Looking at the lists for the “Colleges with the best co-op programs”, Georgia Tech seems to be the one (or few) “high ranking”, doctorate-offering schools there. What makes it so good? How does it compare to the co-op programs of, say, UIUC, or UM Ann Arbor?
It’s the largest voluntary coop program. It’s one of the oldest. So the administration of it is probably the best. Couple that with the college’s academics and student profile and recruiters will come. I don’t know anything about UIUC or Michigan’s Coop programs but I’m sure they are good as well. If you were to join another college’s program, you will land a job if you are personable and have decent grades.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/student-loans/nerdscholar-favorites-top-coop-programs/
So would you say that the choice of school doesn’t really matter in the end, in terms of co-op programs?
My daughter is a GT sophomore, currently co-op with Delta airlines. This opportunity really helps her a lot not just on which technical path to choose in the future, but also how to deal with the real world corporation people. If you carried a bunch DE/AP credits from high school and take some classes during one or two summers, you may still graduate in 4 years with one year co-op experience. Delta even offers flight benefit and 401k for co-op students. And it’s right here in Atlanta so she can still live in the dorm, hanging out with her friends and continue running her club business.
My daughter is a GT sophomore, currently co-op with Delta airlines. This opportunity really helps her a lot not just on which technical path to choose in the future, but also how to deal with the real world corporation people. If you carried a bunch DE/AP credits from high school and take some classes during one or two summers, you may still graduate in 4 years with one year co-op experience. Delta even offers flight benefit and 401k for co-op students. And it’s right here in Atlanta so she can still live in the dorm, hanging out with her friends and continue running her club business.
@wblf01 The choice of school does matter in co-op programs because some employers only recruit at certain schools of which Georgia Tech is one of them. Plus the skill level of the student may vary depending on the college. With Georgia Tech’s very well-regarded co-op program and the engineering opportunities given to their students, GT students are highly sought after for co-op programs.
I can’t comment on the other colleges you mentioned but GT’s co-op program is excellent and my DD has enjoyed her experiences. Employers like to see practical experiences and GT’s co-op program gives those students who participate in it the edge. It is so good because the students who participate in it have both soft skills as well as technical ones. Employers know that they are getting a quality intern in the program and it is a good test run for both the student and the employer. My DD is a rising 4th year- she has done two internships and one co-op and has no trouble getting job offers. She has learned many useful skills in her internship/co-ops and the money she has earned during these experiences has gone toward her college tuition which means she will graduate with no loans.
Because GT’s program has been around a long time, it is very well-run. There are more employers who want to come to GT’s college fair than there is space available. Not only is their the school-wide career fair but there are fairs for majors, special interests etc. Employers also put on dinners, tail-gates, special events etc. in order to attract students to apply to their co-op positions from Georgia Tech. If you are interested in participating in a co-op, I highly recommend Georgia Tech and I recommend you visit the school and talk to the co-op office.