Experience, they say, is the best teacher. This paper asserts that directed experience might be an even better teacher. By directed, we mean purposeful, channeled, appropriate, and specifically relevant to the student's vocational interest. A tightly organized, directed, professional advertising internship program demands more of students, employers, educators, and internship administrators, but provides greater benefits for all. This paper articulates several areas of focus that will enable an advertising internship program to optimize the relationship between the academic and business communities.