So I just got accepted into the biochem co-op and am now having a hard time deciding whether to take it or not. Is the extra year worth it? Are the job placements good? And does the experience count towards medical school applications?

Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks!

Coop>non-coop

(in every category)

Originally Posted by RyanC

Coop>non-coop

(in every category)

Not if you don't get a placement, for those people, they pay extra for nothing lol

Originally Posted by blackdragon

Not if you don't get a placement, for those people, they pay extra for nothing lol

I don't think everybody pays extra; I know engineeing does for sure.. but you are motivated to keep practicing cover letter/cv/resume skills

Not to mention interview skills for each failure!

Is there any student that can share their specific experiences from a co-op program?

How likely is it that you don't get a placement? I thought you always did?

Originally Posted by RankNullity

How likely is it that you don't get a placement? I thought you always did?

Not necessarily, you have to find placements (sometimes the department has a co-op division which can help you find placements) and then you have to undergo an interview process and get hired by the company. It's a paid position, so they aren't going to hire just anybody.

Originally Posted by genny762

So I just got accepted into the biochem co-op and am now having a hard time deciding whether to take it or not. Is the extra year worth it? Are the job placements good? And does the experience count towards medical school applications?

Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks!

As Ryan mentioned, I really don't see how no co-op would be beneficial over Co-op. I mean if I were an employer and with all things equal, someone with Co-op experience would be a more favourable applicant than someone with no relevant experience in the field at all, even if it involves an extra year. As for the extra year, you get paid, so it's not exactly a waste of time! As for job placements, I would imagine (from what I know and heard) that it can be in a wide range of areas, for e.g. in industry, or in a lab setting, so it really depends on what you're interested in. Also, you can change up your co-op placements and you don't really have to be confined to the same placement for all of your co-op terms if you don't end up liking it. Regarding medical schools, there is once again no concrete answer. Medical school doesn't specifically ask you for co-op or a job, or any experience related to medicine. Sure it would look good on your resume whether you're applying to grad school, jobs, or medicine, but there are no guarantees that doing this co-op means anything once it comes to your medical school application.

If you're planning to take co-op, be prepared to be flexible. Not everyone gets jobs in Ontario. Some of my friends in co-op (Biochem and Chembio) are working in Quebec and Saskatchewan.
As well, hopefully you looked at when the work terms are. You start off doing first term in third year, then 8 months of work, then a full fourth year (Sept. to April), then 8 months of work and finally second term in fifth year.
Hope that helps

Is the co-op student in charge of paying for things such as living expenses while in a co-op placement, or does the placement cover it?

EDIT: I should've read what Jeremy said. I'm dumb, and answered my own question. >.>;