The Observer, September 12, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 3
Students find co-op program exciting and valuable
As upperclassmen begin to contemplate their career goals, a co-op may help them with that difficult decision.
The Cooperative Education Program offers students from the engineering, business, and some science fields the opportunity to spend seven months experiencing a practical work environment. During that time period, rather than spending time on campus taking classes, students work in the industry they are studying while also getting paid. Students who have participated in the program come out of it more confident about what they do or don't want in a future career.
Elise Snell, a senior biomedical engineer, says that she really enjoyed her co-op at Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management in Minneapolis.
"I got a breadth of knowledge from technical writing and communication to actual engineering design implementation. I even had the opportunity to get field experience and shadowed an electrophysiologist for an entire week," she said.
"I also really enjoyed my experience because I had almost eight months to get completely immersed in an engineering project and then see the real world benefit. At the end of my term, I got to walk away feeling like I had made contributions to a real engineering product."
Students learn a lot from their co-op experience, and not just more about their desired field. Much of what they learn is about the practicality of working in an office with other people on a day-to-day basis.
"A lot of what I learned was more of the people factor," said Ilya Yakubovich, a senior mechanical engineer who recently finished his co-op at Parker Hannifin.
"Being able to make a good joke is almost as important as continually doing a good job because you have to know what you're doing, and you have to acquire that through befriending people who have been doing this for many years before you."
"The best way I could gain experience was talking with as many people as I could," he added.
Both Snell and Yakubovich believe it is important to have programs like this on campus and strongly recommend that other students consider it.
"I found my co-op very motivating because I think the stress of classes can start to take a toll on you," said Snell. "It was great to be able to see the theories and equations I learned in class being applied to something real and tangible."
"People should definitely do the co-op program if they're at all skeptical about their career choices," said Yakubovich. "If they're considering grad school or getting a job, co-op will definitely show you where you'll enjoy your time more."
While Yakubovich thoroughly enjoyed his co-op, he warns students to do research before choosing where they go because there is a chance they will not be happy with their choice. He advised that some companies do not always pair students up with senior engineers and do not give students much responsibility. He recommends doing research on the different companies and talking with students who have already completed co-ops to help ensure a good placement.
To participate in the co-op program, students must have at least four or five semesters of experience; however, it is a good idea to start planning early. Anyone interested in the program should contact Mary Rose Tichar at mrt2@case.edu or stop by Nord 304 to find out how to sign up for an orientation meeting.
