Okay, so I am now putting serious consideration into Drexel. I understand the coop can be very helpful in finding a job after graduation. My main question is, I saw on their website that 98.2% of undergrad students in the program find placement in a coop, but what about that other 1.8%? Do they just pay for the program and not participate?
Question number two would be, in a major such as mine which is computer science, are they really able to teach you enough in that first year at Drexel to prepare you for a job in the actual field? Does the employer believe you are qualified to do such work? Or am I just over thinking all this, and is the coop really just a paid internship where you will be fetching coffee and watching the pros at work?
The last question would be, how many of the co-ops are actually payed? I have seen them stressing on the website that MOST are paid co-ops but not all of them. Does this lead to a competition between the class in landing those paid/best paid positions? I understand that the point of the co op is really just for the 18 months of experience, but the money from a job (which I would have gotten one anyway had I attended any other college) would have gone toward tuition, and a non-paid co op would really hurt me.
I understand that I should be asking them all these questions and I will do just that when I attend accepted students day on the 12th, but If I could get enough of an idea here to help me lean toward committing to Drexel, then that would really save me from deciding too close to that May 1 deadline.
I can answer your questions based on co op programs outside of Drexel. It seems like you just need to be explained to what the co op process is in general. I will try to explain the best I can, feel free to ask questions and we can go from there!
It would really depend on your major. Co-Ops are generally easier to find in STEM majors than non STEME majors I would imagine. Drexel is unique in it works to get co ops for all of its majors it seems like. For mot schools a co op is an option for typically only engineering/business majors and there isn’t a lot of stock put into it. Drexel is REALLY excited and enthusiastic about getting you doing what you want to do for your career and they turn the co op into a huge advantage during your undergraduate tenure.
A lot of your questions really are irrelevant of Drexel though. Applying for a co op is like applying for a job. It all depends on you and what your profile is, work experience, courses work completed, grades, personality etc. etc. Drexel doesn’t determine what Co Ops you can/can’t do. They determine if they think you would be a good fit for doing a co op during your undergraduate tenure and if accepted into the co op version of your major, then they said yes. Drexel is going to pull resources for you to get a co op you want. Outside of that, once your foot is in the door its on you to get in.You choose what you apply for and what you are going to do to get that co op and Drexel is going to help you all along the way the best it can in finding and applying for those Co Ops. You’ll also have access to resources for best resume and interviewing practices as well.
- The 1.8% who declared co op and didn't end up doing co ops probably either hadn't taken enough coursework to qualify for the companies they had applied to at the time, life circumstances altered whether they would end up doing the co op, maybe they only applied to highly selective companies and didn't have competitive enough profiles. Honestly, it could be anything. The 1.8% really shouldn't be concerning for you. If its like %65 failed to get in co ops then yea, that is worrisome.
- Yes and No, it really depends on where you apply. if you re applying for a co op that is looking for upper classmen, then they probably will not take you after your freshman year. That would be a co op you apply for on your second or third go around, not your first go around after a freshman level coursework. Less competitive companies/local companies or local corporate branches would be more likely to take you. You aren't going to get your dream job after your freshman year, thats an unreasonable expectation to have. You are looking to gain experience that will give you a leg up on competition to getting your dream job.
As to what you will be doing? Again that depends on you. If you apply to an internship where there is what you will be doing, then that is what you will be doing. Ask the employer those questions during interviews and such to make sure you will be doing what you think you will be doing.
- All co ops are paid. If you are looking at something that isn't paid, why would you take off x amount of quarters to go work for a company for free? That literally defeats the whole point of a co op. Internships can vary, but co ops last for too long to not be paid. Its a good chunk of a year.
In the end, I think when you understand a co op is a job you apply for to work in between academic periods (I think like 18 weeks), most of your questions become common sense. If you don’t know what a co op is in the beginning, then co ops are confusing as heck. Keep asking questions though, I will answer them the best I can! But I think a co op is WAY simpler than you are thinking it is as you hinted at.
As for deciding to go to drexel, visit it if you can. Its a solid school. I am deciding between there a few other schools at the moment. Its among my top 3. I am looking at Mechanical Engineering and the Co Op program is a huge draw to me.
So i’m going into my last year at Drexel. Here’s my experience - computer sci should be easy to get a paid co-op. Other majors, not always. Drexel likes to hype its co-op program and give the stats but really they’re accepting more and more kids into programs where the list of employers are sometimes not growing much. It is absolutely true from my experience that employers are simply looking for someone with more skills than a first or second co-op studentbcould provide. But c. sci and other engineering are generally good. I took an unpaid co-op as a biomed in Philly (yea as a biomed or bio its tough believe it or not especially the first co-op). Anyway, I busted my ass off unpaid for a small company and guess what I was recognized and given more responsibility than most co-ops ever get. Now I have a part time well paid job there while i’m in class. If you’re going to complain about an opportunity to learn like above maybe this place isn’t for you. Nothing is handed to you on a plate at Drexel. The engineering program is a bitch and cs isn’t much different the first year. Work your way through the first year or two and then you can relax a bit.
My only critique would be not everyone can afford to do a co op for free. Unpaid internships for sure its 2-3 months. Unpaid co ops? That is about 6 months of supporting yourself with no income. It has nothing to do with complaining about a learning experience. If all anyone can get is an unpaid co op and they have the financial support to go for it, by all means go for it. But I would always recommend to going after a paid co op. If you want something unpaid, go for a summer internship. Its less stress on a student and doesn’t interfere with academics and typically fills the last few months someone is stuck in a lease any ways. There are a lot more reputable unpaid internships than there are unpaid co ops in my opinion experience.
Don’t worry, I don’t need your approval to know whether or not Drexel is for me.
You are computer science so you will have NO problem getting a paid co op at Drexel. It sounds like you have drive and talent, so best of luck!
I am an international student and I received a 40k aid. What worries me the most is the whether I pat tuition while I am on a co op. Drexel admission counsellors and the website say No, while I have read other wise on cc. Being a Mech Engg. Major, I really hope I get good co ops. Also what worries me is that being in the 5 year 3 co op program, the feasibility of getting my first co op (to be Held in the sophomore year )in one of those big names such as SpaceX, Boeing
And if my first co op isn’t paid I get busted big time