Working as a public relations professional has afforded me many things, among them an intimate glimpse into the somewhat parallel world of journalism. And what have I concluded? I want to be one of them.

Musings and contemplations on theoretical futures have finally crystallized into a singular, albeit obscured path. At a time when my peers are choosing well-paved, manicured professional tracks (law school, medical school, business school), I have chosen the one less traveled by. Namely, that of the journalist. Sadly, this path is the least lucrative of the aforementioned. But, I have high hopes that my words will be enough to live on, and that I won't have to eat them to save myself from starving.

Now, had I chosen to pursue law, my next step would be clear. Law school, followed by a clerkship, becoming an associate at a firm, and then perhaps one day making partner. So on and so on. To put it mildly, the steps in becoming a journalist are less defined. While J-school was at one point considered a norm, nay, a necessity, today many consider it a bypass-able antiquity of old world print journalism. In a world where electronic media reigns supreme, some say the skills taught in a classroom are just as easily gained outside it by a technologically savvy, prolific writer. Truth be told, any schmuck can take to a blog and ramble their two cents (myself included). Write well, and ye shall succeed.

But what happens to someone like me, possessing a desire to write and lest I flatter myself, the skills to do it well, but lacking the know-how to market myself? How do I find a job, and one that pays? Journalism is the ultimate catch-22; I can't get a job because I haven't been printed, but I can't get printed because I don't have a job.

Journalism school, despite the complaints of its critics, is still a dependable means by which to amass a portfolio. And for me, that might just be worth the roughly $30,000 a year they charge for classes and living expenses. With my measly B.A. in history and PR background, this blog is the most visible writing experience I have.

Things also aren't what they used to be at top tier J-schools such as Columbia and Northwestern. Professors are rethinking and revamping what they teach, and courses on online journalism and other forms of new media are showing up on their campuses. The New York Times published an interesting article this past Sunday discussing this very phenomenon.

And people are taking note. While other industries are suffering, J-schools are experiencing a boom in enrollment. Many students, wary of the turbulent economic climate, are going back to school in hopes of waiting (or studying) out the job market drought. According to a recent Forbes article,

"Columbia, Stanford and NYU applications increased 38%, 20% and 6%, respectively, from the previous year. Same thing at state schools. The University of Colorado (up 11%), University of North Carolina (up 14%) and University of Maryland (up 25%) all saw gains. 'I'm amazed that enrollment continues to be so healthy,' says Associate Professor Stephen Solomon at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute."

What's my next step? Take the GRE, continue writing, and start applying to J-schools. I'm not certain if this is the right choice, but I'm open to any suggestions you might have. What do you think? Is journalism school the best path for me?