Career

So you’re trying to decide which school to go to – it’s a big decision! Your first question might be “College or University?” — which should you choose? Students come to college for practical, hands-on experience – and to get a degree. Yep, you read it right – colleges offer degrees, too.

Algonquin College offers over a dozen Honours degree programs, ranging from commerce to robotics, building science to interior design – so there’s something for everyone!

There are a lot of advantages to taking a degree at college, too. One of the biggest issues about university is the class sizes. Often times, students feel like they’re just another number. At Algonquin College, degree classes have an average of 32 students so you won’t feel like you’re lost in the crowd. It’s also easier for students to ask questions and work closely with their profs. You’ll definitely feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth.

University and college both cater to different learning styles. If you feel like you learn better from a more hands-on and practical approach, college is the place for you. In college, you get the chance to learn in a practical environment and with a professor who has worked in the industry. You gain real industry experience from real industry professionals, plus hands-on experience alongside theory.

University tends to take a more theoretical approach – there can be a lot of reading and lectures, which may be a good fit for you. Either way, university and college teach you how to perfect your time management, decision making, and organizational skills. You can’t go wrong either way!

Another benefit to Algonquin is that most of our degrees have paid co-op terms, where students can earn upwards of $10,000 per work-term. And our grads get jobs, too. In 2016, 84.1% of Algonquin College grads were working in their field within six months of graduation.

All in all, college degrees are equal to (and sometimes even better than) university degrees. While they’ll both get you a job in the field you’re passionate about, the hands-on nature of college degrees could make you look even more desirable to potential employers. Whatever you end up choosing, we know you’ll rock it! We believe in you.

Chelsie McHugh is a third-year Advertising and Marketing Communications student. She’s a funny, fiery redhead with a passion for writing.

Hands-on and practical learning is an important part of a college education. Co-op is a powerful way to gain this experience, giving you exposure to industry while you study and making you more employable upon graduation.

Here’s what you need to know about co-op programs!

Get relevant experience

Students going through a co-op work placement are able to gain valuable, on-the-job experience working in their respective field.

During co-op, you can:

• Develop new skills to help you excel in the workplace.
• Learn how to conduct yourself on the job. Professional behaviour is important in any business or workplace setting and is invaluable in your transition from school to the workforce.
• Decide whether you want to continue in the industry. A co-op placement gives you the flexibility to ensure that this is the industry you want to work in, without having to make a long-term commitment.
• Find out which areas you need to improve on. You might realize there are some skills required in your industry that you need to develop.

Get paid

While some student internships and placements are unpaid, all co-op work placements through Algonquin College’s co-op programs are paid positions. Many of the businesses that we partner with realize the value of hiring a co-op student and pay the market rate for the position, rather than just minimum wage.

Co-op students can often earn $10,000 during their work term. This money can help pay for tuition and fees while you’re at school or help with other living costs!

Graduate and earn a higher salary

Within the first two years of graduating, you could earn $2,000–$8,000 more than graduates without co-op experience. That’s because employers value the time you’ve already spent on the job — and pay you accordingly. So not only are you earning money during your co-op work placement, but you’re in a good position to have a higher income when you graduate, too.

Make industry contacts

Have you ever heard the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Nowhere is the saying truer than when on the job hunt.

Networking is an important skill to have, and co-op opens opportunities to interact with professionals in your industry that you otherwise might not have encountered.

Because of these networking opportunities, more job offers may present themselves to you down the road — especially if you keep in touch with your co-op contacts.

Get a leg up on competition

In today’s job market, you need every advantage you can get. Having co-op experience on your resume is an easy way to make you stand out from the crowd.

Employers value prior work experience over solely having academic credentials, and most companies look more favorably on candidates who have worked in the field before.

You become a more well-rounded applicant once you have experience in your respective field, and it will give you much more confidence when applying and interviewing for jobs.

Graduates these days need to have employable skills right from the first day and doing a co-op placement is the perfect opportunity to help you hit the ground running.

This blog post was originally posted on the Cooperative Education blog.

If you have questions about our co-op programs or opportunities,
connect with the Co-op Office.