<p>I will hopefully be going to NeU next fall, but I was wondering, is the co-op program equivalent to having a job, related to your major/career track, at the same time as you are studying in college? (I know whilst you're doing your co-op you don't have classes btw) </p>
<p>Because if it is the same than doesn't that mean that you could have the same working experience going to any other college as well as Northeastern students, plus graduating a year before them?</p>
<p>Co-op is 6 months, which gives employers time to train you and for you to get really comfortable with the work, which means you’ll wind up with more responsibility than doing something like a summer internship (which would generally be about 3 months, max).</p>
<p>Plus it means that when you graduate you A) have tons of connections, B) have substantial work on your resume, and C) know about the job finding process (resumes, cover letters, best ways to look for jobs).</p>
<p>Seems like most of my friends at other schools had maybe an internship or two during college, but that’s the extent of their work experience, and they graduated somewhat clueless about how to go about getting a job, or what kinds of jobs they should be looking for. Lots of living with the parents while looking for a real job. NEU students don’t have that problem.</p>
<p>Biggest significance about northeastern’s co-op compared to just doing it at other schools (because you COULD just drop out of school for 6 months and do your own job, if the school let you) is that it’s an entire program here. While you still apply and interview, it’s a lot easier than trying to get a summer internship alone and completely uncomparable to just dropping out for a few months to set up your own job (unless of course you want to set up your own co-op here, but even then its still easier because the school helps).</p>
<p>Besides, you don’t need to go to Northeastern for 5 years. And what do you mean, you’d have the same experience elsewhere but without the extra year? If you dropped out someplace else to work for 6 months, you’d have to stay longer just like here…</p>
<p>thanks emily2007 and neuchimie this is very insightful!! I can’t wait for september!!</p>
<p>Co-op experience will definitely help give credentials for getting that first job after college. Also important is the fact that co-op students will have a better idea of what kind of job (or grad school) would be the best fit.</p>