FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PRSSA, or the Public Relations Student Society of America, is a national organization for aspiring communications professionals. With over 300 chapters at universities across the western hemisphere, PRSSA provides networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for college students interested in public relations, communications, advertising, and related fields. Learn more about PRSSA National here.

PRSA, or the Public Relations Society of America, is the parent organization of PRSSA. Similar to PRSSA, PRSA is a nationwide network of communications professionals that provides members with networking and professional development resources. Upon graduation, many PRSSA students choose to become PRSA members. Learn more about PRSA here.

The PRactice is Ohio State’s student-run PR agency and sister organization to PRSSA. The PRactice provides students with opportunities to build their communications portfolios by working with real-world clients. Working for The PRactice is a semester-long commitment and requires a brief application. Students may also choose to earn class credit for the PRactice by enrolling in COMM 3188. While The PRactice is a great way to supplement your experience in PRSSA, it is completely optional for PRSSA members. Learn more about The PRactice here.

Ohio State is home to one of the premier, founding PRSSA chapters in the country. As one of the largest chapters, Ohio State PRSSA has repeatedly received Star Chapter and Pacesetter Awards from PRSSA National. Our chapter focuses on connecting students with current PR pros. Each of our weekly meetings features a speaker from the communications industry, providing members with opportunities to learn about real-world public relations and related fields. Learn more about Ohio State PRSSA here.

Ohio State PRSSA meets every Wednesday in Enarson Building, Room 311, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our meetings are free and open to all students, regardless of major or year. You do not have to be a paid PRSSA member to attend our meetings. Additionally, there is no dress code for meetings, and if you have to come a few minutes late or leave a little early, that’s okay, too.

Everyone! Our meetings are free and open to all students, regardless of major or year. Ohio State PRSSA provides professional opportunities in countless industries, including communications, public and media relations, advertising, journalism, marketing, business, fashion and retail, sports industry, TV and film, and more. Communications impacts every industry, and we encourage all students to look into our organization and the career benefits we offer.

Click here to pay your annual $80 dues and become a PRSSA paid member. To retain PRSSA membership, dues must be paid once per calendar year. When you pay your dues, you automatically become a member of both Ohio State PRSSA and PRSSA National.

To be a PRSSA paid member, you must pay $80 dues once per calendar year. $55 goes to the national PRSSA organization, while $25 goes to the Ohio State PRSSA chapter. Ohio State chapter dues are used to pay for member benefits like the coffee chat program and food at meetings.

PRSSA paid members have access to numerous premium benefits. As an Ohio State PRSSA member, you can access our chapter’s job and internship database, gain experience at The PRactice, join a PRSSA subcommittee and run for the executive board, be matched with a professional mentor in your area of interest, and attend networking trips to Chicago, New York City, and more. As a PRSSA National member, you can access the national job and internship database, join a national PRSSA subcommittee and run for the national committee, gain experience through case competitions, and attend networking and professional development events.

Ohio State PRSSA uses a point system to track member participation. The point system may be used to determine who attends opportunities with limited spots, such as networking trips and agency tours. Having points does not guarantee you will receive an opportunity, but it certainly gives members a leg up on exclusive events.

You can earn points in a variety of ways, from attending meetings to running for executive board. For a comprehensive breakdown of the different ways you can earn points and specific instructions on how to do so, please click here.

The PRSSA Mentorship Program matches paid members with Columbus professionals based on career aspirations and professional interests. Mentors meet with students both in-person and virtually to provide career advice, job shadowing opportunities, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and more. To apply for the program, please click here.

Ohio State PRSSA offers two networking trips per year, with one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. In the past, Ohio State PRSSA has traveled to New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. These trips provide students with the opportunity to network with local professionals, tour agencies and corporate headquarters, and bond with fellow PRSSA members. Paid members also have the opportunity to attend national and regional PRSSA conferences across the U.S.

The Coffee Chat Program gives current PRSSA members the ability to connect one-on-one with an e-board member outside of meetings. When you sign up for the program, you will be matched with a PRSSA e-board member and encouraged to schedule a time to get together for coffee, paid for by us! The program is a great way to meet new people and network within the organization. To sign up for a coffee chat, please click here.

We are happy to answer any additional questions you might have about the PRSSA experience! Please reach out to President Paige Galperin or any e-board member for support.