<p><em>taryn</em>, technically speaking, Medill isn’t the #1 j-school. that destinction belongs to UM-Columbia. Medill’s emphasis on liberal arts education and the amazingly strong academics throughout NU’s other schools, however, makes it the most desirable and advantageous j-school in the country.</p>
<p>sainclaire, as taryn said, the first year of Medill isn’t easy. a lot of people figure out that they do not want to be a journalist (for whatever reason) and A LOT of people get frustrated with the curriculum. i have voiced my concerns about the changing curricula to Dean Levine and other administrators, but it’s really all for the best. in order to get better, Medill must change its methods of teaching and such changes will inevitably lead to logistical problems about which students will complain to no end. </p>
<p>the bottom line is that you really have to be motivated and have a strong desire to dig deep on stories and work through problems, like the -2-degree temps in winter quarter, for all four years. you just have to put a little faith into the system and know that you’re getting as much out of it as – if not more than – you put in. i cannot give a definitive answer about whether Medill is the right place for you. if you want to chat about your interests and goals, i’d be more than happy to help and give you some advice. PM, email or AIM works fine for me.</p>