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Co-op Program
Co-op and internships give students educationally-related work and learning experience that integrates theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skill development on the job.
Co-op (internship) program allow students to work fulltime at off campus related to their studies with the permission from the respective University. Co operative education is a valuable system for students to enhance their curriculum as well as fine tune their career path. Many colleges and universities found co op education opportunities helps the students in a significant way to gain the practical experience while learning. Most of the universities substitute internship experience as part of academic credit hours.
Co-op the so called work and study program is a partnership among colleges, employers and students. Colleges prepare students for participation and approve the job as an appropriate learning site. Employers will have an access to a pool of qualified candidates to meet their short-term and long term employment needs also provide an opportunity to select and train future employees.
There are many financial advantages with Co-op program for students especially if the student is not able to get any scholarship or any kind of financial aid. Also this program allows students to work full-time off campus during their studies. Average tuition and living expenses can be easily managed by the Co-op income. Students as well as employers are not required to pay social security and medical pay roll taxes under Co-op or CPT (Curricular Practical Training) or OPT (optional practical training). So that students can maximize the after taxes income.
More information about Co-op education can be found at National Commission for Co-operative Education website
Student Benefits
- Gain practical experience before the actual after degree employment.
- Enhance the students ability to interact with professionals
- Financially supports the college education
- Improves the ability and redirect the student to choose the best career path.
- Brings more job opportunity after graduation.
- Enhance the learning part more effectively with practical knowledge
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Co-op?
It's a combination of work and study educational program with paid, productive work experience in a field related to the major or career goals
What kinds of jobs are available to Co-op programs?
The primary criteria for Co-op job will be it should relate to the student's degree/program/curriculum.
What are the employers provide Co-op intern job opportunities?
Most of the employers and fortune 500 companies are interested in hiring students under internship or Co-op program. Also many employers provide intern opportunity for significant number of students every year.
Can international student are allowed to work for any employer?
The answer is YES, but after you get the approval from the university. Student should get the offer letter and job description from the employer and university will evaluate whether the program you study is related to the job description. If the university finds the job profile will help improve the student's skills and enhance the curriculum they will approve the Co-op application and provide the approval letter.
What are financial benefits to the students?
Co-op is an effective way of helping students to learn with their own support and reduce the burden on parents and student loans. Most of jobs pay $10-$15 per hour and students are allowed to work 40 hours per week like any full-time job. This will bring around $20-30,000 in a year which is a good financial support for students to study their own especially if the student was not able to obtain any scholarship or any kind of financial AID.
What is most critical part in Co-op program?
Getting the right opportunity with the right employer is the most crucial and critical part in getting into Co-op program.
What's the difference between Co-op and internship?
Co-op differs from internships because most Co-op programs are designed to have more than one work experience and they are real jobs, they are typically paid and the employer recognizes the student as a true employee while on Co-op. Internships are generally considered kind of short term summer job and Co-op can be a long term opportunity at least a year duration.
What are best possible ways to get the right opportunity?
We are now in the information technology world, internet is the right place to find more opportunities, however we here by provide some useful tips to get the intern and Co-op opportunities for international students as well as US residents.
- Look for job advertisement in local papers.
- Send the application/resume through friends/relatives to the hiring managers even though there are no advertisements (Many positions are filled by referral without job advertisement)
- Submit the application to the HR through employer's website.
- Look for job posting in college career websites.
- Check periodically with career counselors and placement officers.
- Subscribe to job alerts from major job boards for matched job opportunities.
- Browse through forums and other discussion boards for possible jobs.
How F1study.com can help?
We are currently helping graduate international students in the following majors to gain admission followed by Co-op program. The opportunities are very good for international students who are interested in studying master degree in technical or business program in USA. Like any US University admissions, the student should have eligible GRE/GMAT/TOEFL scores to secure the admission.
Available Programs
- MS-Computer Engineering
- MS-Electrical Engineering
- MS-Computer science
- MS-Information systems and management
- MBA
Minimum Requirements
- 4 year bachelor degree
- Good academic records
- GRE for MS
- GMAT for MBA
- TOEFL with minimum score of 220
- Certificate of Finance (Need a bank statement to show you have $30,000 as cash balance on your account or your sponsor's account)
If you are interested and meet the minimum requirements please click the following link
Co-op - Admission Information
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