any advice for an interested student?

[tragwag]

hey trolls,
I'm a senior in the Sound Recording Technology department at Umass Lowell. As of late I've been very interested in mastering and specifically cutting lacquers. I asked the department about taking a directed study in cutting, though no one was up to it, and the condition of our equipment is questionable.
As a requirement for graduation, we have to do an internship of about 20 hrs a week for a semester. (i'll be doing it for the summer semester, summer 2012)
I was curious if anyone had gotten their start in an internship type position either at a mastering facility, pressing plant or other location. The internship requires a specific location to be picked (New England, Midwest, etc) and a number of locations for each.
I originally looked into pressing plants, thinking that I could do some grunt work while learning to cut masters after hours. Upon looking more into independent lacquer mastering facilities, there seems to be more opportunity than I had previously thought.
Any insight into a good geographic area, facilities that are open to interns or volunteers would be super helpful.
Thanks!
-Tyler

[gold]

and the condition of our equipment is questionable.

I have no suggestions for an internship but the above seems like a golden opportunity. Research the equipment you have. It sounds like no one much cares about it. Try to make it work. You will learn much more than you will get out of an internship.

[dietrich10]

I'd try fellow ULowell graduate Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering.

[piaptk]

I'd try fellow ULowell graduate Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering.

One of my heroes. Dude has recorded some AMAZING records.

[tragwag]

thanks for your help guys!
i will definitely contact bob.