i agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
I did the NYU program in 2006 and I can best sum it up as it is all of what you make it. The program is pretty even when it comes to magazine and book publishing. There are three weeks of mags and three of book pubs. In that time you have at your disposal the best of the best in both publishing worlds, you have publishers, those on the business side, and editors and they provide a wealth of information. It’s up to you to make that contact and request informational interviews and go up to them after their session and ask additional questions.
During the program you’re given two group projects, one is where you create your own magazine and another is where you create a book publishing imprint. You basically use all the information that was presented to you and put it to practice.
Nothing is handed to you and a job is not promised to you but it is truly eye-opening. Even though I was more into the magazine portion and editorial, I learned so much about book publishing and the business side of mags and it was the impetus for a permanent move to New York. I did get an interview for an internship out of the program, but it’s because I went up to the magazine representative, introduced myself, was personable and asked her questions - and they weren’t do you have any open positions.
Yes, it is expensive, but if you can swing it, through loans or whatever, I think you should do it. I went three years after college graduation and I already had a job in another industry other than mags, but it was truly what I needed to make that next step to move to NY and make my dream come true. The only thing I will say is that in 2006 the magazine industry was a bit more stable, and even though it was going through layoffs, it was not the magnitude of how it is in now.
The class lasted all day in one room and it’s long, some days towards the end of each cycle, we didn’t leave until 8pm or a bit later, and we started at 8 or 9am.
I want to say about 90 people were in the program…
My advice: be a sponge, take in all you can; don’t be afraid to ask questions, but ask SMART, THOUGHTFUL questions; and if you’re not from New York, use this time to see if this place is for you.
Thanks for the information on the NYU course. Do you happen to know what the credentials were like for the people who got in your year? I’m really nervous about what they are looking for in an applicant!
I’m also applying to both the Columbia and NYU courses, and I was just wondering how difficult they are to actually get into. I heard the Columbia one in particular only accepts about 1/4 of its applicants. I went to a small college, not a name school, and I’m kind of worried that will affect my chances. And my experience is all magazine based, nothing with book publishing. For anyone who attended these courses before, do the kinds of students admitted seem to fit to a certain mold, in terms of experience and education?
They both sound like such great programs, especially to give you some experience in transitioning to New York. I’d really love to go to one!
I actually went to a small school too. My program only had a few hundred undergrads and all of my internships were at magazines as well. In fact, I found it interesting when I got there because a lot of the people in the Columbia program were older and had Masters or they were English majors unsure of what to do next. I felt like I had more real-world experience in publishing than most of the people around me. It’s true that they do only accept about 1/4 of its applicants, but there are usually only about 400 and sometimes they’ll choose a few extra people.
I did the Columbia course last summer right after I graduated. It’s really a hit or miss, so I’d say it depends on what you want to do. NYU is geared more towards magazines (so I’ve heard) and Columbia has more of an emphasis on book publishing. As far as landing a job as a result of the course, there were definitely more reps for book publishing houses than for magazines. In fact, most of the mag and HR reps were only offering internships. It was a little discouraging, but if you say the right things, talk to enough people, and show them your passion, it will get through. One of the HR reps emailed me a week later about bringing me in to interview for an online edit job at a national mag (I ended up getting hired and I’ve been here for about eight months).
On the downside, I was probably one of five people who got a job in magazines out of the 20 or so of us that definitely did not want to do book publishing. On the upside, many of the people that wanted to get jobs in book publishing were able to. I can’t really vouch for NYU because I don’t know anyone who did the program. But, like I said before, it really depends on what your interests are and whether you want to shell out that much money for good connections.
i agree with the above
i agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
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It's All of What You Make It
I did the NYU program in 2006 and I can best sum it up as it is all of what you make it. The program is pretty even when it comes to magazine and book publishing. There are three weeks of mags and three of book pubs. In that time you have at your disposal the best of the best in both publishing worlds, you have publishers, those on the business side, and editors and they provide a wealth of information. It’s up to you to make that contact and request informational interviews and go up to them after their session and ask additional questions.
During the program you’re given two group projects, one is where you create your own magazine and another is where you create a book publishing imprint. You basically use all the information that was presented to you and put it to practice.
Nothing is handed to you and a job is not promised to you but it is truly eye-opening. Even though I was more into the magazine portion and editorial, I learned so much about book publishing and the business side of mags and it was the impetus for a permanent move to New York. I did get an interview for an internship out of the program, but it’s because I went up to the magazine representative, introduced myself, was personable and asked her questions - and they weren’t do you have any open positions.
Yes, it is expensive, but if you can swing it, through loans or whatever, I think you should do it. I went three years after college graduation and I already had a job in another industry other than mags, but it was truly what I needed to make that next step to move to NY and make my dream come true. The only thing I will say is that in 2006 the magazine industry was a bit more stable, and even though it was going through layoffs, it was not the magnitude of how it is in now.
The class lasted all day in one room and it’s long, some days towards the end of each cycle, we didn’t leave until 8pm or a bit later, and we started at 8 or 9am.
I want to say about 90 people were in the program…
My advice: be a sponge, take in all you can; don’t be afraid to ask questions, but ask SMART, THOUGHTFUL questions; and if you’re not from New York, use this time to see if this place is for you.
Good luck!
C
NYU course
Thanks for the information on the NYU course. Do you happen to know what the credentials were like for the people who got in your year? I’m really nervous about what they are looking for in an applicant!
Getting in
I’m also applying to both the Columbia and NYU courses, and I was just wondering how difficult they are to actually get into. I heard the Columbia one in particular only accepts about 1/4 of its applicants. I went to a small college, not a name school, and I’m kind of worried that will affect my chances. And my experience is all magazine based, nothing with book publishing. For anyone who attended these courses before, do the kinds of students admitted seem to fit to a certain mold, in terms of experience and education?
They both sound like such great programs, especially to give you some experience in transitioning to New York. I’d really love to go to one!
It varies
I actually went to a small school too. My program only had a few hundred undergrads and all of my internships were at magazines as well. In fact, I found it interesting when I got there because a lot of the people in the Columbia program were older and had Masters or they were English majors unsure of what to do next. I felt like I had more real-world experience in publishing than most of the people around me. It’s true that they do only accept about 1/4 of its applicants, but there are usually only about 400 and sometimes they’ll choose a few extra people.
It depends on what you want to do
I did the Columbia course last summer right after I graduated. It’s really a hit or miss, so I’d say it depends on what you want to do. NYU is geared more towards magazines (so I’ve heard) and Columbia has more of an emphasis on book publishing. As far as landing a job as a result of the course, there were definitely more reps for book publishing houses than for magazines. In fact, most of the mag and HR reps were only offering internships. It was a little discouraging, but if you say the right things, talk to enough people, and show them your passion, it will get through. One of the HR reps emailed me a week later about bringing me in to interview for an online edit job at a national mag (I ended up getting hired and I’ve been here for about eight months).
On the downside, I was probably one of five people who got a job in magazines out of the 20 or so of us that definitely did not want to do book publishing. On the upside, many of the people that wanted to get jobs in book publishing were able to. I can’t really vouch for NYU because I don’t know anyone who did the program. But, like I said before, it really depends on what your interests are and whether you want to shell out that much money for good connections.