Columbia University in the City of New York Reviews of Master's in Journalism

"The benefits of going to the Columbia Journalism School is the prestige attached to the name as well as the access to mentors and jobs in such a large media center. It is also highly ranked among graduate journalism programs. All this praise leaves too much room for sloppiness. The effort is possible, but is consistently lacking. However, the access to some of the most experienced, renown journalists is so frequently available. The opportunity to network is always present. I guess it is just like all other opportunities in life: it is what you make of it."

"Pros of the program are the network. Cons are lack of classes available, too pricey for curriculum offered."

"Columbia J-School is an excellent school, with amazing teachers and instructors. The Career Center prepares you very well, and the Alumni connection network you get is incredibly strong. Downside: Manhattan is ridiculously expensive, and Columbia is extremely demanding, especially J-School."

"I have been incredibly content with my choice to attend grad school at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. I attend part time and I feel as though I have been pushed to work at a higher level, which is one of the major reasons I wanted to attend grad school. There are incredible lectures as well as notable guest lectures as well. I wanted to take a step back and examine what is next for the field, as well as build a more solidified foundation. I feel as if I am doing both at The Journalism School."

"Amazing place to really immerse oneself in journalism. Program is only one year which is very nice, but it is quite an investment. So make sure this is really something you want to pursue before committing."

"Pros: Strong curriculum Great social life Accessible faculty and staff Pleasant campus life Strong alumni network Conveniently located in New York City Cons: Expensive living and housing Student involvement from other programs"

"Very prestigious school with a wealth of opportunity. However, the campus is open 24 hours anyone can walk in at anytime. I don't always feel safe leaving campus at night after classes."

"Columbia Journalism School provides its students access to an incredible network. The faculty does an excellent job organizing lectures from guests whose work is completely relevant to both the times and what we are studying. For instance, in the wake of ISIS beheadings and questions surrounding the safety of freelance journalists, Columbia invited guest lecturers who personally knew Foley or who had worked with him as well as reporters who have been in Foley's situation (but got out alive, obviously). Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism does not sugar coat the dangers surrounding investigative journalism nor does it discourage us from pursuing our aspirations as journalists. The faculty has a great way of telling it like it is while deeply inspiring us. The cons of our program, however, are no different than those that other universities are facing: shortage in financial aid. I am a first-generation college student from a lower-middle class family. My mother works three jobs— as a caregiver for a woman with cerebral palsy, a teacher's aide for down syndrome and autistic students, and as the caregiver for an elderly woman— and my dad, a U.S. Navy veteran, has a government job as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. They make ends meet and sign off on "parent loans," that in actuality, they will not be able to pay for. I shook hands with my dad and made a promise that I will cover the cost of the parents loans following my graduation. I have no choice but to hope that I will land a career in which I'll have the finances to fulfill that promise. In a perfect world, my education would be paid for entirely by grants and scholarships, but that is not how the cookie crumbled for me. Nevertheless, I am incredibly grateful for having been chosen to attend Columbia University, my dream school, and couldn't have imagine ever turning down the opportunity."

"The journalism program is fantastic. At its core is tutelage in reporting, and in terms of practical application New York City is our playground. Class assignments take us all over the city, often to areas none of us would ever have visited. The school teaches journalism in all its various forms, styles, and disciplines and all the faculty are highly experienced journalists. As well as this, the program offers classes in business, law, ethics, and history. The program will certainly leave me academically ready, as well as opening up vast employment opportunities."

"Pros: In-depth learning on one specific field of journalism. Working journalists from all across the globe gather to share their views and learn how to not only cover different beats, different subject matter but to take it a step further and produce an analysis piece. Cons: Work load is too intense as the program is squeezed into a nine months period."

"Columbia Journalism School immerses me with intensive training in practical reporting skills. I can also learn many digital journalism skills and knowledge, which I think can prepare me to become a competitive reporter in new media age. But the program's tuition fee is too high. Also, the school is located in Manhattan, which leads to a high living expense."

"The Masters of Science in Journalism program is stimulating, but it can also be difficult to learn about Journalism in a school setting."

"The M.A. program at The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism gives experienced journalists an opportunity to step away from the production line and immerse themselves in the world of academia. Get deep into a subject matter and get specialised knowledge. The course is very intense - it has to be to do an M.A. in 9 months. So be ready to hit the ground running if you get accepted."

"The program is very highly regarded and you are taught a large number of skills by experts in the field. There is a great deal of flexibility in terms of what you choose to report on and the tutors are extremely open to discussion. You also get to work and socialise with a great range of people from across the world. One con is that the workload is pretty intense. However, this in itself isn't too much of an issue. It prepares you for the intense work environment that you would experience in a real media company and forces you to become extremely efficient with your time management."

"With some exceptions, the classes and the students at the Columbia J-School are great. The primary downsides of the program are not having time to see New York and living in a really expensive city."