As a Mass Communications major at UWG, I know how challenging, yet fun it can be. Thankfully for the students at our school, we have many opportunities thrown our way to help us land that dream job. Also for those of you who don’t know already, we do more than just read social media all day. It’s a tough major, with a lot of work no matter what concentration you may choose. For those that share the same major I do, you will understand how our school makes sure we are prepared.
1. Media day, media day, media day.
If you are a mass comm major, the word media day will be in your head the entire semester. It’s one of the most important days of the year, according to your professors. If you weren’t nervous before about speaking to others and trying to get an internship, be ready because this day will change that completely. Oh and let’s not forget about the delicious lunch-in they provide afterwards.
2. You always have some type of equipment with you.
The best part about your classes is getting to carry around fifteen extra pounds of recording equipment. Whether it is a news package, PSA, or final project, you will be the one on campus constantly recording, and making sure it’s returned in three days.
3. What a time to be alive.
You know you have been to Wolfstock at least once, because let’s be real who doesn’t love the 60’s? There’s live music, food, and free T-shirts. Did I mention food?
4. Scripts are life.
But really, you know how it is to create a story from nothing and give it the potential to be a new feature film. Imagination is key in screenwriting class, especially when you have to write a script with no scene direction. Don’t give up.
5. Radio or TV, what’ll it be?
You have two choices, TV or radio. This is probably one of the hardest choices to make when it comes to choosing your Practicum, and you can only pick one. Lucky for us, we do have the chance to volunteer at both. Good job UWG, good job.
6. Hand cramps are a normal thing.
Writing is the thing we do the most. No matter what your concentration is, you will be writing all the time. Papers, scripts, News articles, blogs, the list goes on and on. And don’t forget to ask if it’s MLA or APA, it tends to get confusing.
8. Rock and Roll will never die.
If you have taken media ethics with Sewell, you always need to be ready to rock. You also know that it’s not okay to break the weekly oath to stay out of jail and study for your test. I highly recommend him, but only if you are kind to fuzzy animals and like fetty wap.
9. Internships are important
Most other majors don’t require internships, but for us it's extremely important. An internship is the first big leap into the beginning of our careers, and can have a huge impact on landing that dream job. The great thing about UWG is that you can gain college credit for your internship, and they will also help you find one.
10. You get the chance to be very involved on campus.
UWG gives you so many opportunities to get involved on campus in the mass communications department, and trust me you need too! Whether it be television, radio, the newspaper, or anything with public relations its kind of silly if you don’t get involved.
11. Group projects seem to be the latest trend.
Raise your hand if you hate group projects, yep we all do. No worries though, they will make sure you have to endure the pain of trying to move your schedule to accommodate someone else to film the videos you need for class. Just breathe, you can get through this too.
12. You know everyone in your classes.
UWG is a small campus, so lucky for you as a mass comm major, you will know everyone in your classes. From freshman year to senior year you will have forever friends to help you will all the papers and filming you will have to do. In fact, you will most likely have two or more projects with some of these people.
13. Real tests are like Ghosts.
If you have already taken most of your communication classes, you know most tests are more like 2-3 multiple choice questions, then the rest will be essay questions. If that’s not the case it’s probably a project. Those are the options.
14. Mass Communications is not an easy major.
Most of your peers will always say, “wow that seems like an easy major”, but that’s far from the truth. There is a lot of work that we must put in for this major if we want the dream jobs we are striving for. You try making movies and writing papers each week.
15. People ask you all the time what even is Mass Communications?
We don’t have to go into very much detail. Just tell them you can pretty much do anything, you are like a super hero in the media world and it will get the point across.
