Pathway
Writing & Journalism
Finding out what's true and explaining it well, reporting, editing, technical writing, communications. The skill transfers into more careers than almost anything else on this list.
Majors
- Journalism
- English
- Communications
- Technical Writing
- Political Science
Jobs people do
- Reporter / editor
- Technical writer
- Communications specialist
- Content strategist
- Copywriter
- Grant writer
Watch out
The choices that quietly close a door here
Treating writing ability as the whole skill set.
The field increasingly hires people who can also handle data, audio, or video. Writing alone is a narrower door than it was.
Instead Add one adjacent skill, statistics, audio production, or basic data analysis.
Not building clips because school assignments feel like enough.
Journalism programs and internships ask for published work. Essays don't count.
Instead Get on a publication freshman year and publish continuously.
Course ladder
Grade by grade
Course names differ at every school, and graduation requirements differ by state. Take this list to your counselor so the two of you are working from the same page.
Grade 8
- Read widely, genuinely the main prerequisiteWorth doing
Grade 9
- English 9, honors if availableLoad-bearing
- Journalism I or newspaper staffLoad-bearing
- World historyLoad-bearing
Grade 10
- English 10Load-bearing
- Newspaper / yearbook staffLoad-bearing
- World language, year 2Worth doing
Grade 11
- AP English LanguageLoad-bearing
The argument and rhetoric course, the most directly relevant AP here.
- AP US History or GovernmentWorth doing
- StatisticsWorth doing
Data journalism is where the jobs have moved. Being able to read a study is a differentiator.
Grade 12
- AP English LiteratureWorth doing
- Editor role on a school publicationLoad-bearing
- Intro programming or data visualizationIf you have room
Outside class
School newspaper, and stay long enough to run it
Three years and an editor title beats a byline count.
From grade 9
Pitch a local paper or online outlet
Many take freelance pieces from teenagers. One published clip changes your applications.
From grade 10
Summer journalism institute
Several universities run free or low-cost programs for high schoolers. Apply in winter.
From grade 10
Start a newsletter or blog and keep it going
Consistency for a year is the achievement, not the subscriber count.
From grade 9
Things to build
Report one story that requires actual reporting
Public records, three interviews, something nobody has written. This is what separates a writer from a student who likes writing.
From grade 10
Keep a clip file
Everything published, dated, in one folder. You'll need it for applications and internships.
From grade 9
Is this actually a fit for you?
Ten minutes of questions, and Bearing turns this into a plan that starts from the grade you're in.
Take the survey