Back-to-School Isn’t Just for Kids: Why Student Memberships Matter for Aspiring Publishing Professionals

A week ago, I dropped off my daughter at her first day of high school. She was nervous about the new environment and stepping onto the campus with no friends. 

Stepping into the workforce can feel the same way, too. 

I recently graduated with a master’s in publishing from Pace University and am transitioning in my 40s from English teacher to publishing professional. As I prepared to graduate this past May, I asked myself, What now? I would be stepping into the real world of publishing, navigating a job search with no friends or connections in publishing.

That transition taught me about the value of student memberships in professional organizations. Just like a high schooler joining after-school clubs, joining professional organizations is a great way to make friends with people who share your passion, and grow in your trade. Plus, student memberships offer an alternative to internships, which often aren’t an option for adults with families and full-time jobs.

How Student Memberships Open Doors

When I was preparing to graduate last May, I was afraid that I would lose the only connection with the publishing world that I had. I remember mentioning this to my professor during one of our last online classes. She recommended that I ask the university to keep me on the mailing list so I could continue receiving their job postings, and assured us that we could still reach out to her after we graduated. Classmates made it a point to connect on LinkedIn by sharing their profiles at the end of our last presentation. 

All of this was helpful, but I knew I needed more. 

Internships weren’t an option for me; I was an online student working as a full-time teacher far from the New York City campus where most opportunities existed. That’s when I started to look into mentorship programs and professional publishing organizations. Luckily, Pace offered a mentorship program that was ideal for online students like myself. Pace paired me with an industry mentor, and later, Johanna Vondeling from Bay Area Women in Publishing generously offered to mentor students after speaking in one of my classes. Both mentorships helped me grow and introduced me to wonderful people in the field.

But soon the mentorships were over, too, and I was left with uncertainty. I found myself looking for the next step. That’s when I began exploring professional publishing organizations.

From Writing Groups to Publishing Organizations

I had already been part of writing communities like the Catholic Writers Guild —which, by the way, also offers a student member rate (I’ll share the discount code at the end)—as well as Romance Writers of America, and First Coast Romance Writers. However, I didn’t fully understand the distinction between writer organizations and publisher organizations until I conducted my thesis research on diversity challenges in Catholic and Christian publishing.

I interviewed leaders at the Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) and the Protestant Church-Owned Publishers Association (PCPA). I was inspired by their vision for inclusive publishing, and both offered affordable student memberships that I joined.

I then began to Google other publishing organizations with student membership rates. One thing that I want to share is that if you find an organization and don’t see a student membership advertised, don’t hesitate to reach out. I reached out to the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and asked about a student rate, only to learn that they had just launched the program and hadn’t advertised it yet, and the CEO emailed me directly and was kind enough to give me an early-bird student code! 

Winning the FAPA Scholarship

And then I found FAPA. The Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) offers a generous student scholarship that I’ve yet to see matched. Winners receive a one-year student membership, a $500 award, and a complementary ticket to their annual FAPACon. 

I applied and won.

Attending FAPACon this summer was eye opening. I was impressed by how they fund their scholarship program: from proceeds raised by raffle baskets. They also had a unique “Speed Dating with the Pros” event where small groups rotated among tables to meet industry experts for an intimate Q&A. 

I also met many Christian authors and publishers there. As a Catholic writer, I had assumed I’d only meet Faith-based peers at explicitly Christian events, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover Christian publishers at FAPA. This experience reminded me that publishing communities are more diverse than we expect, and there’s growth in stepping outside our usual circles.

Publishing Organizations with Student Benefits

Although I’m new to many of these organizations and learning about all the benefits they offer, here is a snapshot of the perks I found useful:

• Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP)
  • Only $10 for students
  • Online member platform for communication
  • Catholic Reads book club.
  • Access to webinars
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
  • $85 student rate
  • Discounted registration for Pub University (their annual educational conference)
  • Member networking through Slack
  • Webinars and roundtables
• Protestant Church-Owned Publishers Association (PCPA)
  • $25 student membership
  • Annual conference
  • Free weekly webinar
  • Active job board

3 Ways to Make the Most of Student Memberships

1. Introduce Yourself and Connect
   Every group has a platform—Slack, an app, or a forum. Don’t just sign up; post an introduction and start meeting people.
2. Show Up for Events
   Conferences, webinars, and roundtables are where real connections happen. Even one good conversation can make a difference.
3. Use the Perks
   Take advantage of discounts, free subscriptions, and services. These benefits save money and keep you plugged into the industry.

Final Thoughts

So as this school year begins, I encourage every college or graduate student—especially those exploring publishing—to look into student memberships. I only learned about them in my last year of grad school, and I wish I had taken advantage of them sooner.

Starting a new career can feel a lot like being an awkward freshman—you’re unsure where to sit, whom to talk to, or how to find your place. Professional organizations are like those after-school clubs that give students a sense of belonging. They provide community, guidance, and opportunities that make the transition less intimidating and much more rewarding.

If you’re stepping into publishing, don’t do it alone. Find your “club,” introduce yourself, and start making connections. Before long, you’ll realize you’re not the new kid anymore—you’re part of the community.

P.S. If you’re a student writer looking for your first “club,” the Catholic Writers Guild is a great place to start. CWG offers a special student membership code for 50% off the regular price. Use code: STUDENTGUILDIE when registering to claim your discount and start connecting with fellow Catholic writers.

Copyright 2025 Janet Tamez

Edited by Gabriella Batel