Did You Say IMC?

As college orientation season is in full swing, I can’t fathom how three years ago I was in that same position! It was there that I officially started my journey with IMC and it’s been full speed ahead ever since. Before that session in June 2015, I had scanned through the course catalog on the Ole Miss website and bookmarked what interested me. After some research, I found this article from Forbes calling IMC "more important than ever." Slowly the potential major list got shorter and shorter, and I landed on Integrated Marketing Communications. Now I’m ten months away from holding that degree! Digital marketing has called out to me, but that doesn’t discount what I’ve learned about the importance of upholding traditional methods. So, in honor of June 30th being “Social Media Day” here is a run-down of what this degree is and how it's shaping my future. ​​

When people ask me what I’m studying they usually don’t have any idea what Integrated Marketing Communications is. Being new on the scene as a business-related topic that falls under the Journalism and New Media school, brings a lot of perplexity to the table. The Meek School recently ranked in the top 10% of the country’s schools offering journalism and new media. At Ole Miss the description for the IMC degree goes as follows: ​
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The integrated marketing communications degree program is designed to teach students how to understand, engage, persuade and activate consumers. It includes the study of advertising, public relations, brand management and research into consumer insights, enabling students to build a customized toolbox of professional skills. ​

What is excellent about the wide-ranging opportunities this degree can set you up for, is seen in how many things the coursework exposes you to. It is then that you get to hone in on what you may be best suited for. Every year the game changes societal expectations on reaching the consumer. It’s not about eliminating a brick-and-mortar business, but creating a space where they exist online and in-store for the best reach possible. The “integrated” part of IMC is building those links across channels. Making sure a future professional can grasp that reality is part of what this program offers.​

Standing outside Farley Hall at Ole Miss during Freshman Orientation.

Comedic break: A study tool I use is creating PowerPoint slides to match a visual with a fact/formula/etc. For the accounting classes, I took this past year, I’d throw together a deck for our study group for all the major exams. One of my friends asked about why I enjoyed making them so much, and it led to the tale of my childhood pastime: PowerPoint making. In middle school, I would take magazines and recreate them using PowerPoint. Don’t ask me why I had the idea, to begin with, but let’s say I would come up with excuses to make them for friends and family for any reason. I’ve been a visual learner ever since. 

Breaking out of general intro classes is exciting for any major, but I have been able to see what I could do when the real world comes calling. In my Account Planning course, I realized I wanted to work in connecting brands to their customer, Internet Marketing taught me the world of analytics, and my Graphic Design class gave me the tools to realize I love content creation. This summer, my internship at ​Lentz & Company in Northwest Arkansas has helped me gain a glimpse into the sales, marketing, and social media management world. I’ve had the chance to be hands-on by creating blog posts and social media content with a gift brand (Dixie & Dot) and a bargain hunting account (Sam’s Simple Savings).  It's a mixed bag, but so is life! Wearing different hats is a skill I'm happy to learn.

I’m not sure the experience could be going any better and that being said, I’m trying to soak up every minute. At this point I don't know where I’ll end up just yet, but I know it’s going to be doing something I’m passionate about and ready to work hard for. 
 
Closing argument: If you’re deciding on or changing majors, check out IMC! It’s new and exciting, AND it’s not going to slow down! A career working with social media is real, and it’s exceedingly important. Don’t discount your creativity, and you’d be surprised what you can do with it. ​

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*cue Legally Blonde reference

If you want to see some of the content I'm putting out, check my Brand Photography page!

Music Selection

Modern Find:
​Age of Worry - John Mayer

Comparable Throwback:
Peace Train - Cat Stevens