Frequently Asked Questions about Co-op for Families

What should my student be doing right now about co-op?

For incoming students, cycle assignments are completed during the summer and available through DrexelOne, our University portal. Some majors in Westphal are the exception, where the cycles are assigned in the fall of their sophomore year. You should encourage your student to find information about their Success Team, including their academic advisor and co-op advisor, as they are helpful resources found in their DrexelOne portal. In particular, your student's co-op advisor is available for one-on-one discussions throughout the entire process — before, during, and after co-op. Three or four quarters before the start of their first co-op, all co-op students will be registered for COOP 101 – Career Management and Professional Development, Steinbright's co-op preparation course.

The Steinbright Career Development Center provides many opportunities for professional development that you can encourage your student to take advantage of, such as our pre-health and pre-law advising programs, rotating workshops, career fairs, and online tools — including SCDCOnline, Handshake, and our Career Navigator. First-year students can also benefit from First-Year Career Counseling, where they will be supported through self-exploration while building professional literacy in their fields of interest.

Finally, for the most up-to-date details on deadlines and assignments, it is important for your student to pay attention to the Undergraduate Co-op Calendars and Important Dates for Graduating Students. 

How does my student secure a co-op position?

With assistance from their co-op advisor, most students can successfully secure a co-op position through SCDCOnline or through a self-directed job search. SCDCOnline includes job postings from a variety of employer partners and enables students the convenience of applying and interviewing for positions quickly within a single session. It also provides the added benefit of releasing employer offers at the same time in each recruiting round so that students can make an informed selection. Your student will meet with their co-op advisor before applying for co-op positions. During these meetings, co-op advisors help students assess co-op and career goals, develop job search strategies, communicate effectively with employers, and understand co-op policies. Co-op advisors maintain continual contact with students and employers throughout the entire co-op experience.

Since securing a co-op through SCDCOnline is not guaranteed, we encourage students to also conduct a self-directed job search in order to increase their chances of securing a position. A self-directed job search is especially encouraged for those who have an interest in working for a specific company, in a competitive industry, or in a location outside of the Philadelphia area. If that is the path your student decides to go, we encourage you to direct them to our Job Search page.

Can my student go out of the country for co-op?

Last year, roughly 160+ students went out to almost 50 countries around the world for co-op. International co-op is an exciting opportunity available for all students who are interested. If you have questions about international co-op, visit our FAQs.

What happens if my student does not find a co-op job by the start of the term?

Students who have not registered a position by the end of the add/drop period for that quarter must return to classes or take a leave of absence for the term.

Is my student considered a full-time student during co-op?

Yes. Students remain enrolled at the University as full-time students during their co-op terms, but they are not paying tuition during their co-op cycle. This means that whether students choose the 4-year or 5-year co-op curriculum, the tuition is the same. To learn more about Drexel's co-op cycles, visit our undergraduate co-op calendars.

Will my student get paid for co-op?

In many cases, co-op is a paid, full-time work experience. However, this varies based on the industry, job market, or other special circumstances. Pay also largely varies from major to major. Whether paid or un-paid, all of our co-ops offer unparalleled industry experience with leading brands and companies that will allow your student to build an impactful résumé before they even graduate. For more information on the average co-op pay per program, visit our co-op and career fast facts.

Where does my student live while on co-op?

If your student chooses a co-op close to Drexel's campus, they may still live in their Drexel residence. If their co-op is farther, some co-op employer partners may provide guidance to your student to help find them temporary housing close to their co-op location. Primarily, students are responsible for securing their own housing and transportation for co-op. To learn more about on-campus housing options available, check out  Housing and Residence Life.

Can my student change their co-op cycle?

Just prior to settling into classes and campus life, your student's co-op cycle(s) will be set, and, along with advisor assignments, communicated via DrexelOne in the My Success Team channel.

In order to balance the flow of students into the working world, Steinbright tightly manages co-op cycles and advisor assignments and takes into consideration the many constituents involved in the process — students, employer partners, and academic departments. New first-year (only) students desiring a co-op experience on a cycle different from their assigned schedule will have the opportunity to request an exchange with another student, shortly after co-op cycle notifications are sent. For more information on co-op cycles and swaps, visit our co-op cycle policy page.

What resources are available to assist a student with disabilities or a mental health issue?

Your student's co-op advisor should be the first point of contact, as they can refer students to the services available. In particular, Disability Resources is committed to providing Drexel students who have disabilities an equal opportunity to participate fully in co-op employment. In order to ensure this is the case, the Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture's Disability Resources team offers a variety of valuable resources and services to students, both before and during co-op. 

Drexel's Counseling Center offers free, confidential counseling services to currently enrolled, full-time students, including students participating in co-op. The Counseling Center strives to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable for all students, as they provide services including individual counseling, group counseling, outreach programs and workshops, and self-help resources.

Does Steinbright offer resources to assist with the post-graduation job search?

Graduating students and recent alumni can schedule a meeting with Career Services to take advantage of a wide range of resources designed to aid students in taking their job search to the next level. Examples of helpful resources provided by the Career Services team include job search strategies, résumé review, interview skills development, and salary negotiation strategies. For one of our most useful resources, visit the online job search tool, Handshake.

Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their post-graduation job search during the summer before their senior year, and the earlier they meet with the Career Services team the better. For more information on Career Services offerings, visit searching for a job after Drexel.

Still have questions about Drexel Co-op or how Steinbright can help your student navigate the career world?

Encourage your student to log in to their University portal account in DrexelOne, select the Welcome Tab and navigate to the My Success Team channel, and have them reach out to their assigned co-op advisor.