The internship process for many U of M students may leave them wanting to enjoy their summer sleeping in bed, but MasterCard wants to give 36 college students the internship of a lifetime.
MasterCard has the "Priceless Experience" internship program to help students interested in the sports, music or film industries gain experience. Students selected for the sports internship will work with Major League Baseball in coordinating activities and events for the 2005 All-Star Game. Film interns will work on a major movie with Universal Studios, and music interns get to work on the Vans Warped Tour with the group Fall Out Boy.
The director of the commercials for the program is Dave Myers, who has produced music videos for the likes of Jay-Z, No Doubt and Janet Jackson. Myers said he felt the "Priceless Experience" was different from many of the internships he had when trying to break into the industry. They often included answering the phone and getting coffee.
"I know the value of an internship of one that works versus one that doesn't work, and MasterCard is one that works," Myers said.
These three industries can be difficult to break into and Myers said passion is the key to separating yourself from the others.
"You need to communicate your passion," he said. "With this particular internship and in general you have to propel your passion and let other people feel it."
While in most jobs internships are crucial to finding a job, they may be even more so with these three fields.
"It's the most important thing," said Tonya Butler, assistant professor of music business. "In our business its what you know and who you know."
Butler said this internship would be beneficial to her students because of the hands on experience it would provide.
"Most people who want to get into the music industry have no idea of how it is," she said. "Working on this tour would expose them to how things are behind the scenes."
U of M sports management professor Richard Irwin echoed Butler's sentiments on the importance of an internship in his field -- the sports industry.
"I think it's really important and a typical culminating experience for students in the sports industry," he said.
More than 60,000 students have applied to "Priceless Experience" internship since 2002, and the stiff competition is similar to the sports industry.
"It's difficult to get into the sports industry, and to get this internship I'm sure there would be a tremendous amount of applications," he said.
However, Irwin said the competition shouldn't discourage someone from applying.
"It would be disappointing to hear someone say that," he said. "It's a once in a lifetime deal to spring their career in the event side of sports management," he said.
Kelly Austin is a sports and leisure commerce major who said she is interested in applying for the internship because of its benefits.
"I think anytime you have the opportunity to grow your skills then it helps with your development," the graduate student said.
U of M student, Lucia Kaminsky, applied for the MasterCard internship program in the past, and said it interested her because of the unique opportunities it provides.
"MasterCard doesn't do regular internships," the music business major said. "It's above and beyond the normal."
To apply students must complete a 250-word essay on their ideal career in one of the industries by March 20. Interested students can get information online.
