The total cost of attendance is 65k per year for Drexel. I have been given a financial aid package of 40k. The remaining amount per year would be like 25k. The program is for 5 years. I have also been offered 6 months of coop for three years. My question is, is it worth it to attend Drexel university for mechanical engineering? Like is it a good investment? Plus I am not sure whether the coop that i would be offered be a paid one or not. So i am bit confused.
I only know one person who attended Drexel. Graduated 2 years ago with an Engineering degree (I think mechanical but not sure). He got a very good job right away which I think came from his coop. He had a good experience and is well employed now. Good luck.
Drexel grad here (hence the username…)
A few words on the co-op program: you will apply and interview for your co-op positions, which gives you great practical experience for the real world. Almost all co-ops are real jobs - you do work, you get paid. Drexel lines up employers who offer jobs in relevant fields of study - you apply for jobs that fit your field, interview if they like your resume, and get employed if they select you. So after 5 years at school, you’ll have a year and half of real world experience on your resume.
My experience: I transferred into Drexel and spent 3 years there, and did 2 co-ops. Both offered me a position after graduation. Took one and that was the start of a 20+ year career. However, I was an applied math major, not Mech Eng, so I can’t speak directly from experience on your field. My impression is that Drexel is strong for most Engineering and Business majors.
Here is the website on the co-op program: http://drexel.edu/difference/co-op/
As for whether it is worth 25K… well, that depends on 1) if you and your family can afford that, and 2) what other options/schools/fin aid packages you have available.
Good luck to you!
Engineering is supposed to be one of Drexel’s best programs. But are you going to have to take out loans for the 25k and come out with 125k in student loans?
The thing that i am worried about is an unpaid coop. I can afford giving like 60k. Plus in the years in which i have coop, there are three such years, my tuition fee would be cut down by 17k and my coop earning would be around 13k which would cut the net price down to 1000k. But what if the coop turn out to be an unpaid one? Furthermore i am worried about job placement. A friend of mine told me that as you are an international student, you wont get any decent job as Drexel is not as prestigious as other US universities.
Drexel isn’t a top tier school, but they do have good job placement due to their co op program and connections. However, I don’t know about international students. I hear it depends on your visa but you’d have to ask Drexel.
And yeah the only option i have is to study at Drexel or Study in Pakistan.
Get info from Drexel as to whether your visa status would preclude paid co-ops or not.
Keep in mind that the biggest benefit of co-op is the experience and connections with potential employers. The money you get will pay for housing/food during the co-op plus some left over, depending on how you budget. (You don’t live on campus during co-op)
You’ll have to do the cost - benefit …
Cost: Consider how much you can pay yourself and how much you’ll need to borrow for Drexel vrs. how much a Uni in Pakistan will cost
Benefits: Likely engineering position in the US if you graduate from DU. What are your job prospects if you study in Pakistan?
Not true.
@Hussainkestrel Can you afford it? The MAJORITY of coops at Drexel are paid.
What do you mean? It’s not top tier like Ivy Leagues, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, etc etc
@philbegas Drexel is considered a Tier 1 school and is in the Top 100. Only .4% of students get into an Ivy. (Point .4%)
I guess we just disagree about what a tier 1 school is lol. I’m not saying it’s a bad school of course.
Yes i can afford it. The only issue that i have is lack of job opportunities after I graduate.
@philbegas Not sure how you can disagree when Drexel is in the top 3% of all 4 year institutions! 