Co-ops lock in jobs after the pomp and circumstance

Can you guess which of the four Boston schools had the most applications for the class of 2028 — Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Northeastern University?

The answers in alphabetical order are: 78,750 (3.65 percent admitted), 54,008 (11 percent admitted), 28,232 (4.55 percent admitted), and the winner, Northeastern at nearly 100,000 (5.2 percent admitted). Just a decade ago, Northeastern had a 32 percent admissions rate with half the number of applicants. Unlike the other schools, Northeastern’ s co-op model combines academics and apprenticeships so that students can create more career opportunities after graduation, which is especially important with the increasing costs of college.

This August, the Wall Street Journal profiled Northeastern’s co-op program that includes academic credit for up to 18 months of full-time paid internships. These work experiences leverage the school’s professional networks and can enhance the student’s resume to increase their chances of getting jobs. Other universities that require career-oriented internships are Drexel University in Philadelphia and Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Locally, in September, the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business received a $15 million donation to build their co-op program starting this fall 2025. The program will be organized into four academic concentrations of accounting, finance, marketing and business analytics. One-semester internships will alternate between classroom academics and full-time work. The goal is for undergraduate students to gain professional experiences that apply their classroom knowledge to real-world business situations.

Although most colleges do not offer co-ops as part of their curriculum, students can still create internships to build professional exposure and teamwork learning. With first-semester classes wrapping up, students should attend networking panels, meet with professors and visit the career services office to develop their own co-op.

First, specific college majors typically outreach to alumni who are established in various industries that match the academic courses. George Washington University School of Business presented a business panel this September. There were two categories of business professionals: the first represented Consulting and Marketing, while the second included Technology and Finance.

For example, the technology and finance panel included alumni from the big tech companies of Meta, Amazon and Salesforce, along with two start-ups — ID.me and Wiz. The professional roles varied from sales, customer success and account management in working with businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations. Students can ask the panel questions for a candid and relevant discussion about skills they are looking for.

Afterward, students can talk with individual panelists to reflect how the conversation was relevant to their interests. Be sure to follow up on LinkedIn to keep in touch.

Another effective way to get internships is to meet with professors. Their academic expertise is typically connected to their professional networks. For example, when I was teaching Advertising at Champlain College, one student stepped up with their academics, team leadership and class participation. When career services reached out to professors about a social media internship at Burton Snowboards, I recognized this was an ideal fit for that student, who snowboarded and worked part-time at Free People.

Professor recommendations vouch for the student’s credibility because the teacher is putting their professional reputation on the line. The student jumped at the internship opportunity, which later became a full-time job after graduation.

This June, LinkedIn published a report correlating how internships can give a competitive edge in the job market. Research shows that internships provide a 25 percent increase in the likelihood of starting a full-time position within six months after graduation, compared to those without internships.

Building upon work experiences are essential to pave the way toward career opportunities. The LinkedIn survey shows that applicants are four times more likely to get a job at a company using networking connections.

Update the LinkedIn profile to include writing samples, professional references and personal interests. This context can show that applicants are academically prepared and a fit for the corporate culture.

Interviews can further elaborate on skills learned during internships, team interactions and challenging situations. Hands-on examples highlight being prepared to interact within the work environment.

It is never too early to plan for internships. Little steps taken over time can add up to make a big difference.

Academic coursework builds the foundation of knowledge relevant for specific careers. Apprentice internships are a credential to extend learning into careers.

Co-ops lock in the job after the pomp and circumstance.

(Margo Bartsch founded College Essay Coach, a full-service college admission business, and has been an adjunct professor in business at Champlain College and at Middlebury College.)