What is the best way to go about getting summer internships with advertising companies?

Answer 1

I disagree with the first answer...

Agencies are always looking for interns to help out... good interns turn into potential employees after graduation and agencies need young talent to provide new ways of developing creative. I would target some smaller local agencies... they always need an extra hand for production work.

I'm not sure what you want to do at an agency, but if it is creative, I would set up a portfolio and send out some resumes. Also contact your university to see if they have a relationship with a local agency that you can work with.

Also, Craigslist sometimes has postings for internships.

Answer 2

Ad agencies generally don't have much time to spend with summer placement students, so the students need to be very pro-active. Research the agency and its clients and produce a piece of insight, maybe with a creative idea or copy. Don't know what you do, but teaming up with a colleague can help if you are creative. Creative Directors will always consider a pair (team) before an individual. So if copy is your thing, get a visualiser (art director). Visit the IPA site for a list of agencies at www.ipa.co.uk
Good luck.