Name

http://courtneyholden.wordpress.com

School

University of Colorado, Boulder

Degree Program

Third year Masters student in Journalism and Mass Communication

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in English from Illinois Wesleyan University, 2007

Thesis Topic

Pink ribbon propaganda and the culture surrounding breast cancer

Research Interests

Women’s studies

Advisor

Sandra Fish

Advisor’s Research Focus

Journalism

Hobbies

Writing, reading, skiing, road biking, snow shoeing, running, hiking

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school or program?

Location was my main consideration when I applied to the journalism and mass communication program at University of Colorado, Boulder. Although I applied to schools in other states, I hoped to remain in Colorado. The University of Colorado was my first choice because of its location near the mountains and the positive reputation of its journalism program.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

The most important thing I did to prepare myself for graduate school was work in the real world after earning my bachelors degree. I spent 2 years teaching English, and I also worked as a legal assistant. In addition, I was a writer for newspapers, newsletters and magazines. I believe that when I applied to my masters program, my application stood out because I had practical experience and my resume showed I was serious about my decision to pursue a masters degree in journalism and mass communication.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I had to submit GRE scores when I applied to my masters program. To study for the test, I borrowed a few test preparation books from the local library and used the practice materials that they included.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I chose faculty and professionals who could offer honest, yet positive references. I approached my favorite English professor from my undergraduate program because we had developed a good rapport, and based on the As I had earned in her classes, I knew she would say good things about me. In addition to my professor, I also asked for a recommendation from both the lawyer I had worked for as a legal assistant, as well as a personal mentor.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in journalism and mass communication?

If you are considering applying to graduate school for journalism and mass communication, I suggest that you gain as much writing experience as possible. Consider writing a weekly blog to give yourself online exposure. I’ve heard of people who write 1,000 publishable words each day. Although that is an ambitious goal, the idea is to just keep writing and improving. The more writing experience you have, and the more online exposure you get, the more impressive your graduate school application will be.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My masters degree program in journalism normally takes 2 years to complete, but because I am earning an additional certificate in women’s studies, it has taken me an extra semester to finish. The curriculum requires formal coursework until the final semester, when students take an independent study class to compose their thesis projects. At the end of the last semester, students must defend the thesis project before a panel in order to earn their degree.

What is the focus of your masters degree research?

For my masters degree thesis, I wrote a research paper and 3 articles focusing on the culture surrounding breast cancer. In my first article, I discussed how pink ribbon marketing has become highly commercialized, raising questions about how much it actually does to prevent breast cancer.

In my second article, I looked at stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Pink ribbon marketing portrays breast cancer as a sexy disease that women get and recover from, and then they are victorious and happy. But women with stage IV metastatic breast cancer will die from their disease. Pink ribbon culture does not provide them with a space to grieve.

For my third article, I discussed mammography, a surprisingly controversial subject. Mammograms yield an alarming number of false positives, and recent research shows they catch only 3 percent to 13 percent of breast cancers. But because it’s currently the best technology we have for detecting breast cancer, mammography is what medical professionals use.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your thesis?

My research was divided into two sections. For the 25-page research paper, I hunted through online databases like Lexis/Nexis and Academic Search Premier to find solid literature to back up my hypotheses about the breast cancer industry. For the articles themselves, I gathered information by interviewing people, using the knowledge I had already gained to ask intelligent questions. By looking through websites, talking with friends and asking sources to recommend individuals, I found many men and women who were willing to talk with me.

Does your program have an internship component?

Yes, my program requires an internship. While a single internship fills the requirement, I worked at two local newspapers, a nonprofit and 2 national magazines, BACKPACKER and American Cowboy.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor, Sandra Fish, plays an important role in my education. She was especially supportive and knowledgeable during my thesis project. Fish made suggestions for my initial research and then gave me feedback on each of my thesis drafts, which was a lot of work for her. I value her guidance and am grateful for her direction throughout the process.

I recommend that other students take time to connect with the faculty in their program. Building relationships with professors can help students not only in choosing an advisor and thesis committee, but perhaps more importantly in finding a job. Fish has helped me land more than 1 freelance position and recommended that I get 1 of only 2 openings for a teaching assistantship.

How does a masters degree program differ from undergraduate study?

Primarily, I am now more concerned with my professional career. In my graduate program, I focus much more on networking than I did during my undergraduate study. I will need those professional connections in order to find a job after graduation.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your masters degree program cost?

My program costs about $24,000, although it is more if you are an out-of-state student. Tuition makes up most of the cost, but books are also a factor.

How are you funding your education?

In order to pay for my education, I use money from my savings in addition to student loans. I also work as a teaching assistant. My teaching assistant position covers about half of my tuition and student health insurance, and also provides a living stipend.

How difficult do you anticipate it will be to pay off your loans after graduation?

Overall, I am optimistic about repaying my loans. I have many freelancing opportunities right now but I also plan to make repaying my student loans a priority.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a masters degree in journalism and mass communication?

Most weeks, I spend about 8 hours attending classes, and around 15 hours doing schoolwork. The time commitment is greater when I have a big project, but usually I don’t have to study on weekends.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

For the most part, I can easily balance my personal life with school. I have to work efficiently and manage my schedule, but I am able to make time for my many hobbies, as well as freelancing opportunities and internships.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to still be in Boulder, maybe working as a freelance writer. My main goal is to earn a living doing something where I can interact with people, educating an audience by telling true stories.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a masters degree in journalism and mass communication?

In the journalism field in particular, don’t be discouraged by the changes currently whirling through the industry. News is currently in transition, but it is not dead. People will always need information and as long as America is a democracy, we will need journalists to play that watchdog role. You will have to work hard and build your resume, but don’t be disheartened. There are opportunities, lots of them, out there.

In addition to remaining steadfast, you should also remember that unless you plan to enter academia, grades won’t matter after you graduate. Instead of worrying about grades, focus on working as a writer as frequently as possible. Write a blog, take on internships and scour the Internet for freelancing opportunities. Practical writing experience will help you much more than grades when you enter this field.