The How and Why of Journalism at Columbia University

Columbia University is the only Ivy League that has a Journalism school. It is also one of the oldest J-schools in the world. It administers two of the most prestigious journalism awards in U.S-Pulitzer Prize and the Alfred I. DuPont Award. But these are not the reasons why I chose to apply to only Columbia University for my graduate studies. In my case, the most appealing factor was New York. This city is perhaps the best laboratory for an aspiring journalist. Right from day one, a student is literally thrown into any part of the city and expected to come up with original story ideas. Within weeks, we all know that part of the city better than our hometowns.

The resources provided by the university are incomparable. Just yesterday, I found myself in the room with Alan Charles Rusbridger, the editor of Guardian. Every day, the school invites the best journalists from all across the globe. The permanent and adjunct faculty includes some of the most prominent media persons in U.S.A. To top it all, some of my classmates have also been involved in some truly gritty journalism. One got an Emmy Award this year, another spent the whole summer in Afghanistan, and someone runs one of the most politically -volatile blogs in Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, the only drawback of the school is its hefty tuition fee. At $70,000, it is not an experience that everyone can afford. The school tends to be generous with scholarships for international students, but rarely covers the full tuition fee and living expenses. Keep in mind, NYC is one of the most expensive cities in the world. If you are not particularly wealthy, apply to as many outside scholarships as possible. In India, J.N Tata Endowment and Inlaks Scholarship, routinely fund students coming to Columbia J-school. Most candidates make the mistake of waiting till December. But the deadlines for many scholarships, such as Fulbright, falls in the month of June.

The school looks at several factors when picking up students. The focus is to make the class as diverse as possible, in terms of nationality, experience and ambitions. The youngest student is 21 and the oldest 45. Many used to work in fields such as investment banking, engineering, fashion or education, before coming here. Nearly 25 per cent of my class is international. Most foreign students are from Europe or Canada. There are a handful of journalists from South Asia as well. Indian students are typically enthusiastic and in everyone's good books.

Work experience can enhance one's chances, but my class has several fresh graduates. Also, many Indian students feel that they need a four-year bachelor's degree to be eligible. That is not the case at J-school. A three-year BA/B.Sc is just fine. Do prepare for the written test, if you are applying for the M.S degree. Read BBC and New York Times to brush up your knowledge on America and world affairs.

Diksha is a journalism graduate student at Columbia University

Author: Diksha Madhok

Dste: 7th February, 2011

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