I applied to Georgia Tech mainly because it was a great school and it offered a cooperative education program to provide job experience and financial aid. I was wondering, how big is the co-op program? Do most people take it like at Drexel or is it more of just an available option to take? And if it is the latter, is it difficult to apply for and find jobs? Would I be doing most of the work to find a co-op on my own or will I be assisted?
The co-op program at Tech is huge. We have two big career fairs each year and both co-ops and internships are available. I don’t know what percentage of students co-op vs intern, but there are advantages to each over the other. I know students who have gotten either internships or co-ops right after their first year at Tech. Tech has a career webpage where many companies post job openings, although I prefer to apply directly at the corporate websites.
So a large majority of students at least do either co-op or internship? And how does the internship affect my school schedule? Does it follow the same schedule as the co-op?
Internships are generally during summer, with no effect on normal school schedule. Co-op is a program alternating full semesters at work and school.
With a co-op you alternate going to school and doing a co-op. So for example if you start a co-op in the summer you would then be in school for the fall and then do the co-op in the spring, go to school in the summer and then do the co-op in the fall… An internship is usually for 1 term only. Although a company may offer to bring you back again. A co-op has an agreement that the student will do at least 3 terms with the same company. Students who do well in their co-ops are likely to get an offer from the company that they co-oped for. ( Students who intern could get an offer too it’s just the the company has had more time to evaluate the student with a co-op).Some students want a variety of employer experiences while others want to gain more depth with one.