Demystifying College Co-Ops: What Are They & How Can You Get One?

Amidst the ongoing global pandemic, college students are becoming increasingly concerned about university instruction going online this upcoming fall and are exploring alternative options for their fall semester. From conversations I have had with some peers (especially those who attend schools that do not have formal co-op programs), doing a co-op is becoming an increasingly appealing option for those who want to spend their fall semester gaining full-time work experience.

As a rising college senior at Northeastern University (a school that boasts one of the largest, oldest co-op programs in the U.S.), previous Product Manager Co-Op at GE Lighting, and incoming Business Analyst Co-Op at Bluewolf, an IBM Company, I am sharing all that I have come to understand about co-op so that anyone seeking to do a co-op this fall can be equipped with the knowledge to earn one themselves!

What Is a Co-Op?

At Northeastern University, 90% of students complete at least one cooperative education experience (co-op) in between regular terms of academic study. Co-ops are designed for college students to spend anywhere from three to six months working full-time at companies/organizations of their choice. While the length of the co-op depends on which university/college you attend and the…