Executive Approach
Why Did You Choose The Name "Collective"?
ENTITY believes that for learning to be enduring, it must stretch beyond textbooks, memorization, and test scores. Liberal arts degrees are valuable tools, but more often than not they are centered around theory-based learning and do not include practical knowledge.
We created an industry-specific Collective to bridge the gap between college and career by introducing students to skills, techniques, and knowledge they'll need on the job, not just in a classroom. Through our skill-building Writer's Collective, students not only build a resume relevant to the industry, but they are also more likely to stand out from the crowd.
What Is The Backstory Behind ENTITY?
ENTITY Academy is the brainchild of CEO/Founder, Jennifer Schwab, who believes in a holistic approach to education and job placement. This includes hard skills development; soft skills training; activities that are designed to expand students’ horizons; and high-touch mentorship.
Prior to ENTITY, Jennifer worked as an analyst at Ernst and Young in Chicago, then went on to co-found and run Sierra Club Green Home. In 2016, Jennifer decided her next venture would be a new kind of company and environment that focused on educating, mentoring, and placing young women in 21st century careers. Research has shown that women are the most likely to be underemployed after graduating from college. An advocate for #WomenSupportingWomen, Jennifer has always believed that with the right tools and education women are unstoppable, which is why she created a program to bridge the gap between education and career that will pull these women up to their full potential.
ENTITY’s pillars of Truth, Courage, Humor, and Inspiration are instilled in everything we do.
How Many Students Are Accepted To Each Program?
We don’t set a specific number of acceptances for our programs. Instead, we go by who is the best fit. We look for diverse voices and experiences to populate our programs. Although we have many students from top schools, we don’t simply evaluate a student on school, GPA, and activities. We look at voice, work-ethic, and other variables in our application and interview process.
How Does ENTITY Mag Relate To ENTITY Academy?
ENTITY Mag is the media arm of ENTITY that creates engaging digital content in mentorship, career, lifestyle, relationships, politics, and culture. We reach millions of readers per month across platforms, with 1M+ Facebook followers and 150K Instagram followers.
ENTITY Academy is a female-focused education brand on a mission to close the gender pay gap by training, mentoring, and placing women in 21st century careers. We offer both online and in-person courses in high-demand careers. The
Data Science Virtual Academy (curriculum via our preferred provider Woz U) was created to ensure students receive the most up-to-date training in this rapidly growing field. Through the years, ENTITY developed and tested a four-pillar formula to address the future of education and work. This includes: A) hard skills, B) soft skills, C) mentorship, and D) experiences. As a full-fledged EdTech company, all our programs focus on honing skills relevant to today’s workplace, career placement, and advancement for women of all ages and backgrounds.
Why Do These Programs Cost Money?
ENTITY Academy is a combination of education/training, real-world experience, and one-on-one mentorship.
Our mentees are given both hard skills and soft skills training; mentorship from top leaders in business, media, marketing, entertainment, and data science (CEOs, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, best-selling authors and more); interview coaching; resume prep; a published portfolio of work; and access to cultural activities that expand their horizons and help them discover their passions.
Our soft skills training is based on Claremont-McKenna College’s Transformative Action Institute (TAI) curriculum. Our Internal Mentors are put through TAI’s formal training program before ENTITY’s summer programs begin. ENTITY’s mentees will be exposed to soft skills activities in the following areas: resilience, courage, collaboration and teamwork, prosocial behaviors, leadership, and communication skills.
According to the latest research:
*Employers say that finding candidates out of college with the “right soft skills” is one of the most difficult challenges they face.
*78% of employers agree that "employment no longer depends solely on the degree or academic major but more on experiences, practical sense, and ability to do the job."
*Only 43% of employers said they feel students are adequately prepared with necessary soft skills, such as professionalism and work ethic.
ENTITY Academy is a one-of-a-kind program that bridges the gap between traditional education and real-world careers.
What Do Students Need To Bring To The In-House Program?
For work: Students need to bring a laptop, charger (phone and computer), notebook, pen, and business casual clothes.
For living: ENTITY housing is furnished. It comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, flat-screen TV, luxurious linens, mattresses, as well as premium bathroom and toiletry products.
For non-ENTITY housing students: Home necessities are based on how your lodging is arranged.
What Is The Dress Code?
Dressing for ENTITY Academy is business casual.
On certain days mentees will be asked to dress in “Business Corporate” attire (suits, dresses, slacks, etc). Please come prepared with a couple of items that can work in a more formal, corporate setting.
Where Will Students Be Living?
The In-Real-Life Writer's Collective has been postponed due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines until further notice. Please check back for more updates.
In previous years, ENTITY has partnered with LEVEL Furnished Living for our housing needs. LEVEL is a luxury, fully furnished apartment building. Safety is our utmost concern, which is why it includes 24/7 concierge, a doorman, resident advisors on-premise, security, and a host of amenities such as, a gym, pool, spa, roof deck, toiletries, linens, flat-screen TV, outdoor summer movie screenings, and more.
Can Students Live In A Single Rather Than With Roommates?
We recommend living with ENTITY roommates to get the full ENTITY experience. Not only that, there is a significant increase in the cost of a single apartment. While possible, singles are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If you really want a single please reach out to our Academy Director, angelica@entityacademy.com.
Are Meals Included?
ENTITY provides a welcome breakfast on the first day of the In-Real-Life Writer's Collective. Other than that, meals are not included.
ENTITY housing includes full-sized kitchens, making eating at home or bringing lunch to work a breeze. There are also plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and markets within walking distance of ENTITY housing.
ENTITY HQ provides coffee, water, and small snacks.
When Can Students Move In To Their Apartment?
The In-Real-Life Writer's Collective has been postponed due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines until further notice. Please check back for more updates.
Where Can Students Live If They Are Not Enrolled In ENTITY Housing?
If you choose not to include housing in your ENTITY Academy experience, you are responsible for finding lodging during the program.
Here are a list of recommended neighborhoods:
*Downtown LA
*Silverlake / Echo Park
*Highland Park
*Los Feliz
*Pasadena
How Does Transportation Work?
ENTITY does not provide transportation to and from the office. However, there are multiple transportation options available to students (i.e. public transportation, Uber/Lyft, or carpool*).
*ENTITY does not coordinate rideshare options, however, some students choose to bring a car and have, in the past, offered carpools to other students. If a student chooses to carpool with another student that is up to the students in question and ENTITY will neither interfere nor is liable.
Can Students Rent A Car?
The age to rent a car in California is 25.
What Cultural Activities Are Included?
Activities are subject to change, but past activities have included flying lessons, Zumba, Yoga, Krav Maga, private museum tours, cooking classes, boxing lessons, nights at the ballet, astrology readings, and more. These activities are included in the program's tuition.
What Do Students Do At Night Or On Weekends?
Except for a few activities that take place at night, most nights and weekends are free for students to explore the city with their fellow mentees, work on projects, or set up meetings with potential employers.
What Happens If Students Get Sick During The Program?
Health and safety is a top priority for ENTITY. Not only will you have an Internal Mentor during your program, but resident advisors will be on-site during nights and weekends. If you are sick, you can inform your resident advisor, Internal Mentor, or a member of ENTITY staff to let them know.
If you need a doctor, you can ask your resident advisor, Internal Mentor, or member of our staff for help finding an available Urgent Care or doctor. Nearby health facilities are also listed in the ENTITY Summer Manual.
If you do not have American health insurance, we advise using travel medical insurance or obtaining temporary medical insurance while traveling in the U.S.
What Happens If Students Miss A Couple Of Days Of The Program?
While rare, students have missed a day or two in the past for various reasons. If you miss a short amount of time, you can coordinate with the program instructors on how to make up missed lessons and assignments.
Can You Guarantee A Job After The Program?
ENTITY makes no guarantees about job placement following the program. That said, we prepare students with a portfolio of published work, interview coaching, resume building, and networking exercises that can increase their odds of success. We also connect students with potential employers as job openings become available in our network.
Who Are The Instructors?
Since ENTITY teaches real-world skills pertinent to today's current job market, most ENTITY instructors do not come from traditional academia. While we do have a few top professors come in to teach, most instructors are real-life professionals in media and marketing, which means they’re working in the field they are teaching about.
For the
Data Science Virtual Academy, our preferred provider Southern Careers Institute provides a top-notch and up-to-date curriculum as well as instruction for students.
What Laws Regarding Drugs And Alcohol Should Students Be Aware Of?
ENTITY complies with all federal and California state laws.
I Am From Out Of The Country, Do I Need A Visa To Enter The U.S.?
Canadian citizens can enter the U.S. as tourists and stay for up to six months.
Non-Canadian Citizens: As part of the
Visa Waiver Program, citizens of 38 countries are free to enter the United States on a tourist and stay for up to 90 days. You do not need to physically obtain a tourist visa prior to travel, but you do need to obtain authorization. (Instructions below.)
All eligible international travelers who wish to travel to the United States under the
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must apply for authorization. You can apply for authorization online, up to 72 hours before your departure. (Real-time approvals at the airport are no longer available and may result in denial of boarding.)
What You Need to Apply for Authorization:
*Valid passport from a Visa Waiver Program country
*Valid credit card (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover (JCB, Diners Club) or PayPal to pay the U.S. $14 per application
*Your contact information
*Your most recent employment information, if applicable
Visa Waiver Program, eligible countries:
*Andorra, Australia, Austria
*Belgium, Brunei
*Chile, Czech Republic
*Denmark
*Estonia
*Finland, France
*Germany, Greece
*Hungary
*Iceland, Ireland, Italy
*Japan
*Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
*Malta, Monaco
*Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
*Portugal
*San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
*Taiwan
*United Kingdom**
**To be eligible to travel under the VWP, British citizens must have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
Citizens of countries not listed in the VWP: If your home country is not listed as part of the Visa Waiver Program you may need a
Tourism B-2 visa to enter the United States.
*Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they live. It is important to apply for a visa well in advance of the travel departure date.
*Completing Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, (ceac.state.gov/genniv/), is the first step in the visa application process.
*After you have submitted Form DS-160, print the confirmation page and bring it to your interview.
*Please give yourself ample time to obtain a B-2 visa.
