My college freshman told me she would like to be an event planner or stylist (ala grownish?)

[Anonymous]

I am not sure how to respond if at all.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what the issue is. At least she has some idea right now of a career she would like which most likely will change. Many freshmen don't have a clue. A business degree with a minor in PR or hospitality would be a safe bet.

[Anonymous]

Ha. Reminds me of my cousin who was "tied" between wanting to be a pediatrician or a wedding planner.

[Anonymous]

My cousin went to Townson and has been an event planner for like 20 years. I know two other people who are event planners. You can make a really nice living at it.

[Anonymous]

She definitely should look at Hospitality as a major. The best programs in the country are: Michigan State, UNLV, University of Houston, Cornell, Virginia Tech, Central Florida, Fairleigh Dickenson, Penn State, Purdue, Temple, Delaware, Drexel. Hospitality and tourism is an industry that is growing, it has a high level of flexibility and opportunities, and is a good option for people with a variety of skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She definitely should look at Hospitality as a major. The best programs in the country are: Michigan State, UNLV, University of Houston, Cornell, Virginia Tech, Central Florida, Fairleigh Dickenson, Penn State, Purdue, Temple, Delaware, Drexel. Hospitality and tourism is an industry that is growing, it has a high level of flexibility and opportunities, and is a good option for people with a variety of skills.

Or entrepreneurship. Event planners (and stylists) can do quite well but to be most successful you need your own company. And if she changes her mind she'll have a solid foundation to build a career in any industry on.

[Anonymous]

Why is she going to college at all?

[Anonymous]

Then she should be a business major. She should also look for an internship. Event planning is long weekend hours dealing with other people’s stress. Or, in the corporate world, lots of travel and long hours.

[Anonymous]

She could definitely work in catering while in school and see if she likes the hours. Also, a lot corporate events are focused on sporting events. So she could volunteer at sporting events at school.

Great that she has a vision for where her skills and interests align. But, she will not earn a lot of money so college loans should be avoided.

[Anonymous]

One of my best friends is an event planner and she is one of the most successful of our group of college friends. She makes great money, loves her job and travels a lot.

[Anonymous]

I hope she’s not at an expensive college. If she is, have her witch to community college and do work in the field she wants. At least she doesn’t want to be a YouTube influencer, I guess.

[Anonymous]

OP here, YouTube Influencer makes her drool. She talked about wanting to be that through the end of h.s.
To the suggestions of hospitality, business major and focus on entrepreneurship I will share those suggestions with her. Along with the advice to get some catering/internship/sports events experience.

[Anonymous]

I worked in hospitality for years. She needs to intern with an event planner before deciding. Agree with PPs about a degree in Hospitality, Business or PR.

I think she might change her mind when she sees what being a full time event planner looks like. You basically have to be willing to give up your weekends (if you are doing weddings / special events) and be ok working around the clock.

It is not as glamorous as the movies make it out to be. Event planners are some of the hardest workers I know and so great at logistics.

Another great start would be as a meeting planner for an association or company. She can get the experience she needs and then move to social events if she wants to. The hours are better for corporate meetings and events. There are several organizations that have student programs, Meeting Planners International is one.

[Anonymous]

Go to JMU and major in entrepreneurship in their business department and start working in the field immediately. If she’s a savvy go get her she’ll have her own company. If she’s lazy she'll be making 30,000 and working insane hours her whole life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, YouTube Influencer makes her drool. She talked about wanting to be that through the end of h.s.
To the suggestions of hospitality, business major and focus on entrepreneurship I will share those suggestions with her. Along with the advice to get some catering/internship/sports events experience.

New poster. You're getting some good posts here with real advice re: majors, but some posters seem not to understand that she's already a college freshman, not a high school freshman. Does her current college have the kind of majors people are recommending here? Does it have any focus on hospitality or a solid business program for undergrads? Now is the time for her to check that out so she knows whether her current college is going to be able to provide the major(s) she would need to do this realistically. She might need to change colleges.

And checking out the realities of majors and internships etc. might make her either decide yes, she really does want to do this, or no, she's not truly into the business/finance/hospitality courses she would need to do this as a paying job.

It's especially important for her to find out how good her college is at helping undergrads get into summer jobs and internships that give them a real taste of the careers they think they want. She won't get a summer internship being an event planner herself, but she might get one helping in a hospitality business. If she's not willing to do the grunt work in the offices of a hotel chain or being a "gofer" while watching what hospitality professionals do -- then that will help her realize whether she wants to continue in hospitality/business or whether she was more interested in "influencing" than in the work of event planning. It is OK if she realizes it's not what she wants after all! She won't know until she seriously investigates it.

Kudos to the posters who are treating this as a potential real job and not just acting like she's being silly. It's doable but would mean real business training. It's about far more than deciding on lovely décor and food -- there's a lot of budgeting, handling other people's money, delivering on time, managing vendors and contracts, managing employees, being able to handle cancellations and last-second disasters, etc.