Picture provided by Accelerator Summer Business Immersion Program for use in this article
Two years ago, I wasn’t quite sure what to do for the summer of my sophomore year. It was too early for an internship (most places I applied to asked me to reapply when I was a junior) and I wanted to do something that would improve my resume. I was in quite a bind until I found out about the Accelerator Summer Business Immersion Program.
My Experience
I was very interested in business, but uncertain what exact career in business I wanted. The Accelerator program offered me a deep dive into consulting by putting me into a real-world consulting situation. For my session, we took on Nashville Superspeedway, Nissan, and Dollar General as clients. Each came with a different issue and we were given a week to create and present a solution for each. Nashville Superspeedway wanted to expand their consumer base. Nissan was looking to improve customer experiences with their new EVs. Dollar General was looking to better serve their target market.
The program was very intense. Everyone was randomly assigned groups that they worked with for the entire program. During our week with each client, we brainstormed solutions and created a presentation before presenting it in front of executives of the companies. Each group came up with a solution that took into account the company’s issues, their customer base, and their goals. Sometimes, these goals were unclear and vague, which led to different groups creating interesting and unique solutions. At times, groups had to work late into the night in order to finish up their presentation. Presenting in front of actual executives from companies was also quite a nerve-racking experience.
One of the best parts of the program for me was working on a team and navigating through conflict. People in my group did not agree with certain ideas, which led to arguments and disagreements. Sometimes, conflicting ideas stalled progress for an entire day. However, in the end, we were able to navigate through our disagreements and create amazing solutions.
Due to the limited time given to us to complete our presentations, each member of my six-person group had to use our unique knowledge and skills to their full potential. The Owen professors that were guiding us recommended that each person in a group be given a different role for each week. Even with different roles, each person in my group focused on what they were good at. One person in my group was extraordinarily great with finance and focused on that part of the solution. Another was great at design and helped make our presentations engaging. I was the one who focused on organization, task management, and helping my group wherever I could. I focused on making sure we were on-task and assisted whoever was the leader of our group for that week.
My group’s best solution and presentation was during our last week with Dollar General as the client. We proposed a sales technique that combined cross-merchandising with the idea of a meal plan solution. Cross-merchandising is when complementary products from different categories are placed together to encourage additional purchases. Our group created the idea that Dollar General should create displays of easy-to-make meals next to a section including all ingredients for the meal. By combining cross-merchandising and a meal plan solution, Dollar General can incentivize multi-item purchases which would improve revenue while also better serving their customers. With this solution, we were able to achieve 2nd place out of the 8 competing teams.
Picture provided by Accelerator Summer Business Immersion Program for use in this article
What I Got Out Of It
The program has taught me that I may not be the most suited for consulting. I could not imagine myself doing this job in the future. Although that might seem like a bad result, I felt it was better for me to realize this early than to realize it when I actually got a job in consulting. However, the benefits of this program did not end there for me.
The program on my resume attracted the attention of interviewers and was helpful in landing me an internship. In addition, the experience gave me material when it came to answering interview questions. How you handle conflict and how you work on a team are very common interview questions. The program put me in an unfamiliar team setting and expected us to work together. Conflict was inevitable and how I navigated it provided me the answers to these questions.
“No matter your major or school year, the program allows students to gain business fundamentals, competitive skills, and career clarity for their next endeavor.”
Alexis Coulter, Owen Young Professional Programs Manager
I interviewed Alexis Coulter, the program manager for Accelerator, in order to gain insight from someone who works in the program. When asked about what participants could get out of the program, she responded, “No matter your major or school year, the program allows students to gain business fundamentals, competitive skills, and career clarity for their next endeavor. Those who have completed Accelerator have improved their communication, teamwork, professional presence, business acumen, career knowledge, and network.”
Program Information
The program costs $8,200, and an additional housing cost of $1,300 if you are living on-campus. However, I believe that the program is worth every penny. It’s an extremely worthwhile 3-week summer program where you get to work with real businesses. In addition, you will take MBA-level classes with Owen professors, there are multiple impressive speakers, and you get a chance to talk to those who are currently in the consulting business and the alumni of the program.
If you attend the program, your schedule would be from Monday to Saturday. Monday is when clients are introduced and Saturdays are presentation days. Most days would be a full day from morning to night. Food and snacks are provided.
A portion of the time would be spent taking lectures from Owen professors or listening to speakers. The majority of the time would be working on your consulting projects and preparing for the presentation on Saturday. The executives you present the project to will declare a winner out of the teams.
“This program is intense! It will feel like you’ve gained the experience of multiple internships in just 3 weeks“
Alexis Coulter, Owen Young Professional Programs Manager
According to Alexis, the core goal of this program is to equip “students with business knowledge, hands-on experience through real client projects, and career preparation.” She added that “This program is intense! It will feel like you’ve gained the experience of multiple internships in just 3 weeks. Expect to be challenged and leave more confident than you when you began. The competition between teams for the winning presentation brings out the best in students.”
You do not need prior knowledge for this program. Alexis explains that “Our Accelerator faculty prepare students for each week’s consulting projects, offering feedback on deliverables and presentations before meeting with clients … Additionally, each team is assigned an MBA Coach to guide and support them through each client project. All this being said, students do not have to have prior knowledge of consulting frameworks, financial analysis, marketing, etc. as the program is designed to prepare participants to be successful regardless of experience before Accelerator.”
How To Apply
Interested in consulting? A freshman or sophomore? Not sure what to do for summer? Then I highly recommend the Accelerator Summer Business Immersion Program.
Applicants must have at least finished a year of college studies and be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student. In addition, Alexis states that “We look for students with a strong record of achievement, a thirst for knowledge and the ability to bring energy and a positive attitude to the program. Rising sophomores and juniors make exceptional candidates and use this opportunity to launch their careers.”
Applying to the program is very similar to applying to college. Here are the things you need.
- Completed Online Application
- Unofficial Academic Transcripts
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Video Question Response
There is an early deadline and four other deadlines. If you apply for the early deadline, you will receive an early bird discount of $500.
Early Deadline: December 20, 2024
Round 1 Deadline: January 31, 2025
Round 2 Deadline: February 28, 2025
Round 3 Deadline: March 21, 2025
Round 4 Deadline: April 25, 2025
There is also an extremely limited, first-come, first serve scholarship funding for those who demonstrate both financial need and exceptional potential.
If you want to know more information check out their website.
Conclusion
This program has been very beneficial to me in many ways. I personally felt that it was an intense and tiring, but extraordinarily rewarding experience.
When asked about what she believes makes this program unique, Alexis explained that “We are the #1 most hands-on summer business immersion in the country. The program is transformational and rewarding. Students develop their personal brand, expand their professional network, increase confidence as a leader, sharpen career skills, and work on real-world consulting projects. Students achieve more than they could ever imagine in just 3-weeks!”
I can personally attest to all the benefits she states in this answer.
