<p>The way the NEU co-op program works, it looks like you get your first summer off. Is there a possibility of getting any kind of internship that first summer (mechanical engineering student) or paid research on campus? Are there other "good" things to do with that first summer, preferably that involve making some money to help pay for the next year's books and incidentals, at least?</p>
<p>My daughter knew that summer would be her last free summer, so she elected not to pursue an internship type position. She did work 2 typical “summer” jobs and earned a fair amount of spending money while still enjoying connecting with her friends.</p>
<p>She is currently on her first co-op with a position directly related to her major so it did seem to impact her co-op placement. She did have her prior jobs on her resume and employers were happy that she had “worked” previously. </p>
<p>Call me mean, but I don’t really expect my kids to have “free” summers once they start college. I’d like him to be doing something “worthwhile”. </p>
<p>My daughter also had a relaxed first summer - she had both a volunteer job and a paid job and we had a dream vacation. This year with a co-op and summer classes she will only have about 10 days off in August (and the next few years will be the same, so it was good for her to have had a good chunk of free time last year.)</p>
<p>Well, since I don’t consider working 2 jobs a blow off, I guess it’s up to you and your kid. There are Dialogues in Civilization (shorter study/travel abroad) options that many students enroll in during summer sessions. These are especially popular with some majors where the course sequence is so structured it can be difficult to fit an entire semester abroad. Some engineering majors may fall in that realm.
Otherwise, I am not familiar enough with engineering to comment on opportunities for on campus research etc. </p>
<p>My daughter is a sophmore in computer engineering. During the spring of her freshman year, she worked in a research lab. She did a summer 1 dialogue in Japan her first summer. After she returned, she had a paying job in the research lab for the rest of the summer. It was an REU position, so it was 10 weeks of paid research. She missed part of the first week because of the dialogue, but they were very accommodating. And she is planning studying abroad next fall (her middler year). She came in with a good number of AP credits in math and science classes which has given her some extra room in her schedule, but northeastern is excellent for study abroad in all fields - even engineering.</p>
<p>If he comes home, he is unlikely to be able to get a job at all – there’s basically nothing you can get here for summer work only. And we definitely won’t be able to afford a vacation with 2 in college. So that’s part of why I want him to find “something else” to do with his summer. Is REU typically available to freshmen? </p>
<p>Remember if he stays in Boston he will need to pay for room and board for the summer. </p>
<p>Obviously he would only stay if he had something lined up that would cover his living expenses. But any college town should have plenty of cheap summer sublets available. </p>
<p>Coincidentally, my son was just invited to apply to a program at Drexel to do on-campus research the summer after his freshman year, before their co-op program kicks in. It pays a $4K stipend and provides on-campus housing for free. That kind of thing would be a great opportunity for a kid like mine without many job opportunities at home.</p>
<p>If you apply for a lot of REUs, there’s definitely a chance to get something (though it could be anywhere - I have a friend from here who spent summer after her freshman year at an REU in Alaska). There is also a chance to get some on campus research if you make connections freshman year.</p>
<p>Thanks nano.</p>