<p>I have a serious question about the engineering co-op at Lehigh if anybody with experience could share their experience. Is the program good at Lehigh? How hard is it to find a place to work at and does the program make you stand out compared to schools like Northeastern and Drexel that specialize in coops.</p>
<p>Hi ooVuZeLa,</p>
<p>I’m a Lehigh co-op student who worked as a process engineer at a Philadelphia chemical plant. Lehigh’s co-op is elite, and unlike Northeastern and Drexel, it is not open to everybody. To answer your question, it’s pretty tough to get a co-op at Lehigh. Only about 200 engineers are invited to participate in interviewing for co-ops (3.0 minimum GPA is required), and ultimately only about 40-50 engineering students get co-ops each year.</p>
<p>Lehigh co-ops are well-respected - unlike some other co-op experiences I’ve heard of - it actually involves real impactful work. I actually worked with a Drexel co-op during my first rotation and I get the feeling that most Drexel co-ops don’t do intensive projects (they seem more like internships). It’s just my opinion, but I think the fact that Drexel has made the co-op a mandatory part of its academic experience actually detracts from it as a whole. I think it’s better to get a co-op you have to really earn with a good GPA and then fight even harder to get hired in interviews.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>If you can maintain above a 3.0 GPA, do you automatically qualify for interviews? Or is there another selection process.</p>
<p>When I talked to an alum, he said that the top third was invited for interviews, although he graduated 8-9 years ago. So I’m assuming that, even if you have a 3.0, you are not guaranteed as you need to be in the top third of your class or top 200 students of your class, whatever it may be.</p>
<p>If you were unable to get a coop, what other options would you have to get work experience?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, you just need a 3.0 cumulative GPA to be invited to participate in the co-op interview process. Students who are just below this requirement can appeal the co-op office on a case-by-case basis. It must be different than in the past.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Internships and REUs are always available and many of them are quite good. But in my opinion, Lehigh’s co-ops blow away any comparable work experience.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>I really appreciate all your responses. Mike, how much are you being paid for your co-ops?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’d rather not disclose my personal finances like that. But I can tell you this - most co-ops get paid the same amount as entry-level engineers who have already graduated. I’d say on average the hourly rate is about $20-$35 per hour depending on the company.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>