Resolution

I will now be a Communications major.

I still have to do the paperwork, but, this is what I have decided. Under this track, I should be able to finish school in two years. ("The best laid plans. . .") The Communications degree offers a few different areas of study (apart from the core classes), one of which is Journalism. So the classes I have already taken, and will take, will count towards this degree. And I can dip into some other areas, too, like Film / Video, Broadcasting, Photography, Theater, Advertising and Public Relations.

It may not be as "specific" as the Journalism degree (which is kind of broad enough as it is), but, it is still a degree. And it is one of those "trainable" degrees, like Psychology. Many employers will look for people with degrees in humanities, and then will train them for the specific tasks. They want to make sure that they can get someone who can relate to people well and interact well. I even heard of an accounting firm who was taking in people without finance degrees, with something like Psychology, and then training them for the tasks. They want a good person. So that is how I will also have to further market myself. As a nice person.

I will still take some "extra" Journalism classes, when I can. I still hope to work in media in some way, shape or form. I think I am drawn to that area. But a Journalism degree? In this day and age where most other professions require Master's and Doctorate degrees to be considered employable, the value of a Bachelor-level J-degree is still being debated. That is how incredibly awesome journalism is. It is not about education, it is about doing. If you can tell a factual and accurate story and tell it well, you are in. Just a degree alone will not necessarily get a foot in the door. And that's why I want to continue with those classes, so I can keep writing and keep having more and more recent writing samples.

The main difference between the Communications degree and the J-degree is that for Comm. majors, they have to do a Senior Project / Thesis. J-majors need an internship. So for my senior year, if I become a complete recluse while working on my thesis or special project, you'll know why.

So that is the status of my college career right now.