Advice for a prospective English/Journalism Major?

Question

I will be entering my junior year of high school in August and I feel it's time I really start to consider my future in terms of college and my career. I am positive I want to enter a career where I am able to write, read, and utilize analytical skills. I have a real love for English and althought I haven't gotten the chance to explore journalism but I thoroughly enjoyed my 8th grade newspaper class.

I seeking advice from those with English or Journalism majors and of course those who are working towards one. What college do you attend? I live in California, do you have any to recommend? What occupations do you want to pursue?

I'm also curious about your experiences as a english or journalism major. Please let me know. <3

Thanks for any help in advance!

-egdsf

Answer 1

Hi, I'm going to become a senior in high school next year. Here is my advice. For college, either private or public, your essay and extracurricular activities are going to be critical for your acceptance. The best results come from mixing those two together. Make your extra curricular activity something that you have passion in, which for you is journalism or writing, and involve that in your essay. Colleges want someone who has passion for his or her goals. Also, if you are a good leader with integrity and volunteer a lot, colleges favor you more because they're assuming that you will participate in school events, hopefully involve others around too.
Journalism as a career though is extremely competitive because you need to start with a controversial story to make you get noticed, but that's tough when there are thousands of others doing the same thing. If you believe in yourself and persist through the rough, you'll make a great journalist or writer. I've failed once in my junior year and it broke my heart, but I moved on and excelled by finally breaking 2000 on my SAT.
"Why do we keep on falling? So we can get back up again."
Best of wishes to you.

Answer 2

There is no such thing as a dog that is well-behaved, calm and polite by nature. A lot of the things you mention do not come by themselves. It requires training, training and yet more training. I think your best bet right now will be to get an older dog that has already been trained and fulfills these requirements. A puppy might be too much for you, as they tend to be hyperactive, boisterous, little terrors, where it's up to you to make a good dog out of them. :) Also, since you've never owned a dog or a pet before, I would suggest that you read up on as much as you can regarding dog-language, dog-handling and dog training (clicker-training is a true gem). I'm particularly fond of dog-trainers/behaviourists like Turid Rugaas, Roger Abrantes and Anders Hallgren.

Answer 3

Can't help you much, but I received a dual B.A. --- journalism and business administration.
As you are aware, you need good language skills, vocabulary, grammar, the whole nine yards. Depending on just what you want to specialize in, a good imagination could be indespensable.
Check the college web sites; you can quickly weed out those that do not suit you.
I would also suggest a study of etymology and as many different languages as you can...not to master, but to use to better understand what you are writing.