Studying Abroad: Preparing for an Annenberg Maymester
This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to join one of USC Annenberg’s most exciting programs: International Communication Studies Maymester. This program is renowned for its international travel component, offering students a chance to explore career opportunities abroad. Traditionally conducted in London, Paris and Madrid, this year’s program took us to Dublin, Ireland instead of Paris. My experience with the ICS program was unforgettable, prompting me to share some insights for prospective applicants preparing for Annenberg’s upcoming Maymester opportunities.
Applications for Maymester programs typically open late in the fall semester, with group interviews conducted from October to December. Applicants are required to answer short essay questions reflecting on the program’s relevance to their future career goals. Afterward, students are invited to pick a time slot for an interview with around two to six other individuals. This is another opportunity to express enthusiasm for the program and display your collaborative spirit. If you apply to more than one Maymester, directors assess which best aligns with each applicant’s career aspirations. By the early spring semester, students are notified of their acceptance and will be invited to attend information sessions to prepare for traveling abroad and delve into the program’s course structure.
For the ICS program, we enrolled in a two-unit class called “COMM 499: Special Topics” that we participated in for all three cities. This class was headed by Amara Aguilar, a journalism professor at Annenberg, and Cassandra Reyes, one of Annenberg’s International Programs coordinators. The International Office coordinated our departure from LAX to Dublin so that most students were able to travel together unless they needed to fly from a different location. Professor Aguilar’s curriculum encouraged research in international communications, public relations, and journalism, emphasizing practical assignments over traditional classroom lectures.
Unlike a semester abroad program where students usually spend the majority of their weekdays in a classroom, ICS classes largely consisted of us gathering before each company visit to discuss the companies we were meeting. Assignments were very multifaceted, with us writing about our experiences with one of our favorite organizations or doing an Instagram takeover where we showed viewers what a day in the ICS program is like. One of my favorite assignments that each student had to do was to create a briefing for the rest of the class about one of the companies we were to visit that day. Although some students wanted to research companies on their own, these briefings allowed us to prepare for who we were meeting and plan any questions we might have.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was meeting Yasmeen Serhan in London, a prominent staff writer at TIME Magazine. She was so inspiring to me because she had the career path that I only dreamed of, and did all she could in her position as a journalist to make sure that she could give underrepresented voices a platform to tell their diverse stories. Our meeting was amazing because it was an open discussion about her journey to becoming a journalist with TIME and some of the hardships and successes she had. She gave us advice on how to make it in our careers of choice, and it made me feel like I was on the right track to prepare for life after college.
One of the greatest parts of the program is that we were still given ample free time to explore each city. There were days when we went on cultural tours of the city with the whole class and days that were completely free to explore on our own. This was one of my highlights of the trip because I loved being able to walk around and explore on my own, and it allowed me to see so much more of the city than I likely would have sitting in a classroom.
Overall, I am so grateful to this program for not only allowing me to explore more fields of interest for my career but also to immerse myself in different cultures, meet new people, and appreciate how my career could help me make a difference in the world. It provided invaluable insights into communication, journalism, and PR roles that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors. If I were to give any advice to future applicants, I would say that Annenberg’s Maymester programs are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and no matter what program you choose, it will do so much to help you grow your confidence about entering the job market after university. Engage with fellow travelers, listen to the diverse perspectives of each company representative, and cultivate lasting connections with them that may pave the way for future internships or career opportunities. This experience has changed my life and I can’t wait to see what opportunities this program will open up in my professional journey.
