Northeastern's Co-op Program

Northeastern University has the #1 Co-op Program in the country for a good reason. For those unfamiliar with co-op, it's a type of experiential learning embraced by Northeastern, where students have the opportunity to enter the job force for six months at a time. Although not required, you'd be silly not to take advantage of the co-op program. Most students incorporate one to three co-ops into their study plan; I'm anticipating two co-ops in five years. For those who are visual learners, here is how co-op fits into student's schedules:

4 years, 2 co-ops: complete classes in ~3 years

5 years, 2 co-ops: complete classes in ~3.5 years

5 years, 3 co-ops: complete classes in ~4 years

When students go on co-op largely varies. Many students complete their first co-op in the spring (Jan.-June) of their second year. Other students opt to complete their first co-op during the fall cycle (July-Dec.) It depends! You may notice that those who decide to go the "4 years, 2 co-ops" route only really have 3 years to complete their major requirements. This might sound impossible, but it's not. Introducing: summer classes. Northeastern's campus stays busy year round because there are students always taking classes (currently including myself). Most students at Northeastern participate in accelerated summer classes at least once during their time here. Trust me; it's not so bad; I have the chance to enjoy Boston for the summer!

So, you want to do co-op. But how do you even get one? Students planning on doing a co-op are required to take a co-op prep class the prior semester. Students spend the semester before their co-op preparing (i.e., resume workshops, mock interviews, etc.) and apply to co-ops later in the semester. Northeastern has a platform called NUworks, which is only accessible to students within the university and is structured like other job search websites. These jobs are usually exclusive to Northeastern students. Students can apply to as many co-ops as they like across different industries. And yes, you don't take classes for the semester you're on co-op, and most students get paid for their work!

My coworkers and I on opening day for the Red Sox

Okay, so now you understand what co-op is and how it fits into students' schedules, but why should you do it?

The co-op program allows insight into life post-undergraduate, immersing students in their field of interest and propelling them years beyond. It also makes students hyper-competitive in the job market and graduate school programs. I recently completed my first co-op as a medical assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where I was able to amass 1,000+ hours of patient care experience, which is essential for applying to medical school, and I developed patient communication skills. Moreover, I networked with doctors at the hospital, securing shadowing opportunities and gaining knowledge of the inner workings of the medical field. Co-op is advantageous regardless of what you decide to pursue!

Yours Truly,

Erin