<p>I was wondering if anyone knows how competitive spring co-op/internships are for big name engineering companies such as GE/UTC/Boeing compared to summer internships. I have a summer internship lined up with a great company, but I would like to take on a spring co-op to enhance my resume. So I am trying to figure out how competitive it'd be for a mediocre mechanical engineering student (with 3.5 gpa) to get a spring co-op/internship with one of those companies? Are spring co-ops as competitive as summer internships? Can I still get a co-op with one of those companies even if my school doesn't have a official co-op program?</p>
<p>I honestly do not think it will look much different. It’s definitely not a game changer. Regardless whether it is an internship or a coop at the end they will either ask you to return or not. But you get to choose. With coops you are stuck in a contract, and it forces you to graduate a lot later, so I wasn’t a huge fan.</p>
<p>Whether it’s a ten week summer program or a two or three school semester Co-op, you can bet your bottom dollar that the competition is fierce at major corporations. Consider yourself lucky if they acknowledge receiving your resume.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies and I apologize if my post wasn’t very clear. </p>
<p>Yes I’m thinking about back-to-back co-op and internship. Sure, it’ll extend my graduation but in this economy experience seems more important than graduating on time. But from what Lake said it sounds like competition is high for any of those big companies although I was under the impression that fall and spring co-ops are a less competitive than summer internship.</p>
<p>OP - You are wise to focus on job experience. But before considering a spring or fall co-op, plot out your course sequences careful. Missing a class offered just one a year (common at some smaller schools) can goof graduation plans.</p>
Anyone has any idea?</p>