I interned this summer at a magazine with a some J grad students (one of whom was from Columbia, actually, since that esteemed school seems to be all the buzz of this thread).

If an undergrad seeking a degree in philosophy can land the same internship as a J grad student at Columbia, well then, I think that serves as a testament to the usefulness of J school.

Still, like you, there was a point when I was grappling with the idea of J school, so I called around to a bunch of different programs and spoke with faculty. I remember a faculty head at NYU telling me that their J program will help me get clips, internships, and make me more marketable. But, wait, that's what I'm doing now ... She then said that NYU's J program is for professionals who want to change careers, or for aspiring journalists who have absolutely no experience. She agreed that the program is not tailored for students like me (i.e. any student who has had journalism internships and earned a few clips).

That said, if you can go to J school for free, totally do it. But I think connections with editors is more important than a J degree.

What I'm hearing is that j-school is not a good for learning how to be a better writer but that it is a good for learning other platforms like broadcast or online stuff. It seems like gaining some skills outside of print journalism would be a really good idea in today's media climate. I actually would like to go to j-school, if only to learn more about my craft and become a better journalist. (Imagine that!)

But what's stopping me is that I'm sure there are cheaper ways of doing that than taking on several Ks of debt and not earning any income for a year. And I'm terrified of getting my masters degree, going out into the job market and getting a job I could have had without a degree. Or, even worse, not getting a job.

I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to graduate and then immediately feel like a sucker. But I guess that's a choice I'll have to make. Once again, thanks so much for all you guys' thoughts about this.

(Btw, by U of M, I'm assuming you mean Maryland and not Missouri?)

You will have to admit that this sentence is word salad with no meaning behind it.

As to your other questions, Dave, my take is that if you decide to go to J-school, go to one that stresses teaching and practicality (Eaton went to U of M I believe and has written several great stories for us) over reputation, location, and alumni rolls (that's Columbia, in my opinion). I agree with commenters who think J-school is not necessary but if you go in with an idea of what you want out of it, it's not the worst idea. The worst idea is constantly commenting on a blog that you hate that is written by the staff of a paper you seem to hate more. But we all can't live the life of leisure of the Ernests of the world.

On the contrary, Bob, I was quite unperturbed by Eaton’s remark. There’s nothing to be offended by.

Now, if I understand the original piece correctly, a good deal of significance is attached to successful catering to “hipsters” as a prerequisite for alt-weekly success. I don’t see why. Nothing dates quicker than fads and fadists, nothing is more bourgeois, more philistine than this “hipster” business. It’s all about group mentality, really. Shouldn’t alt-weekly eschew trendy bunk in favor of focusing on the issues of substance, in an entertaining fashion, no doubt, but nevertheless? Okay, I have no quarrel with trends that are cool, jolly, informative or inspiring. More often than not, however, they are none of the above but tend to seem as if they are. Perniciously deceitful they are, those trends and therefore should be of no good alt-weekly’s good editor’s concern.

Say, Eaton, I know a girl in Port Huron. Her name is Eva Rosenbloom. How she did end up out there I know not. You know of her?

Ernest: Try to stop thinking about ass for a second.

Riggs... oh piss off you cancerous growth on the colon of print journalism. You are not worth the effort.

Since you ask, Dave, you seem to be the type whose true calling is kissing your supervisor’s butt. As they say. So my advise would be: keep on doing just that and you‘ll get somewhere. Ditto Eaton.

So, you can learn something in the boonies. At the very least, you can meet drug dealers who make interesting copy.

As for my advice about doing something you can write about, I wasn't doing coke, but my roommate sure was.