Advice regarding internship programs "Co-Ops"

Parents Forum
1

<p>My S is a sophomore who has held a 20hr/wk programming job right next to campus right from the pre-freshman summer. Last month he found out that several companies were interviewing, and he put his name in for a summer job. He interviewed with a very large multinational which led to subsequent follow-up interviews. The gist of it is that he feels he has a good shot at getting "Co-Op" position, but it wont be just for summer - his last interviewer discussed a Jan-Aug '10 appointment or one from May to Dec, and both will be out of state @ about $20/hr. </p>

<p>W&I have dozens of questions (S is quite cool) for those who have done this, or to their parents: What advice can you give us - what are the main things we need to plan for? My S has a very active social life outside of the classroom; what do interns who are out of state do on their time off - do you find the environment consists of a lot of "family people" who are there only during work, or is it typical that there are a large number of interns or others who will be around after work? Do they typically work normal office hours, or is it usual for them to do late nighters? Is it the norm for him to find his own rental or does the company usually arrange to share housing with others? </p>

<p>I don't know much about the Raleigh research triangle park or the Austin TX campus - the two locations that he is being considered for, but some preliminary research shows he would need a car. Does one have to change car registrations and insurance etc if he has to stay for 7 months? I'm assuming the stipend the company is providing is probably set to ensure he can live reasonably in that area.</p>

<p>Do interns usually do just the one job, and are they discouraged or encouraged to get connected to a local university and do things there too?</p>

<p>We are so delighted and excited that this may come through, but even more worried about what all we need to plan in advance - perhaps over spring break.
Anyway, if you have first-hand info about these "co-ops" or if you know anything about the "research triangle park" in Raleigh NC other than what's on the web, please share. If the offer does come through, I'd like him to have a plan, and some questions to discuss with the company's internship coordinator, while we do our best to hover away.</p>

<p>PS_ Posted this in wrong forum; trying (without success) to find out how to change to Internship/Employment forum.</p>

2

<p>Can only tell you what my son did. He had a 12 week internship for the summer for a well known Silicon Valley computer firm. They paid for his flight, gave him a stipend for housing and gave him some contacts for apartments (he ended up living with another intern who had started earlier in the year) and they paid him handsomely. They had some social activities like taking them to a baseball game which my son did not participate in. There were quite a few interns from my son’s school out in the area and they got together every weekend for a D&D game.</p>

3

<p>Dadof3–is there any support from the Career/Counseling center at his school? Surely he’s not the first student to be offered a co-op position.</p>

<p>These deals vary. The company may help your son find an apt. or they may actually own apts if they have many interns.</p>

<p>If your S finds himself at loose ends with a lot of free time and no company-sponsored entertainment, he can certainly try to find his own. My son-in-law met my daughter at the university Hillel while he was interning for 6 months. The church of your choice is one place to meet people, and if there is a university nearby, as a student he is certainly entitled to hang out there. </p>

<p>Your son won’t have to change his license or car reg.–but he should make sure his license doesn’t expire in the meantime!</p>

4

<p>I’m a great believer in co-op programs–my H says it’s the only thing that got him through school! Work a quarter, go to school, work, school, work…</p>

5

<p>My company hires lots of interns. I can’t answer your questions about the car and housing but can tell you that the interns usually have an active social life with the other young employees in our company. This is a great opportunity for your son to try out a job and get his hand in the door of a company that will probably consider him for FT employment when he graduates.</p>

6

<p>Definitely depends on the company. My son has done two coops where there was no social life outside the job. He was living on campus for both so it really wasn’t a problem as he still had “his” gym, friends, etc.
I met my husband at the gym years ago when I was working in a place where I knew no one. I always recommend joining a gym if you are in a new place, don’t know anyone and have time on your hands. Better than a bar :)</p>