Part of the ELMBA curriculum is a required Corporate Immersion course. In my experience it was more like an internship than a class. The course focuses on solving current business problems with company management, and they mean it. Each week we had EXECUTIVES from our partner company come to class. EACH WEEK.

They were committing to us, just as much as we were committing to them. I wasn’t just in a classroom with a professor. It was so hands on and so involved, which I personally loved. Aside from representatives of the company, we had a number of faculty involved in the program as well. The work you do throughout the class emphasizes the use of multidisciplinary skills allowing you to identify, define and solve issues the company is facing. You cover a range of topics including finance, management, marketing and technology. Because I took this in my second year, I was able to apply so many tidbits of what I learned in the foundation courses I took in my first year to the deliverables I was presenting in class. In the ELMBA program, we have a lot of students that have little or no professional experience.

This course enables them to learn and practice skills they’ll perform in the real world. They’re learning to meet strict deadlines, be flexible, work as a team and gain confidence in public speaking and delivering research in front of a camera and live audience. Having affluent company executives in your class is extremely beneficial. Knowing you’re presenting to people that matter and that they’re trusting your recommendations, gives you the extra drive to succeed and do work that you are proud of, not just to do it.The feedback you receive from company reps is another key component that I loved. Hearing back from the execs after you present about what they liked, what they didn’t, what they want to see and how you presented the information was great. You don’t get this constructive criticism when you’re reading case studies. In my opinion this is one of the most beneficial classes you’ll take in your time at Bentley.

This class is as close to an internship as you can get, without being an actual internship. You learn to deal with situations you’ll experience in the real world. This class gives an extra kick of confidence those who don’t have a lot of professional experience need. Corporate Immersion is challenging, exciting and such a rewarding class. I give it a 4.0.