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<p>Um yeah, exactly. You’re 20-22 years old. College kids aren’t capable of doing work that earns real money. They have no real work experience, little life experience, and are still figuring out how to be functional human beings.</p>
<p>Broken down to hourly wage, sure, I could make more being a waitress 40hrs a week than doing co-op. But what happens when I graduate? I’ll have “waitress” on my resume, which qualifies me for… other waitressing jobs? Internships and work experience get you real jobs. </p>
<p>You have to start somewhere. better to start getting work experience while in college, rather than being a new college grad with no actual work experience. Economy blows (just this rumor I heard once), the clock is ticking on those loans and mom and dad are always nagging about moving off their couch, while your friends are finally financially independent, working in their chosen field, and doing cool things that you can’t afford. Making a few grand less per year while in college is worth it if it means having an actual grown-up job when you graduate.</p>
<p>Need extra bones, work a service job on the side. There, extra bones.</p>
<p>(Although, most engineer co-ops get paid very well. You just have to be an engineering major with a sick GPA to land those gigs…)</p>