I love to share student's thoughts on career development experience. Each year, The Graduate College, hires a Spring/Summer coop student - Drexel's commitment to experiential learning is heralded through our renowned coop program. This year, Rachel Mroz joined us and worked on the Communications and Events team under the direction of Sandra Strang, Director of Communications and Events. Rachel has done amazing work for us and I asked her to share her experience with the coop program. Although Rachel is an undergraduate student, the lessons she has learned and experience she has gained through her coop experience is also highly relevant to graduate students who opt to participate in coop.

Please enjoy reading more about Rachel's experience.

Best,

Drexel University is known for its cooperative education. This means students gain up to 18 credits of work experience during their time as an undergraduate student at Drexel. Some students, like me, chose the five-year, three co-op option. As a transfer student, this option was extremely attractive to me because I was unsure of what career path to choose. I am a Political Science major and I have interests in law and journalism; however, my past co-op allowed me to gain experience in marketing and communications as well. I was also attracted by the flexibility of the Steinbright Career Development Center (SCDC) co-op search which allowed me to explore my passions outside my major. My experience at Drexel has expanded my knowledge, not only in my major and minors, but I am also confident in my future career path as well.

After my first co-op last year, I knew that I could picture myself in marketing and communications. Even though I was not on the marketing team at my last co-op, the staff allowed me to help with mediums such as graphic design, social media marketing, and photography when my schedule allowed me to. After updating my resume with the new skills, I learned from my first co-op and meeting with my co-op advisor, I decided to apply to co-ops outside of my major. I also decided to increase my chances of securing a marketing co-op by adding a marketing minor too. My co-op advisor encouraged me to follow my passions and worked with me to find co-ops that would be the right fit for me. After being offered an interview with The Graduate College, I knew it was a perfect fit for me and hoped that I would be offered the co-op. In winter term I received my offer and began my co-op with the Graduate College in the spring term.

When I joined the Graduate College in March, I immediately began working closely with their staff and my supervisor, Sandra Strang, to advertise their upcoming event, the Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference (DEGS). I designed signage for this event as well as various advertisement materials for their social media accounts. At DEGS, I had a chance to meet most of the Graduate College’s staff for the first time in person as well as some of the students the Graduate College works closely with. DEGS exposed me to the large community of staff and students that the Graduate College works with too. Throughout my six-month co-op experience I have worked on countless memorable projects that I look forward to adding to my resume and portfolio. To name a few, I designed new logos for the annual Doctoral Student Celebration and for the International Graduate Student Association. I designed and advertised daily programs via the Graduate College’s Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Under the guidance of my supervisor, Sandra Strang, I wrote news updates and larger-scale articles for the Graduate College’s website such as a highlight about Dr. Tsz Kwok’s accomplishments and his promotion as the Director of Academic Administration and Director of Graduate Multicultural and Equity Affairs at the Graduate College. I designed and executed my first social media giveaway campaign through the Graduate College’s Instagram page. Additionally, with the guidance of Dr. Tsz Kwok and Anne Converse Willkomm, I designed two new guidebooks for incoming international students and their advisors.

I am extremely grateful for the supportive staff that surrounds me at The Graduate College including my supervisor Sandra Strang, Dr. Tsz Kwok, and the wonderful Anne Converse Willkomm who has graciously allowed me to write this post. I look forward to the rest of my time here at the Graduate College and finishing up some projects that will go live for new graduate students during Welcome Week!