Before even becoming a TCOM major, you can have a friendly relationship with the department. As a freshman, we encourage you to get involved with the TCOM family, underclass groups (students who do things together because they are in the same year of study and/or the same TCOM major option), and extracurricular programs. We want to get to know you, develop a tight relationship with you in your freshman year, and maintain that throughout your years of study and after you graduate.
But back to being a freshman—to help you become acquainted with the major, its options, the department, the field of study, etc. and to give you an opportunity to just have fun, we hold freshmen-only events and seminars. Ball State also has an innovative and nationally recognized program, Freshman Connections, just for first-year students.
For example, right off the bat—as soon as you get here in the fall—we initiate you into our world of storytelling and media with your first screen test. Don’t worry! It’s fun.
Other freshmen-only events and programs include Phil Bremen’s “How to be an On-Camera Personality” for those aspiring to on-camera careers. Bremen, a former NBC News correspondent, now a TCOM associate professor, gives each student tips on effective news reading and records a brief audition. Then, he plays back the performance so you can examine your work and further polish your skills. The training session occurs each semester. Contact the department for more information.