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Experiential Learning at 小蓝视频 SOC L.A. Intensive

May 14-20, 2025

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School of Communication 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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About the Trip

Open: Friday, January 12, 2024 9:00am

Close: Monday, October 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET).

The School of Communication, the Career Center and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations invite you to apply for and participate in the 2025听小蓝视频 SOC L.A. Intensive Program from May 14-20, 2025.

COST
$1,400.00 (not including transportation to and from L.A. and 5 meals). This program cannot be used for academic credit. Scholarships are available on a limited basis and are highly competitive.听

PURPOSE
The L.A. Intensive is designed for the rising junior, senior, graduating senior, graduate student, or recent 小蓝视频 alum (either undergraduate or graduates 2023 or 2024) with a focus in the field of entertainment--including television and film--who wants to meet alumni and industry professionals through site visits, meetings, panel discussions, and social events.

OUTCOME
By the end of the L.A. Intensive, the participants will have business cards and contacts for future conversations as well as a better understanding of

  • The industry and landscape for work in the field of communication, specifically television and film in L.A.听
  • The opportunities and challenges of working and living in L.A.听
  • How to launch one鈥檚 career in L.A. This understanding will be demonstrated in an exit interview at the end of the program.

2023 L.A. Intensive Information

Learn more about the 2023 L.A. Intensive from听this informational session with Senior Director of Experiential Learning Sarah Menke-Fish and SOC Career Advisor Felicia Parks.

What Is The L.A. Intensive?

This program听is designed for the rising junior, senior, graduating senior, graduate student or recent 小蓝视频 alum with a focus in the field of entertainment.

Selected
Eligibility
How to Apply
Cost

The L.A. Intensive is competitive.听In 2024, 52 students applied and 14 were selected.听Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

14 students will be selected for the May 14-20, 2025 program.听

This program is open to all 小蓝视频 students, graduates, and recent alums.听

  • Undergraduate students with the completion of 75 undergraduate credit hours听
  • Graduate Students
  • Recent graduates (either undergraduate or graduates 2023, 2024)

Requirements Include:

  • Students who are in good academic and judicial standing or recent graduates with review of student file
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0听
  • Completion of 75 undergraduate credit hours听
  • Completion of this application and essay, including the name of an 小蓝视频 faculty member who can be contacted as a reference听
  • 搁茅蝉耻尘茅
  • Optional: Samples of work

Upon Acceptance
Acceptance to the program is conditional. There is a series of milestones that must be met before you can officially participate, these include

  • Proof of health insurance听
  • Academic self-audit with SOC Advising听Attendance at pre-departure meetings听
  • Clearance of all restrictions to registration听

Applications for the 2024 L.A. Intensive will close on听Monday, October 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM (ET).听听

Interested students should complete the and be prepared to submit their current resume and a statement of purpose.听

Applicants will be notified of their acceptances by Monday, October 28, 2024.

Application Materials:

You MUST submit these two (2) documents for your application to be considered.听

1. Resume听

2. Statement of purpose in 600 words or less that:听

  • Lists your name and preferred e-mail address at the top.
  • Gives us an overview of what makes you tick, who you are, and where you're headed.听
  • Describes what you hope to get out of the program and your career goals.听
  • Describes what you have to offer that makes you stand out as someone who will make the most of the experience.
  • Is proofread carefully.听

Applications will be evaluated on the quality of the application materials.听Preference will be given to those who demonstrate a career focus and professionalism through the application process. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed. Space is limited on the trip, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance in the program.听

Timeline for those accepted into the 小蓝视频 SOC LA Intensive:

There are some milestones that must be met before you can officially enroll. These include:听

  • Submit a $500 non-refundable deposit (cash, credit, or debit) by December 6, 2024
  • Submit final payment $900 by March 3, 2025
  • Attend the three pre-departure meetings December, February, and April
  • Meet with SOC Advisor, Felicia Parks to review your resume (December-January)
  • Submit your approved resume, short bio, and photo by March 18, 2025.


Questions?

Call Sarah Menke-Fish, Asst. Professor & Senior Director of Experiential Learning,听202-885-2026

$1,400.00 (not including transportation to and from L.A. and 5听meals)

Deposit of $500 Due December 6, 2024听

Final Payment of $900 Due March 3, 2025

Limited Scholarships Available

This program cannot be used for academic credit.听

Questions?

Contact Sarah Menke-Fish, Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning at 202-885-2026听or smenke@american.edu.

Learn more

Meet the 2019 Cohort

Get the behind-the-scenes look at the New York Intensive from the student perspective.

Meet the 2018 Cohort

See who attended the L.A. Intensive in 2018!

girl with camera

Discover the World of Communication

SOC's premiere summer workshops connecting high school students to hands-on learning opportunities.

Learn more

Sample Schedules

Wednesday, May 15

12鈥5:30 p.m.
Students Arrive
6:30鈥8:30 p.m.
Young alumni @ 小蓝视频 West including Jeff Della Serra, A.J. Berna, and L.A. Intensive 2018 participants

Thursday, May 16

10:30 a.m.鈥1 p.m.
Site Visit @ CBS with Clyde Kaplan
1鈥3 p.m.
Lunch at The Grove
6:30 p.m.
Entertainment and Media Alumni Alliance Networking Reception @ the Intercontinental Hotel, Century City, featuring Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Eddie Leavy, Anedra Edwards, and Natalie Sasser.

Friday, May 17

10:00鈥11:30 a.m.
Danielle Gelber and Amber Glancy @ "小蓝视频 West"
12鈥2 p.m.
Lunch and Conversation with Roya Vakili @ "小蓝视频 West"
12鈥2 p.m.
Site Visit to Echo Lake Management with Claudia Myers
3 p.m.
Roy Lee @ "小蓝视频 West"
6 p.m.
Dinner and Conversation with Barry Josephson, hosted by Barry and Brooke Josephson

Saturday, May 18

9:30鈥11 a.m.
Visit with Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro, writers for the reboot of Charmed
3鈥5 p.m.
Conversation with Rob Chiappetta and Michael Menachem @ "小蓝视频 West"
5 p.m.
Dinner and Presentation with Andrew Greenberger @ "小蓝视频 West"

Sunday, May 19

All day
Independent/Small Group Student choice day: Universal Studios, Disney, Santa Monica Beach, Getty Museum, Walk of Stars, meet with other contacts, coordinate logistics for staying in L.A. after the Intensive program concludes

Monday, May 20

11 a.m.
Afshin Shahidi @ "小蓝视频 West"
2鈥5 p.m
Site Visit @ Nickelodeon Animation Studio
7 p.m.
Adam Goodman @ "小蓝视频 West"

Tuesday, May 21

10 AM鈥1 p.m.
Site Visit @ Amblin Studios with Darryl Frank
2鈥4 p.m.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
5 p.m.
Site Visit and Dinner @ The CW Network with Mitch Nedick, Dana Bramble, and Anedra Edwards

Wednesday, May 22

Morning
Depart L.A.

Wednesday, May 16

12鈥3:30 PM
Students Arrive
5:30鈥7 PM
Eddie Leavy @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
7鈥10 PM
Young Alumni Reception and Program @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥

Thursday, May 17

11 AM鈥2 PM
Sony site visit
3:30鈥5:30 PM
Danielle Claman Gelber @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
7 PM
Entertainment Media Alumni Alliance
Networking Reception featuring Danielle Claman Gelber, Evan Spiliotopoulos, and James Middleton @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥

Friday, May 18

9:30鈥11:30 AM
Barry Josephson @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
2:45 PM
L.A. Landmark tour with Bonnie Winings @ Griffith Observatory
Evening
Taping of Bill Maher Show @ CBS

Saturday, May 19

Morning
Salvation Writers Room visit with Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro @ CBS
Afternoon
Russell Williams @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
Evening
Dinner and presentation with Andrew Greenberger @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥

Sunday, May 20

9鈥11 AM
James Middleton @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
11 AM to Evening
Free Time

Monday, May 21

10 AM
Tour Universal Studios
1鈥4 PM
Darryl Frank @ Amblin Studios
Evening
Universal Theme Park

Tuesday, May 22

10 AM鈥擭OON
Adam Goodman @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥
Afternoon
Studio tour with Mitch Nedick @ Warner Brothers
Evening
Dinner and tour with Mitch Nedick @ The CW Network
9鈥10 PM
Charlie Wachtel @ 鈥溞±妒悠 West鈥

Wednesday, May 23

Morning
Depart L.A.