Now I don’t want to reveal too much, but there is a good chance that this time next year, I may be going to another university other than Drexel. It’s not that I am unhappy with the school, although the PR academic program could be better, but it may just come down to a matter of dollars and cents. For those of you who don’t know, Drexel is very expensive. Even with financial aid, and academic scholarship, I probably won’t be able to stay. So as you can imagine, I have some very big questions for myself going on right now.
The thing that is tearing me up the most is should I stay or should leave Philadelphia? Philadelphia is all I’ve truly known. I’m not saying that I’ve never been anywhere else, or I don’t know what’s out there. I know what’s out there, and it is all very exciting and filled with new opportunities. That being said, I have lived in the same Pennsylvania suburban house my whole life, and I am proud to say I have an amazing relationship with my parents and sister. I also have a girl friend that I love very much here. I love it in Philadelphia and in a perfect world I could achieve everything I’ve ever-wanted right here in Philly.
As much as I love Philly though, it does have a ceiling. I have this feeling you can only go so high staying in Philadelphia. If you’ve read my other posts, you probably are well aware that I am not one for ceilings or limits. I want to keep growing and expanding. I will say it: I want to be a PR celebrity by the time I’m 25. I know its lofty, but that is my goal, and I will do everything I can to ensure that becomes a reality. Even if that means leaving Philadelphia (for now).
I understand I may have to venture outside of my bubble and go tackle new cities and locations. I want to keep growing, and going to a school outside of Philadelphia may be exactly what I need.
So here I am looking at schools in New York, Chicago, L.A, and Philadelphia. All are excellent schools in seemingly excellent PR programs. This decision is not based on just academia though. I want to keep building my network and Kratz PR, and I want to put myself in the best possible position to do so. I feel that I have started something here that could become huge one day and I want to keep it growing.
So I guess I’m asking for you, my reader’s help. Any suggestions on where I should look to attend? Should I keep trying to develop Kratz PR no matter where I relocate? Do you think I can make Kratz PR last? What would be the best city for me?
I know I have a lot of questions, and maybe I’m making a bigger deal out of this than it has to be, but I’d love to hear your advice and comments. Thank you for your support so far and I wish you the best of luck in your own endeavors.
Responses
I know what you mean about having a ceiling, though I’m sure Phili has a lot of opportunities! No matter where you go, you should definitely keep developing Kratz PR because you already have it developed and you should definitely stick with it!
You can make it last, you have passion and drive! The best city for you could be somewhere like Charlotte, Raleigh, Atlanta, a BIG city!
Thank you for the advice Lauren! Btw, Philly is a BIG city haha just not on the same level as Chicago, NYC, and LA…I feel those are the three cities, especially for PR where the opportunities are endless. You know?
I think its more I want to create a network in and outside of Philly. I guess I have to leave to do so.
Thank you again
stay in touch!
Sounds like you are definitely a city person! I love cities and can’t wait to graduate to move to one and start my PR career. I love New York and I know there are a lot of GREAT universities there. I think you should definitely keep Kratz PR going, because it seems like you are already on your way to stardom before you even graduate college. Even though we have never met I can tell you have a huge drive to do great things with your life and I think Kratz PR is part of that. I think you can make it last because you do want to succeed, and you do have that drive. You will figure everything out! Just give it time
The traveling you’ve started doing through PRSSA, 33rd St, and Kratz PR will enable you to experience other cities and to network, as you’ve already begun doing, with other PR students and professionals around the country. And that’s a great way to sample and consider other cities. But choosing a new school commits you to a new city–one that you know much less about than your hometown Philly! So I vote yes for traveling and becoming acquainted with other cities, but no for actually moving to a new place for completing your undergrad education. I say stay at Drexel if at all possible, and if not, go to Temple, which has great core courses in PR, does it not? By the way, I don’t believe Philly imposes any kind of ceiling, it’s a major metropolis with many developing businesses, and allows you easy access to NY and Washington, too. And your PR network already includes people as far away as California, so with the internet, geography really doesn’t impose any limits. And that’s my 100% OBJECTIVE opinion.:)