<p>I still do not quite understand the Co-Op through college. Has anybody done this? I know I can put some of my financial aid package on hold while I do co-op, but I haven't been able to talk to anybody who has participated in a co-op for a semester. My main concern is ~ Is it worth it? Will I loose $$ for my college education? I know I will be making money, but I will also have my own living expenses to pay for while I am in another city or state.</p>
<p>It works best when it is built into your degree program. My S went to the Univ. of Cincinnati College of Engineering and they had a mandatory co-op; so during years 2, 3, and 4 of the 5 year program he co-op every other quarter all year round. It was awesome because his co-op was always out to town so he got to see the US living in at least 5 states, corporate apartments where provided w/a co-op roommate so he wasn't too lonely. He had to maintain a certain gpa to continue with the co-op sponsor. He was paid well enough to cover his tuition & fees for the quarter he was in school and for his
senior/5th year too. He graduated with $8K in student loans. He was also hired by the co-op sponsor upon graduation at a salary of $50K+. That was two years ago and now they are covering the cost for his masters degree. </p>
<p>So, yes it is worth it, it works best if you find a college which fosters a co-op program. I will try to get back to you with a website of college which has stellar co-op programs. Otherwise design your own internship experiences each summer, there is a book entitled "The Internship Bible."</p>
<p>Here are two websites:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.co-op.edu/faq.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.co-op.edu/faq.htm</a></p>
<p>Thank you Mizo ~ </p>
<p>I attend WVU and majoring in Mining Engineering ~ There are alot of co-op opportunities available through the College of Mining and Mineral Resources at WVU. </p>
<p>However, I have just completed my Feshman year but with the credits I had through AP scores, Upward Bound, and college courses through the Dual Enrollment program, they have me listed as a Junior as of my second semester of my Freshman year. </p>
<p>I have been receiving alot of co-op opportunities (I think because I am listed as a Junior), but only applied to a handful. I didn't receive any of them and I am assuming that is because of lack of classes in my major. </p>
<p>There was a Fall co-op sent out yesterday for Morton Salt Company in Ohio. I don't know if I should apply or not. The Fall semester is just around the corner and I am already scheduled. It is just across the border from my home (about 3.5-4 hour drive). Definitely not a commuting opportunity ~ but will be able to get home if I needed to. I would be just outside of Cleveland (25 miles) working in the mine under Lake Erie. Sounds exciting!</p>
<p>Do you pick up your courses in the Spring and you're back to normal college life?</p>
<p>Yes, you choose your next term or semester courses and are back to being a regular college student when you return from co-op. My S and a studio apartment in a few blocks from UC which he subleted to another co-op student who had an opposite schedule thus avoiding paying rent when he was away at co-op, they did this for about two years so housing was predictable.</p>
<p>I was a co-op student many many years age and there were incredible advantages to the program:
[ol]
[<em>] It helped pay for schooling.
[</em>] It gave me experience that put me waaaay above other graduates in the job market.
[<em>] It gave me insight into what kinds of jobs I'd be doing in my major (interesting, but not my baliwick, so I changed majors!)
[</em>] I had some fun jobs (as well as not so fun).
[li] It gave me great stories to tell later in life.[/li][/ol]</p>
<p>For example, in one of my co-op jobs, I was assigned to take over a shaped-charge anti-tank warhead testing project. How many other college kids get paid to blow up warheads with 5-pounds of high-explosives in them. I had a lot of money to spend on the tests (had to be spent before the year was out), so we did some x-rays of the warhead during detonation(!). If you want an interesting engineering problem, figure out how to get a short enough X-ray exposure (answer: a very powerful radiation source) to capture the image during the explosion. Also, figure out how to keep your equipment, X-ray film, and radiation source close to the warhead, yet not get blown to smithereens.</p>