Orientation to the Cooperative Education Program at Rensselaer

1
Orientation to the Cooperative Education Program
at Rensselaer

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Career Development Center
• DCC Suite 209

2
Rensselaers Definition of Co-op

• Experiential learning experience
• Related to career interests
• Integrated in program of study

3
Benefits of Co-op

• Apply skills gain experience
• Test career choices
• Earn money
• Live in new area
• Break from class, homework, tests
• Interview experience
• Professional relationships

4
What Do Students Have to Say About Co-op?

• Tim Bennett, Computer Systems Engineering
• combine knowledge from school with teamwork
  and social skills. It has helped me grow by
  leaps and bounds with future interviews.
• an amazing experience overall.
• Alicia Hidalgo, Biomedical Engineering
• I will be more prepared for my career.
• I cannot explain how valuable co-op has been.
• Anika Bracero, Management
• As a co-op, I was givenmore complex tasks
• The best thing about my co-opwas working with
  people at all levels

5
Requirements
Undergraduate Students

• Freshman year completed
• At least 12 credits remaining

Good academic standing? minimum 2.0 GPA
Work minimum 2 terms
6
Requirements
Graduate Students

• Faculty advisor permission
• One semester remaining

Good academic standing? minimum 3.2 GPA
Work minimum of 1 term
7
International Students

• Department of Homeland Security 9 months
  residency required for students on F-1 visa
  allowed to work
• International Student Services, CDC, and academic
  advisor must authorize employment
• Employment subject to visa and employment
  restrictions

8
How\Where to Find Co-op

• Joblink (on campus interviews or job postings)
• Activate account - 5 registration fee
• Upload resume
• Rensselaer career fair fall and spring
• Employer websites
• Additional resources
• Hoovers.com
• Vault.com
• Monster.com
• Careerbuilder.com

9
Once youve accepted

• Attend co-op briefing
• Schedule through Joblink
• Receive Co-op Guide
• Upon return, attend co-op debriefing
• Submit Co-op Work Report
• Note Registered as full-time student on SIS
  while on co-op

10
Financial Aid

• Income earned on Co-op could potentially affect
  following years aid package
• Complete Living Expense Worksheet
• Everything except Merit awards could be affected

11
Housing

• Need to sublet your room?
• Popular housing sites
• Apartmentguide.com
• Rent.net
• Craigslist.com
• Apartments.com
• Citysearch.com

12
Program Statistics 2007-2008

• 211 undergraduates
• 26 states
• 146 employers
• 17 majors
• Undergrad. average pay rate 18-20/hr.
• Wages up to 30/hr.
• Graduate pay rate up to 50/hr.

13
Top Employers
14
Words of Advice

• PLAN AHEAD!!
• Review 4 year class schedule
• Work with academic advisors
• Be proactive!

15
Questions?

• Schedule appointment at CDC or attend Counselor
  walk- in hours
• Cooperative EducationYour Future at Work!
• Diana Leis Delker, Co-op Director
• leisdd_at_rpi.edu
• Michelle Pelersi, Co-op Marketing Assistant
• pelerm_at_rpi.edu