Why Syracuse? Past master’s students share their thoughts

When people imagine a top-tier communications school, it’s easy to pair that image with a big city like New York, Boston or Chicago. In the city of Syracuse, however, Newhouse students have all the tools they need to become superstars in their respective fields. Here’s what some Newhouse master’s alumni have to say about their decision to move to Syracuse.

Elena DeLuccia G’17
Freelance Production Coordinator
Television, Radio and Film

I am working in the television industry thanks to the amazing connections I made at the Newhouse School. Syracuse, as a city and as a school, gives you a lot more opportunities to be part of a tight-knit community of people that want to help you be successful. The “Newhouse Mafia” [Newhouse’s alumni network] is something you’ll hear about a lot, and it’s completely real. I can’t tell you how many SU alumni I’ve met at every production I’ve worked on. I was also considering schools like Boston University and New York University, [but when] I saw the amount of successful alumni, the incredible professors and the equipment that Syracuse had to offer, it became such a clear choice for me.

Jose Cuevas G’18
Emmy Award-nominated Sports Journalist
Broadcast and Digital Journalism

Having lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco for school and work, Syracuse was a big change. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it forced me to dig deeper to find good stories to tell. Great storytelling is at the core of what we do and I cannot tell you how many times the city of Syracuse and its residents provided me with great stories. Whether it be a community coming together in defense of refugees from war torn countries or a world level kickboxer who trains vigorously at night while delivering beer throughout the day to keep his dream alive, Syracuse has a wealth of good stories to be discovered and told. Many people think that in large cities it will be easier to be a journalist, [but] I have found it to be quite the opposite. People are more willing to talk to you and tell you their stories. It is also very affordable, so as a incoming graduate student it will be easy to live comfortably.

Bridget Andrews G’10
Media Director, Tipping Point Communications
Advertising

Once I started researching Newhouse and the advertising master’s program, I knew I had to apply. I was only looking at top programs and Newhouse’s program certainly qualified. In retrospect, it was the best decision I could have made. The program was small, only about 20 students, which meant the professors knew all of us. It was impossible to disappear in a class, as can often happen in the larger programs. I learned invaluable lessons while studying at Syracuse and as I get further in my career, I meet more and more Syracuse alumni. The network that Newhouse brings with it truly is incredible. I’m still in touch with some of my professors and still look to them for advice and recommendations on occasion. 

Meera Jagannathan G’13
Inequality Editor, MarketWatch
Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

Syracuse gets a bad rap. Don’t believe it. On the journalism front, a mid-sized city is ideal for mastering a beat, cultivating sources and networking in a smaller pond. On the leisure front, Central New York is extremely charming; you can go apple picking at peak fall foliage, discover new beers at Brewfest in the winter, hike in the spring at Green Lakes State Park and wander food festivals during summertime. There’s plenty of culture and history to soak up in this weird, wonderful corner of the world. I’m grateful for the friendships, experiences and professional connections I gained in the Salt City.

Paul Brady G’05
Articles Editor, Travel + Leisure
Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

Of course my number one priority was the incredible quality of the education at SU. But coming from the University of Rochester, I knew the Syracuse winter was going to be no joke. But the thing that most struck me was how locals in Syracuse (and the wider Finger Lakes region) embrace all four seasons: hiking, cross country skiing, wine tasting, social gatherings and cultural programming on- and off-campus. All of that and more didn’t slow down no matter how much snow fell. As for the low cost of living? That was something I never would’ve enjoyed in some of the bigger cities I was eyeing for grad school.

Patrick Hosken G’15
Music Editor, MTV News
Arts Journalism and Communications

Before coming to Syracuse, I’d lived in the biggest city in the country (New York) and one of the smallest in the state (Olean). When it came time to apply, though, Syracuse was my only choice. That’s as much because of the charm of the city itself as Newhouse’s reputation.

In Syracuse, I lived just down the road from the campus on a beautiful, tree-lined road and could walk to class in 10 minutes. And when I needed to head downtown for an event (or a museum trek or proper restaurant excursion), it took 10 minutes as well, by car. This is one of Syracuse’s most endearing attributes. Because it’s simply not a sprawling metropolis, it feels intimate and easily navigable, but when you want to seek out culture and opportunity, it’s all there waiting for you.

Syracuse has an opera company, strong theater programs, a recording studio, thriving music venues across multiple genres—the list goes on. They informed my education and my experience nearly as much as the in-classroom portions of my degree did. I still consider some Syracuse haunts to be my favorites in the world.

It doesn’t hurt that the city sits directly in the middle of New York State, a few hours from scenes as varied as Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains and, of course, New York City. But the more time you spend in Syracuse (and I’m speaking from experience here) the more time you’ll want to stick around and see as much of it as you can.