<p>Co-ops are great, and if you are attracted to the concept, then NEU is a great choice. They have been doing co-ops for a long time and have lots of experience and connections. From what I have read they have been expanding it to include more overseas partnerships.
But if the OP is leaning towards Case or another more research-oriented school, then internships **can **fill the same role, especially if the school’s career center has a strong program. I don’t know the specifics of Case’s offerings, but WPI for example has a strong program. There are 2 job/internship fairs each year, plus specialized ones for the Life Science majors. Many students do multiple internships at the same company and/or get job offers from their internships. WPI also supports co-op experiences but most students there prefer the internships, perhaps because kids who really wanted co-ops went to NEU instead because they are known for it.</p>
<p>Research institution professors, those who admit graduate students, want to see letters of recommendation from their colleagues attesting to the promise of the student in conducting research. That’s the most important part of any grad school application. </p>
<p>If the student doesn’t get that, the student is much less attractive. Generally, coops don’t give you that.</p>
<p>I don’t believe the OP has mentioned anything about pursuing a research based graduate education.</p>
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<p>What do you think he means?</p>
<p>Oops, didn’t catch that. Although it’s just anecdotal, I graduated from Northeastern and later obtained an MBA at Wharton with NU faculty and coop manager recommendations. Of course an MBA is not a research degree.</p>
<p>Good point, I was assuming a researched based graduate education, probably because that’s what I have, LOL. </p>
<p>Yours is a pretty impressive trek by the way.</p>