Miami Ad School

Good morning and happy Monday to all!

Hope everyone's not feeling as sluggish and unmotivated this morning as I am. Over the weekend, I started the application to Miami Ad School but wanted to get some feedback from any alums or people familiar with the copywriting program.

Is this a smart choice for someone starting off in advertising with the end goal of being a copywriter extraordinaire? Am I better off staying in the work force and trying to move over to a big agency? Any other suggestions for how to successfully jump from a lowly account coordinator at a recruitment advertising agency to a self-entitled copywriter at an international ad agency :)?

Any comments/thoughts/feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Tags: Ad, Miami, School, copywriting

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Permalink Reply by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer on November 19, 2007 at 9:11am

Look at VCU Adcenter, a graduate program in advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University. My pal Rick Boyko has a much better program there. Check it out before you decide. Miami's is more fluff, than true substance and network connections.

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Permalink Reply by Gillian Lynch on November 19, 2007 at 9:21am

Hey Buddy,

Thanks for the reco. Will be sure to check out VCU as well.

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Permalink Reply by Joel Jackson on November 26, 2007 at 4:27pm

I'm still an undergrad but am considering portfolio school, especially VCU. What is the application process like, and what is needed? Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Gillian Lynch on November 26, 2007 at 4:47pm

I'm looking to apply to the Copywriting progam so the application process is as follows:

$100 application fee

Two Essays at 500 words each- 1) Write an essay on something big or little that has influenced you. 2) Write another essay on a company, a brand, or label that has an image, design sense or advertising campaign you admire and why.

And then depending on what program you are applying for their are various assignment to choose from.

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Permalink Reply by Renee on November 20, 2007 at 11:31am

As a recent grad of MAS, I would definately say it's worth it. Ad school is what you make of it. I learned a ton, came out with a great book, and have a ton of industry connections. One thing I really loved about Miami Ad School is the opportunity to study abroad. I don't think any other schools have as many opportunities to study abroad. I think it's great get a global perspective on advertising and I wouldn't go to another school if I had to do it over again.

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Permalink Reply by Steve McNamara on March 20, 2008 at 4:32pm

Hi Renee:

Could you tell us a bit more about the opportunities to study abroad at MAS? Specifically, I'd like to know how it works. Does the school have agreements with specific agencies? If so, are the agencies mostly in Europe? Any details much appreciated. Thanks, Steve.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela on June 14, 2008 at 10:19pm

Hey. I live in Miami and I am applying for the Fall term in Miami Ad School. Mi biggest concern is the fact that I won't have any degree. I graduated from Miami Dade College and my next step is Miami Ad School. Does a degree in Advertising really matters?
Help!

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Permalink Reply by Benin Brown on December 29, 2009 at 2:58pm

I am wondering the same thing about whether a degree really matters as I see so many people in high powered marketing positions with no degrees at all.

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Permalink Reply by J.S. Gilbert on December 29, 2009 at 3:21pm

That hasn't been my experience Benin. There are some people who have bootstrapped themselves over a period of years through lower level jobs and independant studies to develop tangible and quantifiable skill sets, but currently with 50 - 100 decent applicants per job opening, eduication levels tend to come very much into play.

In the UNited States, this is particularly an issue, whereby many in business recognize that India's top 5% of university graduates is a larger number than all students enrolled in UNiversity programs in the United States. You are no longer competing against just the better prepared graduates in the U.S., but the better prepared graduates of the world.

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Permalink Reply by Benin Brown on December 29, 2009 at 3:25pm

I am relieved to hear this because about 6 months ago I decided to go back and get my Master's in Internet Marketing from Full Sail University in Orlando, which is where I am now.

You are correct too about competing globally. Back when I actively was involved in the day to day running of an news portal called African Path, we outsourced a lot of promotional related functions to either Kenya or India.

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Permalink Reply by J.S. Gilbert on December 29, 2009 at 3:32pm

One thing I have noticed about some of my friends with graduate degrees, is that while some of them may say they never really needed their advanced degree or that they never utilize what they learned, they're still working in $100,000+ jobs.

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Permalink Reply by Benin Brown on December 29, 2009 at 11:36pm

Gotcha. That makes sense. That being said for some reason its still hard for me to shake the feeling when I'm around industry folks that its more about who you know or simply how you can make the campaigns sizzle. Perhaps, as you are mentioning though this aspect of the industry really is changing as a result of increased global competition and perhaps also due to the impact that technology has made upon the industry too.

What do you think?