Scott Shetler

NAME: Scott Shetler
BLOG: 9000miles.wordpress.com

How did you learn about MatadorU?

I clicked on one of those “Get paid to travel the world” ads on one of the sites within the Matador Network. Who could ignore such a tantalizing invitation?

Why were your interested in the travel writing or travel photography program?

I started pursuing a writing career several months earlier, but I hadn’t had much training specific to travel writing. After blogging about music and travel for several months, this seemed like the right time for some formal training.

What convinced you to enroll in the program?

A few things persuaded me to take the plunge. The curriculum seemed to include topics that I definitely needed some information on. I like the fact that students have access to the forums and modules for life. I did lots of research, reading other folks’ reviews of the program before enrolling, and most were overwhelmingly positive.

I’m on a tight budget so I wasn’t sure if this was something I could afford, but I realized that if MatadorU taught me enough to score just one high-paying job that I wouldn’t otherwise get, the course would pay for itself.

What are the most valuable lessons you have learned in the U so far?

Learning the ins and outs of pitching articles to online and print publications has been enlightening, particularly since that’s one area where my knowledge was limited. And since I’m in the process of creating a new travel blog, learning about personal branding was very useful. That’s the best part about MatadorU for me – I’m able to instantly put the information into practice and see the direct results.