Why Do Co-Op? | Little Life Update

Hey guys!
I'm sorry for such a long absence, but that is because of my trip to Cuba (which I'm still on). As I will be back, I'll be ready to post weekly again! Before I begin on a topic of co-op, I must say HOW EXCITED I AM to start university in 15 DAYS! Ok, as I've done that, I'd like to discuss why and when I will do co-op, and respectively, why should you do it as well.

What is Co-Op?
Co-operative education is, in my own words, when a student is given an opportunity to work in their field of study while pursuing a degree. You WILL get paid, but there is a lot of preparation required for your placement. As a part of preparation, you are most likely to be enrolled in a course which teaches you the basics of employment; you will also have to have a good academic standing, have a respectable resume, and pass an interview. It varies, but the earliest you can do co-op is your 2nd year, 2nd semester. In my school, the earliest I can go is 3rd year.

When and Where?
As I've mentioned above, it varies. I personally, would rather start co-op from my 4th year, just because if I will do it earlier, I will not have enough credits for Med School admissions. As to where, it highly depends on a few factors:
1. Your program
2. Preferred location/payment
3. Organization type
4. Your prep (grades, resume, interview success)
I would LOVE to be able to do my co-op in a hospital lab in Toronto, since I love the city, and the beautiful hospitals it has.

Why?
As an undergraduate student, you have a multitude of reasons to pursue co-op. As a premed, those reasons triple. I will list a few advantages of co-op here:
1. New people and experiences
2. Practical application of learning
3. Salary
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Exposure to real adult life
6. Work in a team (most likely) environment
7. You might get hired to that institution upon your graduation
8. Big boost on your resume
9. Break from constant book work
10. Motivation to continue studying as you get exposed to what's waiting for you

On a more personal note, I am moving to Hamilton in 8 days, so on the 27th I'm ordering all my furniture and packing all the things from home. I will be visiting home really often, since I'll miss my family and Toronto, but I'm really looking forward for my academic journey!