By: Kristen Adams ‘25

Whether you are a Marshall student interested in getting involved in the consulting scene or you are a non-Marshall major passionate about pro-bono or marketing work, you may be interested in learning about all the organizations that Marshall has to offer. Last semester, I felt extremely overwhelmed selecting organizations to apply to due to the wide variety and selectivity of certain clubs. To make your research process just a little easier, I have compiled a list of Marshall organizations that my friends and I are most familiar with. Let this be a starting point for your research – and for the handful of organizations that possess a small acceptance rate, good luck with the recruitment process!

Quick Note:

I am a member of MBSC and AIM, so I will feature my experiences, rundown, and application advice for these two Marshall organizations in greater detail. For more information on the other organizations, I highly recommend checking out their websites and Instagrams; I also recommend talking to current members of the organizations through coffee chats to get to know the organization, time commitments, and project examples – networking is an important skill, and it also helps more members of the organization get to know you!

Marshall Business Student Community (MBSC)

Website: https://www.uscmbsc.org

I am currently a Marketing Director in the Marshall Business Student Community, formerly known as the Marshall Business Student Government, and highly recommend applying to MBSC if you enjoy meeting new people, brainstorming innovative ideas, and genuinely care about the well-being and growth of the Marshall community. MBSC places a large emphasis on community and people, with several different branches including Marketing, Finance, Student Affairs, Administration, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). MBSC is responsible for being the branch between the Marshall student body and Marshall administration, voicing students’ concerns directly to those in charge. For example, MBSC hosts monthly town hall sessions, where students can address issues within Marshall, whether that be Marshall courses or how MRSOs run, and can create a list of recommendations and proposals for Marshall administration.

MBSC also plans a long list of fundraisers and social events for Marshall students, and is currently planning a Marshall Ball during the spring (stay tuned for that!). MBSC is a supportive space that encourages exploration of different areas in business, and is a great place to work on your communication, time management, project management, and problem-solving skills.

MBSC does have an application process, with 1 application, 1 round of interviews, and 1 social mixer. My one piece of advice when applying is to express your interest in being a part of a tight-knit community, meeting new friends, and becoming a student leader among the Marshall community.

Quotes from MBSC members:

“I joined MBSC because I wanted to be immersed in a community of people that had the same goal of giving back to our students at USC!” - Associate of External Affairs

“I joined [MBSC] because I liked the idea of being able to make a change in my school and improve it for future students. I like the organization’s environment of being a family and having somewhere to find a group of close friends.” - VP of Finance

Association of Innovative Marketing (AIM)

Website: https://www.uscaimc.org

I was recently accepted as a Consultant this semester, and am beyond excited to be working with a group of passionate and ambitious peers on projects with companies like Airbnb, DoorDash, and Pinterest. AIM is an excellent place to get real-life, hands-on consulting and marketing experience in a wide variety of industries. In the past, AIM has worked with companies like Erewhon (food industry), Google (tech industry), and Roblox (gaming industry). No matter what your interest is, AIM will offer a client and a project that will interest you. This semester, my team and I will be working directly with the Broad, a contemporary art museum in downtown LA. Through this project, I am excited to gain real-life experience with clients while exploring my interests in art and social media. Each team typically has 5-6 consultants, including a team lead and an E-board liaison.

One key characteristic of AIM is its support network – with networking panels and direct access to E-board for help with projects, internships, and resume review, AIM offers members a strong sense of community. AIM also hosts fun social for its members, allowing opportunities to bond and make strong connections outside of work.

AIM is one of the handful of consulting organizations at USC that has a relatively small acceptance rate. The recruitment process consists of 1 application, 1 round of personal interviews, 1 social mixer, and 1 round of group interviews. The group interview consists of a case study, where you will work with a team of other AIM applications to research and discuss a sample client case, then present findings, conclusions, and recommendations to members of E-board in a concise and professional manner. While this may sound intimidating at first, especially if you do not have experience in this field, remember to prepare well and show your thought process completely – as long as you work well with others, contribute your thoughts in discussions, and show a great interest in the organization, you are on the right track.

Quotes from AIM members:

“AIM has let me meet some of the brightest individuals on campus and allowed me to help companies tackle impactful issues.” - President of AIM

“AIM has allowed me to connect with people from many different backgrounds and learn how to solve real-world problems.” - VP of Consulting

Consulting organizations:

Check out these organizations that work directly with clients, where you can get hands-on experience in pro-bono consulting and social impact. However, it is important to note that these organizations are indeed difficult to get accepted into, due to limited space and small acceptance rates.

180 Degrees Consulting: 180 Degrees Consulting places a large emphasis on social impact, working with nonprofits, social enterprises, and other socially-minded organizations around Los Angeles. 180 Degrees Consulting also belongs to the world’s largest university-based social impact consultancy, meaning members have access to a large network around the world.
Los Angeles Community Impact (LACI): LACI works directly with non-profit organizations in the LA community; past clients that LACI has worked with in the past include Girls Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, the LA Regional Food Bank, and the American Heart Association.
International Consulting Club (ICC): ICC is a student organization with a large emphasis on international pro-bono consulting and community-building.
Impact Investing Group (IGG): IIG is a great space to explore consulting, microfinance, and impact investing. Clients of IIG include startups and nonprofits in the Los Angeles community. There is a large emphasis on social impact at IIG, so ensure that you express your passion and interest in social change in your application.

Marketing organizations:

If you are more interested in the creative side of business, check out some of these marketing organizations and communities at Marshall.

American Marketing Association (AMA): AMA belongs to one of the largest marketing associations in the world, and offers tons of resources in networking and professional development for students who want to work in the marketing field after graduation. AMA members have access to a ton of exclusive workshops, speaker events, company tours, recruiting events, and consulting projects.
Trojan Marketing Group (TMG): TMG is a student-run, pro-bono marketing agency that creates and designs marketing campaigns directly for businesses and nonprofits, especially those in the Los Angeles area.

Entrepreneurship and technology organizations:

If you are interested in the intersections of business and technology, check out some of these Marshall organizations.

Business Technology Group (BTG): BTG offers members access to recruiting events, networking events, social events, and workshops for students interested in pursuing careers within the business and technology fields.
Techie: Techie is a relatively new organization at USC for students interested in pursuing careers in the business and technology fields. Techie members have access to networking events, workshops, social events, and internship resources.
Sigma Eta Pi: Sigma Eta Pi is USC’s premier entrepreneurship society, offering students the opportunity to develop their own startup through the Founder’s Education accelerator program.
Spark SC: Spark SC is an entrepreneurship organization with a great emphasis on community and social impact, giving entrepreneurs a space to pursue their own passion projects within a supportive ecosystem.
Marshall Outreach and Volunteer Entrepreneurs (MOVE): MOVE places a large emphasis on volunteer work and entrepreneurship through social, community-oriented projects around Los Angeles.

Entertainment and fashion organizations:

If consulting or marketing aren’t really your vibe, check out some of these more creative organizations.

Fashion Industry Association (FIA): Check out FIA if you are passionate about fashion, and are interested in learning more about the intersections of fashion and business. FIA members also get to go on shopping trips, which is a fun way to meet new friends!
Marshall Entertainment Association (MEA): Check out MEA if you want to work in the entertainment field after graduation. MEA members have access to panels, guest speakers, and field trips to museums and production sets around Southern California.

Community-based organizations:

Check out these Marshall organizations to see if they match your interests and goals.

Latino Business Student Association (LBSA): Check out LBSA to meet others who share your identity, promote diversity within the Marshall community, and have access to exclusive networking events, socials, workshops, and guest panels.
Ascend: Check out Ascend to meet others within the Pan-Asian community, promote diversity within the Marshall community, and have access to exclusive resources, networking events, leadership opportunities, and worksho1ps.
Alpha Kappa Psi: Alpha Kappa Psi is a co-ed business fraternity, which is a great space if you are looking for a strong, supportive community to gain networking opportunities, meet new friends, and have access to a ton of resources for internships and jobs after graduation.
Marshall Women’s Leadership Board (MWLB): Check out MWLB to meet other female Trojans and develop your leadership and confidence skills within the business world. MWLB members have access to exclusive professional development workshops, social events, and resources for internships.

I hope you learned something new from this short list of Marshall organizations available to students! Let this be a starting point for your research as you find organizations that best fit your interests, career goals, and expectations!

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