I was accepted into three schools (Columbia, Northwestern, and Maryland) and I'm now trying to decide where to go.

I'm leaning toward Maryland simply because grad school there would likely allow me to do a second internship at The Baltimore Sun. (I also have experience and approx. 50 clips from two summer internships at small-medium dailies and a year as an editor at my school newspaper.)

At the other two schools, I'd be writing for wire services or small publications, but the emphasis (especially at Columbia) seems to be on the classroom and theory of journalism.

What are your thoughts on the clips vs. classroom debate?

Tina

A: Well, you've been admitted to three kickin' schools, that's for sure.

But there is no clear answer to your question. A lot depends on how much you've already published; a lot depends on which school feels right to you.

I will say this: It is essential to have published work to try to land an internship or a job. Published clips are a baseline requirement.

And the question is not about whether to have classroom work or clips, you should have both.

All that said, attending a program that gives you an additional internship is a huge plus. But it is not the only consideration. Time and money count, too. Columbia's full-time program lasts but nine months, so there is almost no way to get more than a post -grad internship, but that shouldn't outweigh all other factors.