularly strong. That doesn't mean Penn State doesn't have a decent program - it's just not usually listed as one of the top programs for journalism/communications.

By Gadad (Gadad) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 10:05 pm: Edit

Go to the Ithaca College website and look at the full-tuition scholarships offered to top applicants to their Communications programs.

By Jerseygirl05 (Jerseygirl05) on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 01:06 am: Edit

I just went to that site. It was very informative. I had been looking into Ithaca but never clicked on that link. Thanks Gadad.

By Dezze188 (Dezze188) on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 05:51 pm: Edit

I have this desire to get into a good school with a good communicatons program, but I haven't the slightest notion of what college I am worthy of. I have 3.8 unweighted and SAT 1120. My extra curricular activities are decent enough, but what college would I qualify for. I don't want to sell myself short, but i don't want to reach the unlikely. Please help. Thank you.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 06:51 pm: Edit

Your stats are fine. Schools like Syracuse and Boston U would be realistic reaches for you. Some schools with good communications programs that would make good matches or even safeties for you:
Quinipiac (CT)
Linfield (Oregon)
Seton Hall NJ)
Juniata (PA)
Loyola (Maryland)
Ithaca (NY)
Temple (PA)
Susquehanna (PA)
Simmons (if female - MA)
Arizona State
Fairfield (CT)
SUNY Fredonia
Marist (NY)
Elon (North Carolina)
Butler (Indiana)
U of Denver (Colorado)
Gettysburg (PA)
Indiana U
U of Scranton
U of Oregon
MArquette (WI)
Loyola Marymount (CA)
Lynchburg (Virginia)

By Romola (Romola) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 02:44 am: Edit

And, wonder of wonders, a program that may actually be worth the money:

http://www.depauw.edu/honors/media/

(Yes, that's right: Wanting to study communications as an undergraduate doesn't mean that you should attend a communications school, or even major in journalism.)

By Danoeire (Danoeire) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 04:04 pm: Edit

Actually, I think that Boston U would be a good match/safety for you while Syracuse would be a good safety. I don't think that either of them could be considered reaches for you AT ALL. I would aslo have to say that most all of the other colleges listed by Carolyn would be safeties.

By Amit_Sdana (Amit_Sdana) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 07:41 am: Edit

musefinity: u wrote that ur doing communicarions course in visuals only. could you tell me the details of the programme. i am very much interested in a visuals only communications prigramme. do these schools also ofer major in filmmaking/cinematography?

thanks.

By Chiangkaishrek (Chiangkaishrek) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 04:17 am: Edit

Boston U has a great communication school, though it's on the pricey end of the scael.

Same for U Penn's Annenberg..though it's very competitive.

Ithaca college has a great journalism program..but I don't know if you're interested in journalism.

Good luck!

By Ld10lmp (Ld10lmp) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 09:54 pm: Edit

i am currently a sophomore:
School TV Production
Applied for Tisch summer program
3.28 gpa


realistically, what schools would good for someone who is really interested in majoring in film, while still having a good reputation?