Writing Samples

Hi Edsters!

I am a college junior getting ready to start putting together applications for the summer 2009 ASME & Time Inc. editorial programs. Both require published writing samples, which I have but have never submitted with an application before, so I have a few questions.

In general, is a variety of clips preferred or is a “theme” better? I have clips from my college’s alumni magazine, from my college newspaper, from blogs, from our online mag, as well as online clips from a newspaper internship last summer. I only have one random clip with a byline from that internship (I wrote dozens of breaking news stories over the summer but they were posted under a generic name). These stories are very basic and hard news driven, but is it worth it to try to include one anyway to have something to show from the internship? Should the selection of clips try to show as broad a writing variety/style as possible, or could that backfire?

Also, how are the clips best submitted? Time Inc’s app is submitted online (2-3 clips), while ASMEs is (snail) mailed (5 clips). So for Time Inc., would a word document with text from the story (and perhaps a link to each story online, if applicable) be best? Or should I scan the print clips and send a PDF so that the clip is in its final format?

With ASME, since they are submitted in a hard copy, is a copy of the story as it appeared in a print publication preferred, or is it still better to insert the story into a double spaced word doc and print?

I’m sorry for having so many questions! I want to be especially careful and organized with these apps. Any help would be appreciated!