From classroom to career: How Endicott internships launch students into the workforce

As college costs continue to rise and more students and families are questioning the value of a college education, some schools are placing greater emphasis on student internships as a means to apply classroom learning to real-world work. This experiential learning helps students gain valuable, hands-on experience, which could translate to better job opportunities and a better return on their college investment.

Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., pioneered experiential learning as the first school in the country to require three internships for every student. Their comprehensive program, the Endicott Experiential Edge, combines multiple internships with robust career services and networking opportunities, giving students a competitive edge in the job market after graduation.

Endicott’s top-ranked program places students in internship sites, including small start-ups, non-profits and Fortune 500 companies, spanning diverse industries from marketing and environmental science to criminal justice and bioinformatics.

One example of how students benefit from their internship experience is Endicott’s Digital Media Program, where film and TV production students combine real-world experience with industry connections, setting the stage for careers that can be tough to break into.

“The real differentiator for us as a film and TV program is our emphasis on experiential learning and our internship program,” said Dan Frank, Assistant Professor of Digital Media, TV/Film Production. “My goal is to teach students the basics, then get them out in the field so that they can sample all the industry has to offer.”

"The real differentiator for us as a film and TV program is our emphasis on experiential learning and our internship program."

Dan Frank, Assistant Professor of Digital Media, TV/Film Production at Endicott

For many students pursuing a career in production, a passion for storytelling is what first pulls them in — that includes Alana Lorusso ’25, a digital media major with a concentration in TV/Film Production. In her final semester at Endicott, Lorusso is already well-prepared for her first role post-graduation.

Lorusso previously spent 10 days on set interning with a small-budget feature film, working for the producer. This past summer, she interned as a production assistant in the locations department on two major motion pictures: one for Warner Bros. and another, “Remain,” directed by M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “Split,” “Glass”) and slated for release in 2026.

“I learned so much from legendary Hollywood directors — everything from what goes into securing permits for filming a scene on a busy street to the many different city and civic groups you have to work with to be able to shoot in certain locations,” Lorusso said. “I realized there are thousands of small moving parts that go into production.”

Lorusso is one of a growing number of digital media majors who is gaining real-world experience in the TV and film industry and graduating with a resumé that places them right at the center of the action.

Anna Bui '23 chose Endicott’s digital media program because “Endicott required that you start internships as a freshman" — a unique aspect of the Endicott Experiential Edge program.

“Essentially, the internship program is what drew me to Endicott,” Bui said of her decision to study film at Endicott. Bui was first drawn to film in 2006 when she saw the scene of the Tyrannosaurus rex coming to life in “Night at the Museum," which piqued her interest in the “movie magic” that made that scene happen.

"Essentially, the internship program is what drew me to Endicott."

Anna Bui '23

After graduating from Endicott, and after varied internships where she worked in community news as a production assistant for an ABC affiliate station in her home state of New Hampshire and in the Massachusetts Film Office, she’s now a full-time video editor at Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, the iconic Boston-based multimedia company known for all things food that airs nationwide.

At Milk Street, Bui is reveling in more responsibility and freedom than she ever imagined just two years after graduation. “Post-production is probably my favorite part of TV,” Bui said. “My professors in my film courses got real with us. They were clear that sloppy work wouldn’t get us anywhere in the real world, so they didn’t accept it in their projects either.”

That attention to detail has earned her a dream role where she’s editing TV segments and reels herself, not just setting things up for a lead editor to handle.

“I can’t believe that after a few months in this role, I’m already getting to edit segments that are going to air,” she said. “Their trust in my ability is really empowering.”

College is a significant investment, but schools with internship programs go a long way in helping deliver returns by ensuring students have hands-on experience and a head start on their careers.

The Endicott Experiential Edge is a pioneer in experiential learning, combining internships with career counseling and networking opportunities to ensure that its students graduate prepared and ready to make an impact in the world. For more information on the program, click here.