For nine weeks this summer, recent Elon University graduates learned what it’s like to live and thrive in two of the nation’s largest urban centers: New York City and Los Angeles. The Elon Bridges program, the first of its kind at the university, provided students with affordable housing and networking opportunities while they searched for jobs and settled into city life.
Now, after the transitional period, two students are working full-time in New York, and three are working full-time in LA. One returned to Elon to work, and the remaining 14 students are interning, working part-time, freelancing and continuing the elusive search for steady employment.
“I think people felt positive about it, that it was a good experience and they learned a lot,” said Connie Book, associate provost for academic affairs and professor in the School of Communications. “I think this is a great way to ease into the city.”
In addition to temporary housing, the program provided students with the opportunity to connect with other Elon graduates, as well as a career adviser to aid their job searches and offer support when needed.
“The Elon alumni were so giving with their time and knowledge,” said Ashley Pinney, senior career advising fellow and adviser of Bridges in New York. “They kind of answered all the questions no one else can unless you live there.”
Because the program counts as one academic credit, the graduates were still eligible to work unpaid internships typically reserved for college students.
“That’s really important, especially for communications students,” Pinney said. “That’s how you get your foot in the door.”
[quote]In the future, it will be easier for undergrads to get jobs because they have those connections with alumni. - Laura Cella[/quote]
For some students, though, simply the chance to live in either of the two cities right after graduation was the program’s biggest benefit.
“I was looking for (the program) to be a way for me to get here, above all else,” said Alex Johnston, who is currently interning at Elle Decor in New York. “There are so many things you can’t do if you live far away, like finding an apartment. Living here and being able to say ‘I can be (interviewed) tomorrow’ is so helpful. A lot of people won’t bring you in if you don’t live in New York already.”
But each student entered the program with different expectations. Andy Hurst, who is currently a runner for Original Productions in LA, anticipated more support in the search for a permanent residence.
“I didn’t really have the illusion of Bridges walking me through the whole housing process, but I was expecting to get a solid understanding of what we would need to get housing stuff done,” he said. “The learning curve was really steep, and I know a lot of us didn’t really have housing situations figured out by the time the program was done.”
Some students hoped for more guidance in the job search. Laura Cella, who is working part-time in New York for David Chesky, an orchestral composer, expected more support from the program, though she recognized the challenge of finding a job immediately after graduation.
“We were kind of in our rooms all the time looking for jobs,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to go in and expect to find a job really quickly, though.”
Hurst also expected more support, which he hoped to receive through alumni.
“I wasn’t really expecting much on Elon’s front in terms of getting me employed, but I had hoped I would be put in touch with alumni that would open up some opportunities for employment,” he said. “We met some, but it didn’t really happen until halfway through the program, and towards the end.”
But Cella acknowledged this aspect of program will only get stronger with time.
“Elon doesn’t have a huge base of alumni in New York, and I think that’s something we’re trying to expand,” she said. “In the future, it will be easier for undergrads to get jobs because they have those connections with alumni.”
Pinney, who recognizes the importance of networking, said the program will strengthen this component next year. Program participants will meet weekly with alumni mentors and visit their apartments in different areas of the city. The graduates will then get a better feel for the average size and price of apartments in each borough while making useful connections in the professional world, she said.
Ultimately, the program’s leadership board will assess reviews of the program and tailor it accordingly, Book said, though she emphasized the importance of measuring its success realistically.
“We need to manage expectations, so (participants) know if they’re unemployed, (the program) will help in this way, and if they are, (it will help) in another way,” she said. “The standard is nine months to find employment.”
But overall, Book was pleased with the pilot program and believes students were, too. Despite the personal obstacles they each encountered in New York, Johnston and Cella said they would recommend the program to Elon seniors.
“It was good for the people like us that wanted to move somewhere, but didn’t have housing or a job ready for them,” Cella said. "I definitely think they will improve it, but for someone who just gradutated, it’s a great program to get into.”