How I Turned Campus Ambassador Roles Into Professional Opportunities by Sarah Juan
Editor’s note: Welcome to Behind The Offer, a series aimed at connecting early-career professionals with personal essays from their peers about how they landed their dream role—and how they can too!
Expect real application and interview advice from real people, as well as insider info on how to land your next internship, campus ambassador role, rotational program, and everything in between.
Today’s essay is from Sarah Juan, a rising senior, Advertising major with a minor in Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has previously served as a campus ambassador for programs including Poppi, Her Campus Trendsetters, Uber Eats x Sephora, Clinique, and more!
Guest Bio:
Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Juan, and I am a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying Advertising with a minor in Music. I started content creation as a hobby, but little did I know there would be amazing professional opportunities that would come from it. I am proud to be the representation in the media that I never had growing up, and my goal is to continue pushing for diversity and representation in marketing.
Through my experience in content creation, I landed my dream internships at Poppi, Glow Recipe, and Her Campus Media. Content creation has taught me so much about myself and the marketing world, and I can’t wait to share my journey with you!
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram and check out my Marketing Portfolio!
Context & Stakes:
I started posting lifestyle college content on TikTok in January 2024 during the second half of my freshman year as a hobby. In the summer of 2024, I wanted to focus more on my content creation. I applied to the Clinique on Campus Fall 2024 College Ambassador Program.
I found out about the program through my friend Emily (IG: @hyggediaryy), a content creator at UIUC, who encouraged me to apply.
“…Little did I know that this program would jumpstart my career and help me find my passion for marketing.”
When I applied to Clinique on Campus, I had just over 1,000 followers on TikTok. This goes to show that follower count does not matter, so just go for it!
School vs. Experience
As a child of immigrant parents, I had a difficult time navigating the college process. I went into college as a Music Education major and switched to Advertising in Spring 2025 of my Sophomore year. I felt really behind compared to my friends and peers. When I switched my major, I was not involved in any business organizations, had never taken a marketing class, and did not know much about business.
“…The truth is, you are never “behind”.
Your path just looks different from your peers, and that is totally okay.
“…Instead of waiting for someone to hand me an opportunity, I created one for myself.”
I started taking my TikTok seriously, posting consistently, and growing my platform.
I developed mock campaign proposals, drawing on insights from my content creation experience, to pitch to companies I was interested in interning with. Check them out below:
Her Campus Media Internship
@sarah.juann My application for the @Alix Earle x @poppi shop Summer 2026 Internship!!🥤🫧I had so much fun sharing Destination poppi with you guys, and I hope it becomes real one day! 👀 Please tag them in the comments!! 💖 #poppi #contest #alixearle #internship #poppipartner ♬ original sound - SARAH JUAN
“…Don’t deny yourself before you are denied. Get yourself out of bed right now and film that video. Create that project. Submit that application. With consistency, quality, and drive, you never know what can happen a week or a year from now.”
Finding/Applying/My College Ambassador Experience:
For college students passionate about content creation, marketing, growing their networks, and earning side-hustle money, college ambassador programs are definitely worth exploring.
Here is a rundown of all the ambassador programs/brand partnerships I’ve secured simply by being a college student who loves creating content! Brands sometimes use college marketing agencies to facilitate these programs, and I’ve noted which agencies you should search for when applying to these programs (“N/A” indicates that the program is directly through the brand).
Being a college ambassador can range from one-time brand deals to semester-long programs.
College Ambassador Programs:
Poppi (Home From College)
Odele Beauty (Home From College)
Uber One (Home From College)
Uber Eats x Sephora (Home From College)
Daise Beauty (Home From College)
SACHEU Beauty (Home From College)
Eva NYC (Home From College)
Clinique (Her Campus Media)
HomeGoods (Her Campus Media)
LG Electronics (Youth Marketing Connection)
BUBBL’R (N/A)
White Fox Boutique (N/A)
Edikted (N/A)
My favorite marketing agency is Home From College! They offer many GIGs that span from one-time to semester-long partnerships, which are constantly changing and updating.
Other college marketing agencies to check out:
When applying to brand ambassador programs, the application can range from zero questions, short paragraphs, or even an interview. It all depends on the agency and brand, but it is typically a quick and easy process. Don’t procrastinate on your applications because opportunities come and go quickly!
Inside the Role:
Keep in mind that every ambassador program is different! Some programs require you to sample products on your campus or host events with school organizations. Some are paid and unpaid.
One of my favorite parts of college ambassador programs is sampling products to students on campus and sharing the love with everyone! It is so rewarding to see my peers smile when they receive products to try.
Not every ambassador program requires you to interact with students on your campus, but it is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and make an impact at your school!
Creating Connections:
“…When you land your first college ambassador role, don’t forget to network!”
Creating connections with the campaign managers and your fellow ambassadors is important.
I have made the most AMAZING friends through ambassador programs, which is the BEST part! Use this as an opportunity to branch out beyond your campus and connect with other creators around the world. I was invited to speak at a women-led content creator panel at the University of Illinois and connected with more creators on my campus. I love meeting others who share the same passion as I do.
“…Surrounding yourself with hard-working and uplifting peers is crucial for staying inspired and pushing your boundaries.”
I would not be where I am without the people I have met through content creation and ambassador programs. Your people know who you are. If you’re reading this, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!
Tips for Applying/Prep & Mindset:
If given the opportunity, share your personal connection with the brand because agencies want to see that you are passionate about the company
Ensure your social channels are public
Always push yourself to create content outside of branded content to build your personal brand
Create a marketing/digital media portfolio (See my portfolio as an example) to showcase your skills all in one place
Show these brands how you’re actively involved on campus to show the reach you can bring to the table
Not only are college ambassador programs a great way to earn extra cash as a college student, but they can also be resume-builders. The best way to learn more about college ambassador programs is by searching on TikTok. You would be surprised how many brands are doing ambassador programs! This marketing strategy is becoming more and more popular, so hop on it while you are still in college!
I also want to note that rejection happens when applying to these programs. I do not get accepted into every ambassador program I apply to, and that is OKAY.
Keep doing what you love. Create content for YOU and YOU ONLY.
Final Thoughts:
I never thought that posting content for fun would turn into partnering with my favorite brands and landing my dream internships, but I am here to tell you that anything is possible.
Whether you’re interested in growing your content creation skills, building your marketing portfolio, or looking for a side hustle as a college student, I hope you learned a thing or two about college ambassador programs! I am so grateful for all the wonderful opportunities that have come from content creation, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store. <3
HOW TO APPLY
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HOW TO APPLY 〰️
Editor’s Note:
If you’re interested in paid campus ambassador opportunities, HERE is my master list of 30+ companies/brands that offer these roles! Some of my favorite agencies to find these roles include THE TEAM (previously known as Wasserman Next Gen), Evovlez Agency, Her Campus’ Trendsetters, Youth Marketing Connection, Campus Commandos, and Home from College.
