I have a B.S. in Physics and am halfway through an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. My grades are good and I've conducted a fair amount of research as a student, but I've never participated in a CoOp or internship. In talking to other students, I've come to the conclusion that my lack of "real world" experience will place me at a significant disadvantage when I begin applying for work. So I'm left with the following dilemma: is a CoOp so important that I should rearrange my schedule and greatly inconvenience myself and my thesis advisor to obtain one, or should I just accept that it would be too difficult at this stage and accept that I may have to look a little harder for my first job?
Here's a little more detail. As I said, I'm halfway through my Master's program. I have the fall and spring semesters remaining, during which I'm scheduled to take two and one classes, respectively. I am currently supported as a teacher's aide (not a research assistant) and will probably continue to be for the rest of my program. While I'm still a long way from having completed my thesis, I'd say that I've made more progress toward that end than most students at this point. My thesis advisor is a nice guy, but I'm sure he'd be unhappy to lose me for a semester.
If I were to take on a CoOp, I would probably do so during the spring semester, hoping to have my thesis nearly completed by the end of fall. That would give my advisor a chance to prepare for my departure and would not conflict with any conferences (I'm scheduled to present at two in fall). I'd probably still take a class in spring (I don't know how'd I'd finish my thesis in fall with three classes), and just make sure either the CoOp was local or the class was a distance education class. If I had to take a little time in summer to finish up the thesis, that would probably be okay.
I'd really appreciate the advice of some of the forum members.
Here's a little more detail. As I said, I'm halfway through my Master's program. I have the fall and spring semesters remaining, during which I'm scheduled to take two and one classes, respectively. I am currently supported as a teacher's aide (not a research assistant) and will probably continue to be for the rest of my program. While I'm still a long way from having completed my thesis, I'd say that I've made more progress toward that end than most students at this point. My thesis advisor is a nice guy, but I'm sure he'd be unhappy to lose me for a semester.
If I were to take on a CoOp, I would probably do so during the spring semester, hoping to have my thesis nearly completed by the end of fall. That would give my advisor a chance to prepare for my departure and would not conflict with any conferences (I'm scheduled to present at two in fall). I'd probably still take a class in spring (I don't know how'd I'd finish my thesis in fall with three classes), and just make sure either the CoOp was local or the class was a distance education class. If I had to take a little time in summer to finish up the thesis, that would probably be okay.
I'd really appreciate the advice of some of the forum members.
