rowan or penn state uni park?

SpacemanEd
Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:09:22 +0000

As someone who has worked in communications as a broadcaster and print journalist, and who later did public relations, and now as a parent of two college students, I would say go to the school where you won’t pile up as much debt.

To succeed in those majors, the top priority is to build your portfolio or audition tape. Then after college, take on jobs based on building on your portfolio or tape. Some of the best and most enjoyable stuff doesn’t pay well. You might find yourself working multiple jobs or projects in small markets to get by. But if you enjoy it, 100-hour weeks for peanuts aren’t “work”; they are paying you to have fun and learn.

I graduated from Rowan (actually GSC). Their program is good. I know they have just revamped it to deal with new media, blending the communications school with the commercial art school. To be honest, I haven’t seen enough to give a credible opinion. But I will say that my experience at GSC/Rowan prepared me well for the “real world”. In fact, I got my first professional on-air radio job my junior year at GSC. I’m revealing my age, but I’ll throw in that my class started the PRSSA chapter at Rowan.

Penn State is a great school. But you are comparing apples and oranges. You’ll be taking a bus to classes at UP. That gets tired quickly. The football games are great. Parents will brag. You’ll have a great time. But if you want to write for the school paper or go on air at the college station, you’ll really have to compete.

For your major, Rowan is good. Also look at Temple. You want a NE school the size of Penn State with the Big Games? Look at Syracuse. Smaller? How about Ithaca?

Pretty much all colleges have those majors. I just named a few that are known to turnout new talent in that price range.

Good luck! Listen and learn and put it to work and put yourself out there (in a good way) and you’ll be just fine.