By Isabela Jacobsen STAFF WRITER
From NYC to LA, the opportunities are endless! The Hofstra in LA program gives communication majors the chance to see the heart of the entertainment world, and create lifelong contacts at the companies of their dreams. As a public relations major interested in entertainment PR, participating in the Hofstra in LA program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made at Hofstra.
The days are filled with meetings with the coolest professionals in the business. These professionals, who are all Hofstra alumni, not only have tons of valuable advice to share, but are also incredibly excited to help us current students out. We visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “CNN,” Activision Blizzard, Dick Clark Productions and many more. The professionals from these companies took time out of their busy lives to give us tours, set up meetings, hold a Q&A and even gave us their business cards so we could stay in touch. After this trip, you’ll have a whole network of successful professionals at your fingertips. It’s a great way to get insight on your favorite companies, the entertainment world and get an idea of what life on the West Coast is like.
As someone who’s never been to California, it was the perfect introduction. I swore to myself I would never betray my beloved New York City, but after this trip, I fell in love with the Cali sun and lifestyle, like pretty much everyone told me I would.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was the panel of alumni, many of whom had graduated only a few years ago. The panel was filled with an overwhelming amount of support, encouragement and genuine advice about careers and moving to LA. They offered a helping hand and made us all feel more comfortable and excited about our potential future on the West Coast.
The experience was something I will never forget. It made me feel excited to graduate in May and made my network grow a ton. Our stay at the Oakwood was beyond beautiful and comfortable, plus we finished the trip off with the most amazing Paramount Studios tour. It’s a great trip for anyone interested in entertainment. It helps you grow your network and make valuable connections that you could use throughout your whole career.