<p>Co-ops are great for experience, but beware, they are not guaranteed.</p>
<p>Current situations my friends have told me about their children for this semester:</p>
<p>Friend1- Son at NEU- Only 1 interview. Offered position. Did not sign up for classes. Position fell through. Can’t sign up for classes. After a month, finally given/started work study off campus. 6 month (or so) co-op is now a 3 month work study. Salary went dorm $8K promised to I think $3800 or less. </p>
<p>Friend2- Son at RIT- Did not get co-op (again??). Needs one more class plus 2 co-ops to graduate. </p>
<p>Friend3- Son at NEU. Engineering co-op he does not like. Don’t know if it is what he wants to do/place, etc… 6 months can be a long time.</p>
<p>Still, I like the idea as you can build up a great resume and if lucky, be offered a job upon graduation. Those in non co-op programs generally interview on campus for summer internships in their field (at least for engineering majors.)</p>