You might be thinking, what’s PRLab? And then you read the title and you think again—PRLab, why do I still not understand what that is? Well, this is why I interviewed Brianna Vieira, the director or operations for the agency, to gain a better understanding of this opportunity.
PRLab is an agency which gives BU students, such as yourself, the leadership opportunities and career development to gain real-world experience. You can work with Boston-based companies and nonprofit organizations, thus applying what you have learned in the classroom, to real life.
PRLab parallels the structure of an actual public relations agency, complete with account supervisors and account executives. Through this two or four credit course, enrolled students work with clients for either seven of fourteen hours per week. Students are even told to record their “billable” time each week, giving their time sheets to their supervisors as would be done in a traditional public relations agency. By the end of the semester, students have completed three presentations, including a professional portfolio.
Brianna had first heard about PRLab through other students who had participated in and enjoyed PRLab before.
“I knew it was something I always wanted to be involved in because it seemed like a great opportunity,” she said.
For a student in the College of Communication, PRLab is a unique opportunity which could offer even more than the average internship. PRLab students are not interns, they are Account Executives, Supervisors, and Directs. Students work directly with paying clients, and there is no other place where this opportunity could be had, not other place where such responsibility could be taken on by a mere undergraduate student.
Finally, there is a service which provides clear career preparation, a formal training for the real world. PRLab is welcoming new students and clients every semester. If you would like to gain access to this, Brianna recommends the following:
- Students meeting prerequisites (CM301 and 331) should register for PRLab
- Students interested in PRLab leadership should register for PRLab and apply for the executive board (applications for fall positions open in March and applications for spring positions open in November)
- Organizations interested in hiring PRLab should contact shanlera@bu.edu