Criteria For Choosing a College

[southsider2k5]

Any suggestions as far as internships and stuff that could helpful.  Also, did you want to get play-by-play jobs or sports radio jobs, or both?  Everyone I have talked about sports broadcasting says you need to know someone or get extremely lucky and that talent a lot of times won't win out.  Are these statements true?

 

I would agree at least 100%. The funny thing is that I majored in econ and had no interest in broadcasting as a career. I just got lucky and was attached to an incredible HS hoops team (almost a modern day Milan, for IN HS basketball fans) combined with our college radio station being simulcast over one of the cable TV stations in town which meant a bunch of people heard my calls of games. At the college level take advantage of every chance to connect with people from other stations. Talk to anyone and everyone before, during, and after games... coaches, players, other broadcasters, interested parents etc. You never know who knows someone, and it is all about being connected. Talent is nice and all, but a lot of people have talent. Getting off the ground is rough in sportscasting, I won't lie to you. But you control for the most part how far you can go. You can be involved, make connections, get lots of practice etc.

[maggsmaggs]

I would agree at least 100%.  The funny thing is that I majored in econ and had no interest in broadcasting as a career.  I just got lucky and was attached to an incredible HS hoops team (almost a modern day Milan, for IN HS basketball fans) combined with our college radio station being simulcast over one of the cable TV stations in town which meant a bunch of people heard my calls of games.  At the college level take advantage of every chance to connect with people from other stations.  Talk to anyone and everyone before, during, and after games... coaches, players, other broadcasters, interested parents etc.  You never know who knows someone, and it is all about being connected.  Talent is nice and all, but a lot of people have talent.  Getting off the ground is rough in sportscasting, I won't lie to you.  But you control for the most part how far you can go.  You can be involved, make connections, get lots of practice etc.

Thanks for the advice. I would agree that getting your foot in the door is damn hard.

[KWs OK for Me]

Thats cool.  When I was going around last summer, I put them all together on one big trip since most of them were in the midwest and I live in Jersey.  That way, I wouldn't have to be driving back and forth between here and the midwest

Before looking at the schools, my list was something like this:

1. University of Illinois: Chicago

2. Pittsburgh University

3. Michigan State

4. University of Minnesota

5. random other schools which I didn't visit (Kent State, Penn State, some others)

 

After looking at the schools, I realized how much I hated Michigan State, and Pittsburgh seemed rather dull, although was still nice.  I loved Chicago, which was expected, and I fell in love with Minnesota's college atmosphere and campus.  I ended up applying to one school (Minnesota), which isn't smart, in September, and was accepted by mid-October.  I was done with the college process before most of the people I knew even submitted their applications (I suggest that anyone applying to colleges does it early, its great).  I had my housing application done and accepted by the end of November, and haven't had to worry about anything since then.  I have an Open House on March 4th, and past that, I don't think there's anything else until late August when I move in.

 

So yea, thats basically my entire college story

 

Minnesota, now theres a mistake! Or should that not be in green? GO BADGERS!!!

[KWs OK for Me]

I think Mizzou is the best journalism school in the country along with Northwestern.  That is probably journalism combined, so for broadcast others might be better.  I am also trying to pick a school.  So my list is:

 

1. Mizzou (got in + lots of $$)

1. Northwestern (will hear in mid-march)

3. Wisconsin (got in)

4. Illinois (got in, my favorite school by far for sports, too)

5. Syracuse (will hear in mid-march)

6. Indiana (got in)

 

I want to be a sports broadcaster.  Ideally, a play-by-play announcer, which I have been doing for four years in high school.  But, I realize it is nearly impossible to get play-by-play jobs, so I will settle for sports talk show host or sports writer.  For those reasons, Mizzou and NU are my top choices.  My parents want me to choose Mizzou, wonder why?  But, I will make that decision when I hear from Northwestern.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I gotta sing Wisconsin's praises. If you are a journalism major Madison has two seperate student run papers that gives almost all the journalism majors an oppurtunity to get some experience while still in college. Two of my good friends are section editors on one of the papers.

 

If you care at all about a sports atmosphere Wisconsin is great. How many other schools have three different sports that regularly sell out. Football at Camp Randall is awesome, and the new construction they have done to it has made the place look great. Nothing in the Big Ten matches Jump Around between the third and fourth quarters. Our basketball team is good year in and year out under Bo Ryan. If we didn't lose our first 3 players off the bench to academic ineligibilty we would have won the Big Ten without even breaking a sweat (as it is now we are in 3rd only a game back controlling our own destiny). And the one thing that is amazing about WIsconsin is the hockey atmosphere. we were #1 in the country for the majority of the year until our goalie went down, but he is due back anytime now and are ready to make a run into the frozen four. If you didn't get a chance to watch 50,000 people at Lambeau for the Wisc v. OSU hockey game this weekend you missed out. That was an incredible experience, and when we are at home we regularly sell out the Kohl Center (basically a mini-United Center for our basketball/hockey teams) unless we are playing s*** teams like Michigan Tech.

 

On top of all that the bar scene is great and they just started a smoking ban in the bars which means if you are lazy doing laundry you can get away wearing the same jeans for a while because they dont reak of smoke. State street is amazing and there are hippies around every corner, and you are located in a pretty big city. Bands are always coming through Madison, especially with the new Overture Center just opened down state street. I have been here for 3 years and have seen Dark Star Orchestra, Jethero Tull, Yonder Mountain String Orchestra, Robert Randolph, Herbie Hancock, O.A.R., Dave Matthews, Eagles, Stones, Ben Harper, and Jurassic 5. All in 3 years! If you haven't visited Madison it is definately worth the trip. I visited it for the first time on the coldest day of the winter and still chose to come. Oh yea . . .

 

GO BADGERS!!!

[SoxFan1]

I am planning on sending in my application early. Is this a good idea or not? I have yet to take my ACT's (April 23-24) but my scores would be sent to the schools immediately. Thoughts?

[CubsSuck1]

Pretty soon I'm gonna start looking around as it is now my second semester of junior year in HS. I'm looking at going into business, and the only school I've thought about so far is NIU. I can probabaly get into most schools besides the highest tier, so any suggestions on some schools I should look into?

[Felix]

Minnesota, now theres a mistake! Or should that not be in green?  GO BADGERS!!!

Pfft, we'll beat you guys. Both my parents went to Wisconsin though (my dad as a grad student, my mom as an undergrad), so I can't really full out hate them as I should

[SoxFan1]

Pretty soon I'm gonna start looking around as it is now my second semester of junior year in HS. I'm looking at going into business, and the only school I've thought about so far is NIU. I can probabaly get into most schools besides the highest tier, so any suggestions on some schools I should look into?

Western Illinois is known for their business program. My older sister went there and she loved it.

[KWs OK for Me]

Pretty soon I'm gonna start looking around as it is now my second semester of junior year in HS. I'm looking at going into business, and the only school I've thought about so far is NIU. I can probabaly get into most schools besides the highest tier, so any suggestions on some schools I should look into?

See two posts above. I'm in the business school at Wisconsin, its a top ten business school. If you are looking into other schools with good business schools: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, surprisingly U of Arizona (if you are the right major), but there really isn't much of a reason to leave the big ten if you are looking for business. And to the guy who said should I apply early. As long as it is a non-binding application . . .

 

YES!!!

 

I can't think of a single situation in which applying early hurts you

[SoxFan1]

See two posts above.  I'm in the business school at Wisconsin, its a top ten business school.  If you are looking into other schools with good business schools: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, surprisingly U of Arizona (if you are the right major), but there really isn't much of a reason to leave the big ten if you are looking for business.  And to the guy who said should I apply early.  As long as it is a non-binding application . . .

 

YES!!!

 

I can't think of a single situation in which applying early hurts you

Okay, 2 questions....

 

What is non-binding?

 

What if I suck it up on the ACT and want to retake it?

Edited February 16, 2006 by SoxFan1

[farmteam]

I think reason #2 is why I would wait. You can still apply early in your senior year, which is when most people apply early.

 

Also, for applying early there is Early Decision and Early Action. In general, if you apply Early Decision and get accepted, you are forced to enroll there (hence "binding). With Early Action, you apply early, but you can choose not to enroll if you want. At least, that's the way I always took it.

[Rowand44]

My advice: Wait until your happy with your act score and then apply.

Edited February 16, 2006 by Rowand44

[SoxFan1]

My advice:  Wait until your happy with your act score and then apply.

My thoughts exactly. If I send in an application, then get an ACT score I am not happy with, that messes me up with the college.

 

My plan is to take the ACT in April and if I am happy with it, start sending in applications. If not, retake it, then apply.

Edited February 16, 2006 by SoxFan1

[Pauly8509CWS]

I'm almost positive DeGeorge is a junior...but he really isn't that good, IMO

 

DeGeorge is on the D1 team, the guy graduating is Schiavoni, on the D2 team. That leaves them with Pacchini, a freshman this year. I believe thats how its going with D2, who knows though.

[CWSGuy406]

I'm so torn at the moment.

 

I'm choosing between Marquette and UofW. I'm not worried about the education at this point, as I know that if I were to choose either school, I'd be getting a top-of-the-line education.

 

Both really have great selling points, for me personally. A couple of my buddies might also go to Marquette -- if they choose and are able to go to Marquette, I'd probably pick there. I also qualified for the Ignatious Scholarship, which is nice. And, Milwaukee is nice. A casino just a couple blocks away, Miller Park a couple miles away, and the city itself.

 

But, I went up to Madison sometime last fall, and fell in love with the campus. I was there for just a couple of hours, and man -- State Street is absolutely loaded. Plus, the whole sports thing is a huge selling point for me -- they have good-to-great teams in football, basketball, and hockey. Having one of the best business schools in the country also helps, not to mention a kick-ass campus.

 

There's one problem -- I haven't been accepted their yet. Part of the blame goes to me, as they didn't receive my ACT scores on time (for whatever reason), nor did they receive my transcripts on time. I basically sent in my application, ACT scores, and transcript in three separate increments. I'm worried because I've heard the business school is very tough to get into, and they may have already filled their out-of-state quota for next year's class.

 

Who knows, though. I'm not too worried about it, just enjoying my last semester in high school. I'd rather be forced to make a tough decison, though, in choosing between the two schools (ie, get accepted to UofW).

[Heads22]

Talk to your guidance counselor, but I think it may be a possibility that you can apply and then just have your ACT scores sent to yourself, at which point you can submit them on your own to colleges.

 

But talk to your counselor. That was what ours told us, but I sent it in anyways, cause I wasn't worried about the score.

[Rowand44]

Talk to your guidance counselor, but I think it may be a possibility that you can apply and then just have your ACT scores sent to yourself, at which point you can submit them on your own to colleges.

 

But talk to your counselor. That was what ours told us, but I sent it in anyways, cause I wasn't worried about the score.

The Scores are online. If you don't send it to the college from the test you can just go to the act website and send it from there. That's what I did.

Edited February 16, 2006 by Rowand44

[easyw]

Look at which school has the best program for your major.

 

If you're going into broadcast/media (though I have no clue why you would want to go into such a crappy, low-paying job), take a look at:

U. of Wisconsin/Madison

Ohio University (NOT OSU!)

 

I guess you also have to look at cost, your potential for admission, and how far away you want to be from mommy and daddy (and that b**** ex-girlfriend).

 

When my time came, I decided I wanted to get far away from Chicago. I was 0 for 3 in the Big Ten (turned down at IU, Iowa, and MSU), but got into SIU, Ball St, Marquette and Ohio U.

 

I went to OU in Athens,, and there truly is no place quite like it... The social scene is incredible, and its a very scenic place - it looks like a college is supposed to look. My only two regrets - 1) I should've majored in something besides broadcasting and 2) I should've taken longer than 4 years to graduate.

 

Good luck.

[Felix]

I went to OU in Athens,, and there truly is no place quite like it... The social scene is incredible, and its a very scenic place - it looks like a college is supposed to look. My only two regrets - 1) I should've majored in something besides broadcasting and 2) I should've taken longer than 4 years to graduate.

My mom wanted me to apply there for some reason, and if I wasn't accepted into UMN, I probably would have. It looked like a nice school though online (never felt the need to visit it since I applied really early for UMN, and would have time to do it if I ended up getting declined).

[Steve9347]

God damn, the stress in life never ends. With ACT's less than 2 months away, I'm right on the brink of making my college choice. I pretty much have it narrowed down to my top 5 or 6, but I'm not sure where to go from here. I know alot of you went through this recently and I wanted to know your advice on what to do and what not to do when choosing a college. My top 5 are:

 

1.) Grand Valley State University

2.) University of Illinois -- Urbana/Champaign

3.) University of Akron

4.) St. Cloud State University

t5.) South Dakopta State University

t5.) Southeast Missouri State University

 

personally, i had a great time while i was at Northern Michigan University (hockey college), and a great time at Northern Illinois University... Depends what you are going for...

 

PS f*** AKRON

 

 

PSS let's have an ACT score contest.

 

I got a 32

Edited February 16, 2006 by Steve9347

[SoxFan1]

personally, i had a great time while i was at Northern Michigan University (hockey college), and a great time at Northern Illinois University...  Depends what you are going for...

 

PS f*** AKRON

PSS let's have an ACT score contest.

 

I got a 32

You confuse me.

[Heads22]

personally, i had a great time while i was at Northern Michigan University (hockey college), and a great time at Northern Illinois University...  Depends what you are going for...

 

PS f*** AKRON

PSS let's have an ACT score contest.

 

I got a 32

 

 

As did I.

 

There's a lot of old people here like Steff and YASNY who are bright but are far too old for standardized testing.

[KWs OK for Me]

As did I.

 

There's a lot of old people here like Steff and YASNY who are bright but are far too old for standardized testing.

 

33 on the ACT, but how does 1530 on the SAT sound? [only took each once, none of this take it till you do well bulls***]

[Heads22]

33 on the ACT, but how does 1530 on the SAT sound? [only took each once, none of this take it till you do well bulls***]

 

 

But what KW's OK fails to mention was that it was on the new, 2400 point SAT.

[KWs OK for Me]

But what KW's OK fails to mention was that it was on the new, 2400 point SAT.

Yea, you wish buddy. Some people are born natural test takers. Doesn't mean I don't get the greatest grades in schools, but line me up next to anyone for a standardized test and I will kick the s*** out of it and everyone else. I legitly got a 1530 (800 Math 730 Verbal). So screw you and your sarcasm