Ask the Recruiter

Q: I am still in high school, but it's about the time for me to start looking into colleges. I want to be a journalist -- more specifically, a journalist that reports on international affairs for a print newspaper or magazine. My dilemma is that I am unsure about what I should get my degrees in. Most likely, I will be graduating college with my associate's degree.

My parents approve of and will pay for me to go all the way to my master's, so I will, of course, be taking advantage of their generosity. Now, I am unsure of my majors. Should I major in journalism for my bachelor's and my master's, or should I major in something to widen my understanding of reporting on international affairs, then switch to a school like Columbia and major in journalism only for my master's? Would not having my undergrad in journalism even get me into Columbia? Well, any advice you can give me would be geatly appreciated! Thanks.

Chelsea

A: Yea, Mom and Dad! I'm sure they can't think of a better person to help.

You plan ahead and that will help you. But let's look at how many print newspapers and magazines are posting people overseas. The number is shrinking. As you are almost eight years away from completing a master's degree, I suggest you recalibrate your plans to take into account where you think they'll be in eight years.

Consider two options: multimedia reporting and financial journalism. The first would put you more in sync with where the successful print publications will be in eight years. The second would give you more options for landing an international reporting job.

Now, then, about the degrees. I would not get two of the same thing. It matters little which is the journalism degree. But it is essential that you begin practicing journalism -- on school papers and summer internships -- as soon as possible. Having good internships can matter every bit as much as the university on the sheepskin. For a second major, I would look at a content area that will help your reporting.

Columbia seems to admit a mix of people who are serious about journalism. Some demonstrate that with an undergraduate journalism degree. Others do it with experience.