How do I Choose the Best Advertising School?

There are four items to consider when choosing advertising school: accreditation, faculty, job placement, and reputation or ranking. Advertising programs can be found within a college, university or independent school. A person training in advertising is responsible for the creation of advertising campaigns and strategies. Advertising is the use of print, multimedia or video commercial for a particular product or service.

Advertising school is ideal for people who are naturally creative, enjoy working with people, and are high energy. Candidates who report the greatest satisfaction with advertising school are focused on a specific career path and are willing to work long hours to advance their careers. An advertising firm typically expects its staff to be available outside regular office hours and to be flexible when working with clients.

When looking for an advertising school, check the accreditation status of the school. An accredited school has been reviewed by an independent third party. Courses from an accredited school can be transferred to other post-secondary institutions. This can be an added bonus for people who decide to take a master's of business administration (MBA) or specialized advertising training later in their career.

Review the qualifications of the faculty or course instructors with care. Most schools post biographies of their course instructors on their websites. Review this information and look for both academic credentials and working experience. Many of the top advertising minds become guest lecturers at the best advertising schools. Not all of these lecturers have academic credentials, but they have a wealth of experience to share. Review the names on the websites to determine their reputation in the advertising industry.

Talk with the admissions counselor about the job placement opportunities within the advertising school. These programs are also known as internships. The most prestigious positions are awarded based on a combination of your portfolio, academic marks, and attitude. The advertising community is fairly small, so the professional reputation you create in your first role may follow you to other opportunities. Focus on the tasks at hand, take the job seriously and work with your colleges to complete the tasks assigned.

The reputation of the school is very important when choosing the best advertising school. Ask the admissions counselor about speaking with former graduates or employers. Talk with them about the quality of education they received at the school, the relevance, and any other information they are willing to share.

People who report the greatest satisfaction with advertising school have a clear idea what they want to learn and are focused on that goal. It is sometimes difficult for creative people to translate their talents into employment opportunities, especially in a closely management environment, such as an advertising agency. Many advertising schools now offer courses in the work environment to prepare students for the formal structure and rules that are very common in business.