Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Life after Luxury


As I finish my second to last semester at Shawnee State, I am thinking more and more about what I will be doing after graduation.  I have never been content with anything I have started, so my plans have been up and down this entire year, but I think I am getting closer and closer to an actual decision on what I want to do.  This blog post is to mainly sort out the complicated thoughts that I have been scanning through my head for the past several weeks.  I don't want to go as far as saying I am nervous for "real" life, but I have been living easily my entire life.  Undergrad is easy compared to anything else I will have to do and being on the cross country team has made things even easier with more resources and instant friends.

I suppose I have two options after I graduate: 

1.  No Grad School
This option is something I was leaning toward last week and many times before.  I often start to think about what it would be like to start my career immediately with no more schooling.  This would be a huge change for sure.

But even then, what career do I want to go after?  I will have my degree in Sport Management, but I am not too fond of the current sports industry and do not see myself working in it.  Although, I am probably more qualified in this field more than any other, especially when it comes to facility and event planning.
Another option is some type of journalism field.  Newspaper reporter, editor, magazine, publisher, etc...??  I have less experience in this, as I will only be receiving a minor in Journalism and Communication, but I am more inclined to make this a career path than in the sport industry.

2.  Go to Grad School
This is the apparent option #2.  The one that I thought all along I would do since my Sophomore year of college, and what I am leaning towards currently.

I thrive on learning more.  I took and entire year of Photography courses my first year of college, learning a lot about it.  Then, I switched to Sport Management and I feel I have a good grasp on this subject.  This year, I am taking the majority of my classes dealing with Journalism.  If I could simply make a living off of going to college, I would.  I guess this is the main reason I am wanting to go to grad school.  To finally actually master a subject.....

But, what do I want to study in grad school?

It would be thought logical of me to go to get my masters degree in Sport Administration.  Like I mentioned above though, I do not see myself working in the sport industry.  I have thought about several  fields of study such as Recreation Management, Land and Resource Management, etc....  I keep coming back to Journalism though, and I am committed to making this my choice (still not sure where I would even want this to take me as a career, but I will figure it out sometime or another).

Now the entire process of Grad School

For me, I would say geographical location is one of my key categories about where I want to apply.  I know that it is not good to be picky about the school I choose, but I feel having a location is something that will make me perform to the best of my ability.  And by this, I mean, I want to be where I can run on some trail whenever I want.  When I am running happy, I am learning happy and my mind is a lot more sharp. 

With that said, I have already found schools that fit that geographical need and are know to have a good journalism school (J-School).  Some of the programs I am finding will have a graduate program in communications but will have a journalism emphasis or track, which looks to be good as well.

After compiling the list of schools, I have been finding the requirements and learning each of their application processes.  This process is strenuous and time consuming.  Luckily, I have found a good method of compiling all of the information.

GRE:  Now that I have made the decision to apply for grad school, I need to take the GRE, which most schools require.  I have never fared well on standardized tests, but I have to do what I have to do.  I will more than likely take this test the week before Christmas.

List of Schools Interested In:

1.  University of Colorado
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Newsgathering Combination Print and Broadcast - Environmental
Deadline: February 1st
-GPA:  2.75
-GRE:  Verbal - 500
-Three letters of recommendation
-500 word Statement of Purpose
-Resume
-Writing samples
-$50 application fee
WEBSITE  

2.  University of Reno Nevada
Reynolds School of Journalism
M.A. in Interactive Environmental Journalism
Deadline: March 15th
-GPA:  2.75
-GRE:  Just a score
-Transcript
-Letter of Intent
-Resume
-Three letters of recommendation
-Recent publications
-$60 application fee
WEBSITE 

3.  Boise State University
Department of Communication (Journalism Emphasis)
Deadline:  March 1st
GRE
-Letter of intent
-Two letters of recommendation
-An original, scholarly paper
-Transcript
-$55 application fee
WEBSITE 

4.  University of Oregon
School of Journalism and Communication
Deadline:  February 1st
-Transcript
-GRE:  Verbal + Quantitative = 1100
-Resume
-Letter of intent
-Portfolio
-Three letters of recommendations
-$50 application fee
WEBSITE 

5.  University of Wisconsin - Madison
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Deadline:  January 3rd
-GPA:  3.0
-GRE:  Verbal + Quantitative = 1000, Analytical Writing- 5.00
-Statement of Purpose
-Resume
-Transcript
-Three letters of recommendation
-$56 application fee
WEBSITE 

6.  University of Montana
Environmental Science and National Resource Journalism
Deadline:  February 15th
-GRE Score
-Resume
-Statement of Interest
-Five examples of professional or academic writings
-Three letter of recommendations
-Transcript
-$51 application fee
WEBSITE 

7.  Washington State University
College of Communication
Deadline:  January 10th
-GPA:  3.25
-GRE:  Verbal- 514, Quantitative- 643, Analytical Writing- 3.75
-Three letters of recommendations
-500 word Statement of Purpose
-$50 application fee
WEBSITE

Those are the schools I have looked at so far.  I just need to start applying, getting my recommendation letters, compiling a portfolio, and writing all the letters each school requires.  I also need to contact the faculty at each of these schools, ask them questions and see more about their program.

This is a long process, but I am glad that I actually know what I want to do now.  Who knows though, something might come up that will make me change my mind.  But as of now, time to study for the GRE.....

As I was finishing my run today, the sun was setting below the western hills of the forest; I realized then, I am not chasing the sunset, it is chasing me.

WMO

4 comments:

  1. did you forget to mention the little part about us living in boulder Spring 2013?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your share! I think this information is helpful for everyone. I'm doing practice GRE here: masteryourgre.com . I hope it's useful for GRE test takers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dude,
    Move out to Ashland, Oregon into the Rogue Valley. See if Hal Koerner will give you a job at his running shop and let you train with him. Find a cheap place to live. Work and become one of the best Ultramarathoners in the sport.
    Or get a job in Boulder and go to school and train with Tony.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Blake, if I get accepted to Colorado, I guess I will be living in Boulder..... if not, I will be living somewhere else.

    Keegan, that sounds like a good idea. I guess a lot depends on how well I do in the 50 miler and how many connections I can make in the ultra world. I wouldn't mind doing that though.

    ReplyDelete