Lindsay Horwood
Hometown: Marquette, Michigan
Gradtuation Year: December 2011
Why did you transfer to Columbia?
I actually went to school for 4 years before transferring here, I went to Northern Michigan University and studied Athletic Training. I decided to go back to school and I did not want to be at another typical state school, I was looking for something very different and one visit to Columbia was all it took.
What are your career aspirations and why?
I am the poster child for changing my career path, I started as a Marketing concentration and I have moved to Advertising. I would like to work on the account side of advertising, but I've also recently been interested in media planning and buying, there are so many different directions to go in I have a feeling I'll try more than one! I plan on using internships to determine just what is right for me, but in my dream world, I'll be living and working at an ad agency here in Chicago after graduation!
What have been your favorite classes?
My favorite class so far was Intro to Advertising because I learned a lot about the field and realized it was something I wanted to do! My professor brought in real-world projects and we did a lot more than review power point slides and read out of a book. I also have really enjoyed the Consumer Behavior and Media Planning courses.
What has been your favorite experience at Columbia so far (school or
non-school related)?
All of the hands on experience you can get through Columbia! I've gone on visits to Ogilvy and Draft FCB, and heard from guest speakers that work in executive positions at Google and Sports Illustrated. These connections have influenced me in school and will continue to do so into the future.
What advice would you give to students who are just starting out in
the Marketing Communication Department?
Take advantage of your department faculty! You have an opportunity to learn from people who are working in the industry; what more could you ask for? Also, I strongly suggest you get involved in extra curricular activities. Join a student organization and network till you are blue in the face. I am currently the President of the Columbia College Chicago AMA and the experience has been amazing. Through my new AMA contacts I have expanded my network immensely and been offered numerous internship opportunities. These opportunities are unbelievable and are sitting there waiting for you to grab them!
