I need help deciding what classes I should take my junior and senior year of high school?

Question

I want to major in journalism and plan in attending UNC's school of mass communications and journalism. So far I have a GPA high enough to get in, but I am debating on what classes I should take to prepare myself for it. Since it is one of the best journalisms school in the nation, I want to be fully prepared. I need advice deciding whether I should take theater arts or digital media (working with cameras, photography, and video). I can only take one or the other because of my honors and AP classes. Some advice would be nice. Also, what other classes do you recomend I take in high school to prepare me?

Answer 1

honestly, take anything you want...and don't even relate it to journalism.
Take a history class..an english class...an animation class, anything really. Just broaden you mind and ideas because once you hit college you'll be taking more than enough journalism classes to last you a lifetime.
Also, don't worry about being prepared, half of the kids who are going are not prepared..this is why your shelling out 20 to 30 grand a year, so someone can sit in a room and prepare you for a journalism career.

Answer 2

Personally, I would take Digital Media any classes that I took involving digital media type classes totally helped me after high school theater arts is great and all but the knowledge you get from the digital media classes I think are a lot more useful later on...I designed my courses a little different I got everything hard out of the way in the beginning and then was able to slack off in the end but I would make sure you're taking as much journalism and media type classes as you can as well as the classes you need to complete the credits you have to have and for whatever is left over take a class that interests you that's maybe different from the rest...Word to the wise who knows when you get to college you might find you like something completely different (like the rest of us thousands of people out there) so take different stuff when you can just to broaden your views...

Answer 3

Digital media, hands down. If you want to work as a reporter or producer, you will need to know how to shoot video and photos. Getting that experience now will give you a leg up over other applicants — not only for college but also for internships and jobs later on.

That said, you should contact a local media outlet (newspaper, magazine, radio, tv station — whatever you're interested in) now to see if you can work as an intern or job shadow someone in the job you think you want. Too many people get into j-school and realize it's not at all what they wanted. Plus, if you can get an internship even before college, again, you'll have a better picking of jobs and other internships later on.

Answer 4

It's a little difficult to say without knowing all of the possible choices. But let's put it this way -- once you get through the core subjects, and English is obviously at the top of the list -- a wide basis in popular culture is great. The more you know about as many things as possible, the better off you are.

Sure, digital arts might be a good introduction to that particular subject, and it wouldn't hurt. If you can squeeze it in, great. But also work on the school newspaper or other appropriate activities if you can find the time.

Answer 5

business