Q: I believe the March 18 questioner mentioned NYU also. What is the outside view of the j-school at NYU? Do recruiters know about NYU's transformation in recent years to a school that can compete with the Ivy's, not to mention the journalism department that recently hired Ted Conover?

NYU student

A: Well, that's a little loaded, isn't it?

I do not know how well or how widely NYU's J-school has promoted the case that it can compete with the Ivy's (many of which do not have J programs).

Here's how you can find out: Ask your journalism department what it is doing to promote its many advantages and then compare, on your own, career services resources at NYU with those at other schools you're curious about. That is a key way programs connect with editors. Finally, find out how many editors recruit at NYU compared to other schools of interest to you. This will tell you whether the word is out.

It will not, however, tell you which school is better.

Personally, I do not believe in J-school rankings and will not until all J-students become uniform. (I certainly do not plan to get embroiled in a debate between NYU and Columbia -- or any other schools -- about whose program is better.) The program that works for one person may not work for another. Some, like NYU's, focus on practical skills training. Others are more theoretical. Some go in for new media and others hammer away at niches like business reporting or editing. Some cater to in-state students and others are better set up to handle international students. Thank goodness we have a variety of J-school types, as people are looking for all those things.

This is the secret: Success does not come from enrolling at what some people say is the best school, but from enrolling at the school that you decide is best for your needs -- and then maxing it out.