People go to college to gain knowledge about their desired future career, but gaining practical experience and building professional connections can be just as important. Luckily for SMU students in the PR, communications and marketing realm SMU offers a chapter called the Public Relations Student Society of America that offers those opportunities even before that process of graduation.
PRSSA is basically a network of industry professionals, career resources and other SMU students who share similar interests. The following questions and answers might answer what SMU students should know before getting involved.
What is SMU PRSSA?
The SMU Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America is the local student affiliate of the National Public Relations Student Society of America. The National PRSSA serves as an opportunity for all college students that are pursuing a degree in communications or related field to pursue their interest in the Communications Industry.
The SMU Chapter has its own mission, which includes promoting professional growth/development, encouraging ethical communication, providing opportunities for students to network and prepare themselves for a future in the communications industry. The SMU Chapter provides these same opportunities at the University by hosting various events including speaker programs and professional workshops.
Do I have to be a public relations major to join?
PRSSA is open to all SMU students from various disciplines; including Public Relations, Communications, Advertising, Marketing, Journalism and Social Media. As such, a student doesn’t necessarily require prior professional experience to be involved with PRSSA.
Thus, PRSSA is also beneficial for students that may not yet have narrowed down a specific career path. For instance, a Business Student looking at Corporate Communications and/or an Advertising Student looking at Brand Reputation would both greatly benefit from attending PRSSA’s events and utilizing its available resources.
What does SMU PRSSA offer students?
In addition to all of the other advantages of Chapter membership that are described in this chapter, the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University offers its members a number of additional opportunities for learning about their career options. For example, guest lectures, conferences, scholarship awards, national employment opportunities and a large and active professional network in Dallas through PRSA Dallas will be available to SMU Meadows School of the Arts students.
The specific opportunities that may be available from chapter involvement may vary based on the chapter’s mission. The possibilities would be anything from speakers (e.g., professional development), resume and LinkedIn workshop, internship/career networking events, etc. Students could gain an understanding of what many different types of communications jobs exist.
When Brooke Kovacs, a PRSSA member was asked “What is the most valuable opportunity or experience SMU PRSSA has given you?” they answered the following “The most valuable opportunity SMU PRSSA has given me is the chance to connect directly with communications professionals. Hearing about their experiences and receiving career advice has helped me feel more prepared to apply for internships and enter the public relations industry.”
This personal perspective demonstrates how involvement can extend beyond simply attending meetings. Students can ask questions, meet professionals and develop relationships that may help them as they apply for internships and jobs.
How can PRSSA help me prepare for a career?
PRSSA gives college students the opportunity to develop some of the important skills needed for their careers before they graduate. National Member Benefits are offered through PRSSA that give members the ability to use online resume and portfolio builders, scholarship programs, award opportunities, chances to hold leadership roles, attend professional events and find internships(https://www.prssa.org/prssajoinprssa/membership-members/benefits-of-national-member-ship/).
Meeting experienced professionals will help college students understand what hiring managers want from entry level applicants. While a classroom is capable of teaching an individual about the basic principles of Strategic Communication, meeting professionals will provide a student with the examples of how these concepts are put into practice in companies, corporate offices and non-profit organizations.
Members of the SMU Chapter will be able to connect with fellow SMU students who may one day be co-workers or valuable contacts in your future profession. Your network does not need to begin after you graduate; it can begin with the person next to you at our meetings.
How much does membership cost?
Active membership in National PRSSA has a cost of $55 per year. In addition to this national fee, local chapters have their own fees that vary from campus to campus; therefore it would be wise for students to check with the local SMU chapter or attend a meeting for more information on how much they need to pay. Due to changing pricing structures and procedures, students should also find out how much it will cost prior to registration as well.
While the cost of becoming a member of National PRSSA is something to consider, students who participate actively by attending programs and utilizing all the available resources can benefit from the professional development and networking opportunities.
How do I join or learn about upcoming meetings?
Beginning with SMU PRSSA’s Instagram (@prssasmu) https://www.instagram.com/prssasmu/), students can find out when meetings are happening, what events will be taking place and how to register. New students can look up the organization through Student Involvement Resources or reach out directly to an officer to see if they would like to become involved.
The first step for new students is often attending one of the open meetings. It may seem scary to go alone but EVERYONE in attendance is interested in Communications so it could be a great way to meet others that share your interests. Introduce yourself, find out when the next event will take place and get informed on how you sign-up to be a member of SMU PRSSA.
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