Multicultural Advertising Training Program
An internship could change your life.
Student Info
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the M.A.T. program?

M.A.T. is a paid internship program for outstanding minority college students interested in a career in the advertising industry. Started in 1992, M.A.T. is a coalition of the Los Angeles Advertising Agencies Association, the Advertising Club of Los Angeles, and TBWA Chiat/Day.

What is M.A.T.'s goal?

Our goal is to encourage outstanding minority college students or recent graduates to enter the field of advertising by providing them with paid internships in advertising agencies, public relations firms, print media (i.e., newspapers and magazines), and broadcast media (i.e., radio and television stations). With this goal, we hope to increase diversity in the advertising community by providing the industry with outstanding and promotable interns.

What are the qualifications?

You must be a *minority college student (junior, senior, recent graduate, or master candidate) with a 2.7 GPA or better preferred. The internship is open to all majors.

*Must be Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander.

How do I get an internship?

Your application is initially screened by a M.A.T. committee. Students whose applications passed the initial screening will be interviewed by a panel of three M.A.T. board members and/or industry leaders. If you pass this initial interview, a M.A.T. committee will match you with a possible internship, based on both your qualification and the company's qualification. Should the company approve you, you get an internship with them.

Do I get paid?

All interns are paid $9.00 per hour and must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week for 13 weeks. Interns are paid directly through the agency, print, or broadcast companies in which they are placed.

Do I get to choose where I do my internship?

All candidates are given a preference. However, ultimate selection and placement of participants are executed by a M.A.T. committee. The committee makes every effort to match both the candidate and company's qualifications. A Company is assigned up to two potential candidates to interview and finally choose from.

How do I apply?

Just complete an Internship Application Form, which will provide us with the information necessary to screen and accurately match interns with companies. Return it by the deadline indicated on the form with all the supporting papers required. Internship periods run in the spring, summer, and fall of each year, for 13 consecutive weeks.

What other services does the M.A.T. Program provide?

Please note: Current M.A.T. interns are required to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours to the Alumni Group. Below please find information about the M.A.T. Program annual events. Please contact Meghna Kothari - Program Coordinator at coordinator@matprogram.org. Please let her know which event you are interested in volunteering for.

Laughing MAT-ters - The M.A.T. Program presents the Laughing MATters fundraiser. A annual comedy night event filled with food, prizes and laughs generated by some of the areas top up-and-coming comics. Laughing MATters is a great way for current M.A.T. interns and alumni to give back to the M.A.T. Program. It also gives M.A.T. current and alumni interns the opportunity to network with the M.A.T. board and the Los Angeles advertising community.

Career Day - The M.A.T. Program, along with The Ad Club of LA and the LAAAA sponsors an annual Advertising Career Day. Career Day is a great opportunity for students and interns to visit an advertising agency in Los Angeles and also learn about agency life. This two day event will give students the inside look at what an advertising agencies does and the different departments of advertising. We encourage M.A.T. current and alumni interns to volunteer for Career Day.

M.A.T. Mixers - Are held 2-3 times a year. M.A.T. current and alumni interns are invited to network with the M.A.T. board and current/alumni interns.

The M.A.T. Program has successfully placed over 400 minority interns in the advertising and broadcasting communities. More than 175 of our interns have been hired into full-time positions by their employers after the internship period ended. With your participation, we plan to continue our success in placing outstanding minority students who have a passion for the advertising business.