Things I Wish I Knew Last Year

I’ve just read a very interesting article about a summer program at NYU specifically for publishing. For six weeks, students learn about the ins and outs of the publishing world and make contacts in the business. Most have interviews lined up by the end of the six weeks, and still go to a job fair where the top publishers in the business show up in mass. The key to success for this program, according to this article, is networking.

I can network.

I can network with the best of them, and my business background helps that immensely. Plus, I assume that you need to have some interview skills. I rock the interview. Seriously.

It’s such a great looking program that I’m tempted to apply now, though I’m sure I wouldn’t be eligible for classes until next summer at this point. However, I feel I am making contacts in the business all ready, and I may get a job in a company I can enjoy shortly. I can’t know for sure of course, but I already work for two literary agencies, and I’ve recently interviewed with another, for a paid job this time.

So? What’s the harm in applying anyway? The tuition is only $5,000 which seems relatively cheap considering how much was shelled out for my MBA. And if you get a job before the courses start, then you can back out right?

Well Inner Lisa, that’s all well and good but I don’t have $5,000. (Did I mention that I got laid off from my last job shortly after I moved into a new apartment? Isn’t that just how it goes?) Plus there’s something near 500 applicants for only 101 spots – what an odd number. Not that I’m concerned with getting in, I got into the best MBA school in Florida by sheer determination alone; A summer program doesn’t frighten me.

Still, the purpose of this post is to point out the things I would have done differently last year had I known. And this is it. This is most definitely the one thing that I would have done differently.

Here’s the article if you’re interested:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/21/nyu-summer-program-publishing_n_905561.html

And the NYU summer program site, in case someone comes across this post and thinks – I can learn from her:
http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/publishing/continuing-education/summer-publishing-institute.html