Public Relations Major Application Process
Students in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University may declare a Public Relations major by submitting your application online, complete with a press release writing sample, by the appropriate deadline (September 15, January 15, or May 15). The writing sample should be attached to the application form before the form is submitted for review.
If the application deadline falls on a weekend or an official university holiday, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. the next business day. Late applications will not be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the selection committee. If you have not met the prerequisite requirements for the major, your application will not be reviewed.
Public relations application
The complete public relations application includes the following:
- The online application (remember to hit the submit button after filling in the form and attaching the press release in .pdf format).
- A writing sample consisting of a one-page press release. The press release should be written on a topic of your choice and shall be composed using industry format.
- To create a .pdf file from a word document, go to "File", click "save as" and under "format" select "PDF."
- Submit your writing sample as a PDF attachment (included on the online application form).
Press release format
Please follow the following formatting guidelines:
- Use Microsoft Word 2003 or newer
- Use font type Times New Roman
- Use font size 12
- 1 inch margins all around
- Single-spaced paragraphs, with double-spacing between paragraphs
- Include your name on each page, either in a header or footer
- Include a page number in the header or footer
Your press release shall be original work. Work that has been created for an in-class assignment is not acceptable for the application process.
Criteria for acceptance
Your application will be reviewed by Public Relations faculty (comparing it to other applicants for this major). The committee will consider the following factors when making its decision on your application:
- Consistency of grades earned in communication courses, including a comparison of both your overall and School of Communication grade point averages (a minimum of 2.5 is required in both) in relation to the others in this application pool.
- Your press release demonstrates your understanding of public relations.
- Your submitted press releases meets or exceeds standards of effective writing skills and press release formatting.
- You will be notified through your WMICH email address within four weeks of the application deadline regarding the status of your application.
If you are accepted into the major, your official major slip will be emailed to your WMICH.edu address within 10 business days of your notification of acceptance. Save this electronic major slip in your electronic files. You will be required to submit your major slip for your graduation audit.
If your application is not accepted you may apply a second time for admission to the major. You are permitted to apply to the school’s by-application only majors (Telecommunications and Information Management, Film, Video and Media Studies, and Public Relations) twice, in any combination. After your second application, if you have not been accepted, you may declare a major other than Telecommunications and Information Management, Film, Video and Media Studies, and Public Relations within the School of Communication or you may declare a Communication minor.
You also have the option to declare a major in any other department on campus provided you meet their minimum qualifications. Please remember that all WMU students shall complete at least one major and one minor, or two majors in order to graduate.
For additional information, call the School of Communication advising office at (269) 387-3197 or schedule an advising appointment or contact an undergraduate advisor. The School of Communication’s faculty advisor does not participate in the application review decision-making process.