UUÖ±²¥

I am currently enrolled as a graduate student at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, and I am a first-year. Given that it is a two-year program, I am only able to speak on the experiences of first semester. I would like to begin with a note on faculty and staff. The school is relatively small, but it is staffed with a sufficient amount of employees who dedicate their time (and careers) to making the lives of their students easier. We have unobstructed access to financial advisers, career... Read More advisers, and academic advisers, all of whom vow to be there for us when needed. Also worthy of mention is the fact that the dean himself has a relatively open-door policy, meaning he makes it easy for students to have important conversations with him. Furthermore, there are two additional associate deans who also double as full-time faculty/lecturers at the school. They are also available for both quick advice and important counseling, as well as for random conversations in between. In terms of professors, I really appreciate that most of them are alums from the J-school who are able to understand exactly where students are coming from. They are also all experienced in the field with impressive resumes; this gives students access to a network of professional journalists who play a hand in not only teaching us during our time as graduate students, but possibly also in connecting us to the right people once our careers begin post-graduation. Lastly, as journalism is an industry heavily focused on gear and equipment, it is important that we receive proper technical training on how to handle expensive cameras and video cameras. Students have been trained by the school's own equipment manager on several different occasions. There is also a really neat and organized rental schedule that is well-maintained and constantly updated; this makes for an easy check-out/check-in process when students rent equipment for assignments. We have also been spoken to about the importance of insurance, and we have been recommended different insurance plans. The classroom experience at UC Berkeley's J-school is intimate, as there are only about a dozen students assigned to a single professor in most sections. This makes learning an extremely personalized process, which I believe helps benefit the student immensely. All students are on different tracks and career paths--from New Media to Video Journalism to Narrative Writing--so it helps to have plenty of one-on-one time with professors who are guiding us along. The selection of classes is also very broad--ranging from practical, niche reporting courses (such as sports reporting, investigative reporting, business reporting, and international reporting), to more specialized courses on reporting on sexual violence, reporting from war abroad, etc. Students are encouraged to dabble in different areas of reporting to develop a versatile skillset. For example, though I am following the Narrative Writing and New Media tracks, I am currently enrolled in a mandatory Intro to Visual Storytelling course. The course, along with Intro to Reporting, is required regardless of which track you are on because the school wants all students to try both video and narrative mediums for reporting at least once so to at least establish a basic foundation. Perhaps my favorite part about attending Berkeley's J-school is the network of amazing peers and faculty/staff that I have been introduced to, as well as the honor of being apart of this network that has many useful connections in the industry. I am constantly interacting with my peers at the many events the school hosts, which features panel discussions on important themes in the industry and talks led by leading journalists (some of whom are former students) who have succeeded professionally. I am also involved in clubs at the school including the Asian American Journalists Association, which meets frequently to plan school events, offer constructive feedback on our projects, and spend time/bond outside of the classroom environment. At the J-school, we are constantly reminded to de-stress and maintain a positive mindset and a healthy well-being, so making time for relaxation and fun is absolutely mandatory! I recommend, without hesitation, the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for any reporter who is serious about perfecting his or her craft or interested in developing new skillsets. Journalism is a constantly-evolving field, and Berkeley's J-school is ready to help students modernize and prepare for the current shift as well as any future change to come.

The University of Arizona Journalism School is exceptional. Our professors have journalistic such a wide range of journalistic experience ranging from positions at National Geographic, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. They do a fantastic job at passing down their wisdom to students. The program is relatively small so there are a lot of opportunities for support from professors and fellow peers as well. The school itself is open to students 24/7 with the use of our student ID cards,... Read More so it's great for pulling nighters or weekend studying. The offered courses go beyond standard journalism writing courses and also offer publication design, app design, and even reporting for international journalists. All of this and more will more than contribute to an extremely well-rounded journalistic education. I would highly recommended the J-School to all aspiring journalists.

I am currently in the Global Journalism program at NYU. I love the program. So far it has given me on the ground experience with reporting, which I have never had before. I have been exposed to various kinds of journalism and encouraged to explore them. I have been able to pursue stories that interest me, while being pushed outside of my comfort zone. I've been inspired by my peers. We often are able to take classes with other journalism students who may specialize in another sector (say business... Read More journalism, as opposed to health, or international relations). This makes combined classes rich with various kinds of specialized knowledge that students share. I have been able to make the most of the vast resources, both textual and personal, that NYU has to offer. There are great opportunities for networking, for internships, and for exploring the newest and most relevant of journalistic skills. To anyone who is seeking to attend a university for journalism and struggling to choose which to apply to, or which to attend once accepted, I would have to suggest that NYU has the most diverse, comprehensive, and flexible program. You can make your degree work for you, personalize it to your interests, and get real applicable experience through classes and connections.

Columbia's J-School often gets slack from practitioners in the field and students alike. A number of active journalists and editors believe in an empirical approach to journalism and deride the formal, theoretical or skills-based training offered at the school. The reasoning goes that journalism is a trade and therefore must be learned with a hands-on approach, the shoe-leather route. That isn't untrue. Certainly, hands-on training is necessary (going out and reporting, interviewing people, digging... Read More into archives, and getting the door slammed in your face). But a conversation about whether it's the only way or the best way or the first step one should take obscures the benefits of a great place like the J-school. An approach and a learning environment that unites theory with practice will give new journalists the best of both worlds. There are so many digital skills, too many technologies that help bridge the gap between reporting and the mass amount of information humans produce on a daily basis. Without the dedicated time to formally train, be it in a classroom or at home if you are a self-teacher, you won't be as competitive in the field. It's a simple truth. The J-school is a confluence of empiricism and theory. A place where you are pushed in the classroom and out of the classroom. In my opinion, it's an excellent school for fledgling journalists.

In my specific program, the Magazine Writing program, I couldn't imagine a better opportunity than to be studying at New York University surrounded by some of the best and most forward-thinking writers in the country. The cumulative experience and expertise of the faculty is invaluable, and the location and proximity to professional opportunities after graduation is unmatched. The education received at NYU's grad schools is worth every dollar, and I eagerly look forward to the opportunities with... Read More which it will provide me.

Things will always fall through the cracks anytime you try to do something on a mass scale. The same is true for USC Annenberg's Graduate Journalism programs. Basically, this program is just the BA Journalism curriculum but for students who didn't major in the subject in college. If you're a slab of clay who doesn't know what a newspaper is, USC will mold you. But the more experience you have in journalism entering this program, the more frustrated you will be. The tricky thing about a Journalism... Read More MA is figuring out if you really need it. You need a law degree to become a lawyer, but don't need a BA or an MA journalism degree to become a journalist. But then again, if you're writing for a small town paper and want to make the leap to the New York Times, or if you're at a small market TV station and want to get to NBC News, USC might have the internships and a couple of resources to get you there. There's no clear answer to "who" the MA is really for, and who it is for not. But do not think for a second that the staff or faculty USC will help you answer that question. They will accept anyone who applies and is willing to pay the tuition. If you're already skilled in say radio, you will not have the opportunity to test out of an intro radio class or seminar. The professors are honestly very insecure about that and will take it personally if you suggest you don't need their help. Many of them are in their 60s and 70s and have been in a position of power for so long that nobody can question their intelligence or authority. Often times instructors teach outdated materials to students since they've been out of the field for so long but there's nothing students can do about it. Then there's the opposite problem. Some of the younger professors covering topics like digital media or social video haven't spent enough time in the field mastering those subjects before becoming teachers, with it being very evident that they have no idea what they're talking about. And don't you dare think about dropping out, because you'll be missing out on USC's incredible professional network who will make all your dreams come true. "Then why are so many former students still unemployed or not practicing journalism after they graduate?" "Because they didn't love Annenberg enough." "But they got really good grades, and it looks like they were involved with student activities and built relationships with professors and professionals, and..." "NO THEY DIDN'T LOVE ANNENBERG ENOUGH THAT'S WHY THEY FAILED!!!!!" What's most ironic is that the school emphasizes the need to question instutions and authority, except of course for Annenberg, which students must always have blind faith in. If you have no prior professional or student experience in journalism, USC is a great fit. If you know what a byline is and have had one or two before, stick to Northwestern, Mizzou, Syracuse, or anywhere else. It is not worth it.

While I have yet to attend Columbia University in the City of New York, I am already impressed with the administration's attention towards prospective and incoming students. As I went to a large public undergrad school, I’ve experienced an educational institution with a lot of bureaucracy and a lack of communication amongst student service departments. From the day I attended an Open House session for the school to now, a mere month away from my first day at Columbia, I’ve received nothing but detailed... Read More attention and instruction from the deans. I can’t wait to start my journey at Columbia!