<p>I want to know this too! I’m planning on applying for civil engineering next year, and the availability of a co-op program is very important to me.</p>
<p>Northeastern, RIT, Drexel, and Kettering are mandatory co-op schools, so they should have 100% placement into co-op positions. Many other schools have voluntary co-op programs. Not sure about the participation percentage at those schools (anybody?), but that number could be a bit misleading. Some schools require a minimum GPA to enter their co-op program, so many of their students are ineligible.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech is widely regarded as having one of the best Co-Op programs in the country. [Georgia</a> Tech :: Division of Professional Practice :: Undergraduate Cooperative Education Program](<a href=“http://www.coop.gatech.edu/]Georgia”>http://www.coop.gatech.edu/)</p>
<p>As someone who has personally interviewed at / hired from 20 different co-op programs from top schools, it’s hands-down the best.</p>
<p>I live in NJ and everyone here thinks Drexel has the best Co-op. They do make co-op mandatory so everyone gets one. So if you plan on being in the PA/NJ area Drexel is the way to go. I think Drexel is overrated by people here though. There co-op program is probably the best in the Philadelphia area, but it’s so simple to get into Drexel that almost anyone can get in so I can’t imagine the academics are that amazing. For my community college for example if you have a 2.5 gpa Drexel automatically accepts you and a 2.5 here is so easy I could get it in my sleep.</p>
<p>They do an excellent job prepping the students for interviews. Normally, interviewing freshman/sophomores is an experience. They do not know how to act, what sorts of things to say, how to write a resume, etc. When you interview students at GT for co-op positions, it’s completely different - they’ve been groomed and it feels like interviewing a senior. This makes it easier for me to find good students.</p>
<p>From a student’s perspective, they have a very high offer rate (because students are so polished). At most schools, you get an offer or you’re assigned to a job and that is where you go. At GT, most students end up with 3-5 offers, allowing them to choose a location and geographical preference. In my experience, I have an 80-90% acceptance rate at most places but I have a 50% acceptance rate at GT, and I’m one of the highest paying employers (freshman start mid-20’s).</p>
<p>Finally, GT does a good job selling their students, so I’m not worried about hiring a 1st semester freshman with no college GPA. At most school, you wouldn’t even think to interview a student until sophomore year. This allows students to get hired earlier and work more terms (particularly in the summer between freshman and sophomore year).</p>
<p>Soft skills are very important. If you find out how change lead into gold your boss will not fund the project if you mumble during the presentation.</p>
<p>Banjo, thanks for the opinion on GT. Do you have any experience and opinion on the coop students at other major engineering schools (RIT, Lehigh, etc.)?</p>
<p>I have experience at most of the major engineering schools, but not RIT. I wouldn’t really call Lehigh a major engineering school. It’s more of a regional school.</p>
<p>We are trying to find out about URI’s international engineering program, in general, but also their coop, which is in a foreign country. Has anybody had experience with their program?</p>
<p>PROGRAMS TO LOOK FOR – INTERNSHIPS/CO-OP
Kettering is again among the “schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that are commonly linked to student success,” according to the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Only 18 institutions received this national distinction for 2010:
Alverno College (WI)
Berea College (KY)
Bradley University (IL)
Drexel University ¶
Elon University (NC)
Georgia Institute of Technology*
Johnson and Wales University (RI)
Kettering University (MI)
Keuka College (NY)
New York University
Northeastern University (MA)
Ohio State University–Columbus*
Portland State University (OR)*
Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)*
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)
University of Cincinnati*
Univ. of Maryland–College Park*
Univ. of Southern California</p>
<p>They have a list for non-Phd granting universities too. </p>
<p>Now, this list isn’t specific to engineering. Its just a general consensus of the best co-op schools in the country, from my understanding. But, if one of the schools on the list has an engineering program then I think its safe to assume your chances at engineering co-ops are increased substantially nonetheless.</p>
<p>I haven’t look recently, but the last time I did I remember those USNWR co-op rankings were heavily weighted on the number of students that participated, so you can see that all of the mandatory schools made it.</p>
<p>Is the engineering co-op program at Lehigh good? Someone please give me info because I am wondering about applying early decision binding to Lehigh. I am interested in co-op engineering.</p>
<p>You might consider Waterloo. Sure its not in USNWR because its Canadian but that’s not a good reason to ignore it. </p>
<p>Fantastic international reputation, a great co-op program, and they have a great hiring track record. Apparently 98% employment after graduation. I know Microsoft hires more from Waterloo than elsewhere. One hiring manager I know in Seattle does all of his recruiting of engineers there. 100% of their engineering students are in co-op and you end up with up to 6 co-ops before you finish your degree. </p>
<p>I visited RIT recently, and met with the person who takes care of co-ops for engineering technology, which is the department my son is interested in. It appears that they aggressively try to find co-ops for the students, although they can absolutely guarantee a co-op to anyone, because a company has to hire the student, ultimately. I was impressed with their work at finding co-ops for the kids. RIT requires co-ops for most majors.</p>
<p>Wentworth Institute of Technology also requires co-ops for most majors, I believe.</p>
<p>Regardless of whether or not the school has a co-op program, a student can create their own co-op program at most schools. You can find a co-op job yourself, and take a semester off, as long as it doesn’t prohibit you from taking the courses you need to take. Many schools that do not have formal co-op programs will help a student find a summer job or co-op. Career services can help, as can professors and alumni.</p>