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Admission to the Program

The School of Journalism prides itself on admitting students from different backgrounds. Some are industry veterans. Others are new to journalism or public relations. They all share a desire to develop their skills, better their network and gain the perspective that only a good program based in the heart of a premiere media city can offer. The School of Journalism admits about 20 new graduate students each year. During any given semester, there are about 40 students enrolled—including those who are attending part-time. Students who take three courses each semester, including the summer, can complete the program in one calendar year. Many students decide to take fewer classes per semester or decide to co-op for a semester and thus take longer to graduate. Students can take up to seven years to fulfill the requirements of the program.

Requirements for admission: Applications to Northeastern's School of Journalism are judged on a number of factors. Although an applicant's academic history is important, the School is also looking for evidence of commitment to journalism. Previous professional experience will be taken into consideration, as well as interesting life experiences and perspectives. In short, we want our students to be curious, engaged and eager to enter our profession with a sense of purpose.

Factors in the application process: Previous degree and GPA: Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A GPA of at least a B (3.0) is preferred.

Graduate Record Examination: All students must take the GRE. Students are expected to score at least 500 in the verbal section of the GRE, though the 600+ range is preferred. Subject GRE tests are not required. GRE applications are available from www.gre.org. Northeastern's GRE institution code is 3682. The journalism department's code is 4503. Scores will be sent directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by the ERTA. Scores of other aptitude or achievement tests are not accepted.

Personal statement: An informative, smartly written, well-rounded, and interesting personal statement is critical to your application. It should speak to who you are, what you plan to study and why you want to attend our program. Your statement should be a story, not just a collection of facts hurled onto the page. It is your first writing sample to us and we take it very seriously. It should be one to two pages in length, single spaced. Letters of recommendation: Students must submit as part of their application three letters of recommendation. Ideally, applicants would ask for letters from a mix of professional, academic and personal contacts. You should choose people who can speak to your character, drive, work ethic and commitment to the field of journalism.

Previously published work and/or writing samples: Applicants who have been published in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, books, etc. can include samples of their work. Copied clips or CDs of PDFs are all acceptable. Students who have worked in radio or television should feel free to include tapes with their materials. Samples will not be returned.

Deadline: Applications received by Feb. 1 are given priority by the selection committee. However, applications are accepted through Aug. 1. The School of Journalism will, in most cases, inform an applicant whether he or she has been admitted within one month of receiving a completed package.

International students: Northeastern's School of Journalism has a rich history of attracting students from across the globe. International students go through the regular application process as well as a few additional requirements:

• Declaration and Certification of Finances: International students must submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) form and original supporting documents at least 16 weeks before the date the student hopes to enroll. The School needs this information so early in order to secure a student visa for the applicant.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language: Applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency. Satisfactory evidence of this includes: (1) a minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) on the TOEFL; (2) a minimum score of 7.0 on the Internal English Language Testing System (IELTS); or (3) proof of a minimum of four years of study culminating in the receipt of a degree from an undergraduate institution where the medium of instruction is English.

Application deadline: May 1

Financial assistance:

The School of Journalism offers full or partial funding to a number of students. Students interested in financial assistance should note this on their applications. The official deadline is early February.