Just got into Indiana University as a direct admit to the Media School! I love the program, especially because as a Media major, which I am, you pick from 9 concentrations to follow, one of which being sports media. The sports media concentration seems amazing too, I really have to do some research on the school as a whole more now.
Didn’t say anything about financial aid or scholarships in the letter, but according to the IU acceptance thread on here, I don’t think anyone’s letter had anything about that. We’ll see
You would get the initial Dean’s Scholarship on the letter so it could be there isn’t one. Given your GPA/test score, that’s likely.
Still, it’s a great get for you. Congrats.
But you are looking at Sports Media…
You note you definitely need financial aid. It’s stated cost for this year is $58K. Can you afford that?
You do not want to go into debt - especially for a degree in sports media - which has a very low success rate. It did when I graduated Syracuse - and after a short stint at ESPN, it was all over for me.
And it does today.
Congrats - it’s a great get. But - you can get to the same places from everywhere - so do so affordably.
If that’s not IU, cross it off. As an OOS student, you shouldn’t expect substantial aid. Even those tippy top over get, with the various scholarships, $8-12K.
Still, for today, great news. But you still have great, affordable options and don’t lose sight of that.
Congratulations! It’s a really respected program indeed.
An issue is that both PSU and IU are unlikely to be affordable. Better odds at IU but how much would you need off the 58k price - a 30k scholarship? More? Less?
And while you get bragging rights for getting in , if the university is not affordable then it’s like a denial for financial reasons.
You’re only allowed to have 5.5k in loans in your name for freshman year and accumulating debt for a sports media major would hobble your career. Literally, it could prevent you from pursuing it because the field doesn’t pay much at first and you’d have to take whatever job pays the most so you can pay off your debt (ie., not in sports media but likely in some sort of industry logistics or middle management). It’s easier to pivot into sports media with a solid business major obtained with little debt+ a minor, because the lack of debt would allow you to take on the low pay position in your field of interest and grow from there.
You can likely be successful in your career choice from any college. If you are devoted and really want that career, you will work through the entry level times and learn, and move on or get promoted. This happens at a lot of jobs, and also for students from many colleges. It’s what you do at that first job that matters…and persistence often pays off.
Congratulations on your acceptances, but I do need to ask why you applied to a number of public universities as an OOS student. The mission of most of these colleges is to provide aid to their taxpaying in state families.
I guess I’m not clear if you have an affordable sure thing for admission on your application list.
Have you considered Hofstra in NY? Probably too late now….but they have an excellent sports media program. It’s a private school, but they offer very generous scholarships, many to kids with stats lower and similar to yours.
OP I read the entire thread & I am rooting for you & Syracuse. It seems like your clear 1st choice.
Would you still want to go there if it weren’t the communications school?
That said - there are a few schools that have Feb 1st deadlines & rolling admissions that you could still consider.
I recommend looking at St Joes in Philly. Generous with scholarships, has your major or a variant of it, and options to give yourself a double major.
PITT has a pell match that brings tuition down to near instate levels.
It does seem like even with the pell, students are required find 20 to 25k a year after scholarships but before loans because of housing costs. Other than various in state programs for residents of that state. Or hugely high stats but not everyone has those.
deferred from syracuse, just found out today. Honestly, like clemson was preparing myself for a rejection, so this was better than I thought. Guess I’ll find out in March!
Starting to look deeper into the colleges I have gotten accepted to, they do say “Love the colleges that love you back”. not disregarded any of the ones I’ve been deferred from, but just focusing on the others for now.
Planning on writing a LOCI for clemson and syracuse-any advice helps
I’m also a senior (not applying to any of these schools) and I have been following this thread for quite a bit.
I just want to say congratulations. I also don’t think you should be shocked with your acceptances/deferrals.
You may have lower than average stats for some of these schools, but you speak so eloquently and maturely. You seem like a great person, and schools look for that above all. I’m excited to see where you go and all the amazing things you accomplish!
thank you guys!!! Im honestly not sure what school is in the lead right now. Ive visited a few, but I prob will not be able to visit some of the further ones (Indiana, pitt). and to answer the other question, I applied Journalism as they have a sports concentration for that! (UMass)
also…I got DEFERRED from UMiami!!! Big feat for me as I had written this off as an automatic rejection lol-just applied because I’m in Miami. Almost all of my friends got rejected too, which honestly confuses me, but I’m happy with this.
question, as a deferred applicant I have the option to change my decision plan to ED2 for UM…probably not going to, but hypothetically, would It give me a big jump in chances to get in? Statistically higher than Syracuses? I didn’t consider Umiami as much as I did other schools because I thought I wouldn’t get in, but now I’m questioning that. (not thinking I’m gonna get in lol just wondering if I didn’t give it enough thought)
Any and all feedback is welcome!!! Thank you guys!!
I would imagine some bump if you move to ED2 over just deferring to RD, but no clue how much? usually nobody published ED2 rates (as opposed to all ED).
However, don’t be swayed just be the “name” only do ED2 if you LOVE it (and won’t regret other ones) and can pay for it:)
Good luck, you have some great acceptances (and hopefully affordable).
Yes it would but the name is not relevant in sports journalism. 0%. Practice and opportunity are.
And most importantly you started with huge budget concerns.
I know a Miami sports journalism grad. Works as an asst SID for a few sports. Sunbelt conference. $40k. Great job but can’t pay rent. Not a good ROI for mom and dad.
, if the university is not affordable then it’s like a denial for financial reasons. 
