Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse • Hacker News Board

Re: Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse

#61

Post by ryanobjc » Fri, Apr 24, 2015, 11:14 PM UTC

michaelone wrote: post #11

ryanobjc wrote: post #2

I did software coop at UBC, and I can say without a doubt that the coop model is purely an invention of a highly conservative business culture. For those with the skills and the desire, I say skip it. The loss of community with the rest of your class is huge, and the extra time is not worth the money compared to a real post-graduation career. Additionally, most post-college hiring here in the Bay Area, and elsewhere,…

I did the same at UBC and nobody should go in expecting it will be valuable no matter what just by signing up (depends so much on what you end up doing and what you personally enjoy and are good at), but I think there is a lot of value in doing internships before graduating for the experience and knowledge of what is out there. Helps bring more relevance to school work and you get to test out what you may or may not…

well except the coop office positions it as endlessly a good idea. and in CS it just may not be.

Re: Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse

#62

Post by ryanobjc » Fri, Apr 24, 2015, 11:20 PM UTC

ripley12 wrote: post #34

ryanobjc wrote: post #2

I did software coop at UBC, and I can say without a doubt that the coop model is purely an invention of a highly conservative business culture. For those with the skills and the desire, I say skip it. The loss of community with the rest of your class is huge, and the extra time is not worth the money compared to a real post-graduation career. Additionally, most post-college hiring here in the Bay Area, and elsewhere,…

Wow, that is hugely different from my experience at UBC CS. I graduated in 2011, when did you finish? "The loss of community with the rest of your class" - I didn't notice much community to begin with. It's a big program and a big school and people don't always take courses in the same order. Plus, the majority of people in CS were in co-op and my friends were often off on co-op at the same time as me. I've also noti…

I think I covered that with the whole 'conservative canadian companies' aspect.

Re: Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse

#63

Post by reledi » Fri, Apr 24, 2015, 11:49 PM UTC

timothya wrote: post #53

reledi wrote: post #52

Having done co-op myself, one thing most students don't seriously consider is taking extra time to get your degree - also doable for international students like I was. Don't take a full course load if you feel overloaded and stressed, especially in the upper years. In my case, I used the extra time on multiple side projects and sports, and lived with my SO and cat. My upper years at university were fantastic.

If you're in engineering at Waterloo, you don't have a choice about course load - you must have a full course load at all times.

That's unfortunate. I hope the option is added for the sake of the students' health.

Re: Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse

#64

Post by ripley12 » Mon, Apr 27, 2015, 4:11 PM UTC

ryanobjc wrote: post #62

ripley12 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, that is hugely different from my experience at UBC CS. I graduated in 2011, when did you finish? "The loss of community with the rest of your class" - I didn't notice much community to begin with. It's a big program and a big school and people don't always take courses in the same order. Plus, the majority of people in CS were in co-op and my friends were often off on co-op at the same time as me. I've also noti…

I think I covered that with the whole 'conservative canadian companies' aspect.

Wasn't clear why you mentioned civil engineering in that context though.

Also, IME it applies to the larger American companies in the Vancouver market (Amazon, MS) as well.

Re: Waterloo Co-op: A Blessing and a Curse

#65

Post by jarek » Tue, Apr 28, 2015, 12:29 PM UTC

reledi wrote: post #63

timothya wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're in engineering at Waterloo, you don't have a choice about course load - you must have a full course load at all times.

That's unfortunate. I hope the option is added for the sake of the students' health.

There is an unofficial option. Failing a term or two. We have a saying that engineering can be the worst five years of your life or the best seven.