Travelling Tips for PR Students

Whether you are studying abroad or travelling to a different city to shadow a successful PR executive, it is important for students to master the art of travel and packing techniques that will save you time and stress!
1. Pack Basics: Regardless of your destination, you will need to be wary of how much you pack. If you are taking a flight, you may only be allowed one “free” bag check, and even if you aren’t flying, you don’t want to be lugging around multiple suitcases! When packing clothing items, it is important to pack essential pieces for the dress code you are hoping to fit into. If you are going for business casual, packing key pieces (khakis, blouses, etc.) will help you stay away from over-packing. Also, packing certain items over others will increase your ability to travel light. If you pack chunky suit coats or things that need to be carried, your baggage could weigh you down. Instead, pack items that may still be considered professional, but don’t need as much care! (sweaters, dresses, tights, etc.)

2. Start Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your hotel details and to pack! Travelling itself is full of stress, so adding last minute troubles will only make your experience less enjoyable! Be sure to book your hotel room in advance not only for convenience, but because it may be cheaper to book earlier rather than later. Also, packing is a burden regardless of when you do it, but the sooner the better! Leave your toiletries and electronics out until the night before, but be sure to pack your clothing and professional materials (such as portfolios or resumes) at least a few days in advance.

3. Remember the Small Things: Your last packing step should be making sure you remembered small details that will make your travelling experience more pleasant. If you are taking a plane, remember to pack gum so that you can keep your ears from popping. If you will need a passport or some sort of ticket, make sure you have those items in an easily-accessible compartment of your bag!

Do you have any travel tips to share? Let us know!

PR and Passports

            One of a PR professional’s greatest assets is a passport. It’s funny how the things you learn in class somehow come up in everyday life. In my Communication Theory course, the term Normative Public Relations came up. This means relating honestly to all groups of people. To relate to a diverse group of people, one must understand the cultures of different people. The best method to this is to immerse yourself in a culture different to your own. After doing this, you are able to utilize other ways of thinking, doing and living and apply it to your personal and professional life.

            I may be biased as someone who works in the Study Away office, but I believe one of the greatest assets of the School of Media and Communications are the Study Away opportunities. Not only can students take courses abroad or nationally within their own majors, but students are now gaining more opportunities to actually intern in these locations as well. The new and improved Global Internship opportunities include: Barcelona, Hong Kong, London, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Each of these programs offers students a full time internship, internship coordinator, job coach and a course called International Communications in the Workplace.

            The national programs give students a taste of what it’s like to live and work in the city of their choice. The international programs give students a cultural experience in a foreign country, while learning the professional customs of the country as well. Personally, I am participating in the Barcelona Global Internship Program this summer. On top of my public relations concentration, I have picked up another concentration in international communications and a minor in Spanish. To go to a foreign setting and apply the professional skills I have learned is petrifying and exciting all at the same time.

            Employers, especially in a fast-paced field like PR, are looking for employees who are relatable and adaptable to various environments and situations. Interning in a different city or country gives those students an edge that others cannot compete with. When sitting in an interview with a potential employer, being able to tell them how you adapted and lived in a place not native to you can really prove your skill set.

            There is a quote by St. Augustine that always comes to mind, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” I believe travelling the world, gives us the whole story: the story on people, places and life as we don’t already know it.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Brianna Prime.

Public Relations and Studying Abroad

As a public relations major, studying abroad may not seem like an option for you. Most locations and programs do not offer PR courses, and only few offer internships. I am here to present my study abroad advising services and present some hidden treasures for public relations majors.

1. The School of Media and Communication’s International Internship Programs:
The Barcelona and Hong Kong programs both offer public relations courses as well as an internship in any field desired. All students are required to take Intercultural Communication in the Workplace: STRC 3670. The other course is cross-listed with multiple other majors but there are two strategic communication courses:  STRC 3385 or 3585 - Internship in Public Communication. Both programs are a total of 10 weeks, with the first two weeks on campus to take the Intercultural Communication course. Past students have told us that this course put them a step ahead of other students interning abroad.

2. As for a semester abroad, SMC’s London program has three strategic communication courses offered during the semester including an optional internship. The courses include: STRC 3323: Political Communication, STRC 3585 – Internship in Public Relations, or STRC 3685 – Internship in Organizational Leadership. You would only be able to take two courses directly through strategic communication, but any time you study abroad the Global/World Society GenEd is automatically fulfilled. The rest of the credits would be taken as electives offered through SMC.

The question that most students have about studying abroad is how they are going to pay for it. These are the necessary steps to take in order to receive the most financial assistance:

1. The first step would be to make an appointment with the financial aid office. If you plan on going for a semester, your financial aid package may increase because the cost of living is typically higher when studying abroad.

2. File your FAFSA within the first few days of it opening. This is how you can receive the most aid possible. It is not necessary to have your taxes filed beforehand; you may go back and fill it in later.

3. APPLY FOR ALL SMC SCHOLARSHIPS. All tuition scholarships apply when you are abroad for a semester; however, in the summer this is more difficult. The scholarships that are due in February are the ones than can be applied for the summer, and there are less available. This makes the summer more difficult to pay for but not impossible.

4. APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE EDUCATION ABROAD OFFICE. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars offered in scholarships through this office. The requirements are broken by location typically, which makes it easier to choose which ones to apply to.

5. If nothing else, apply for loans. Most students are eligible for the Parent Plus loan, which is cosigned by your parents. Students sometimes take out private loans, but you need to be sure to look for low interest rates.

Preparing for a study abroad experience is a lot of work; however, when planned properly the process will be less stressful. As much work that you put in as a student, the study abroad advisers will put in as well. We have amazing opportunities to connect nationally and internationally through Temple. The first step is deciding to take the leap.

This guest blog post was written PRowl Staff Member Brianna Prime.