<< Back

Melissa Condran, an operations management and management information systems major, was attracted to Drexel for its location, its good reputation, and its co-op program. Since arriving at Drexel, the co-op experiences have also helped Melissa narrow down her career options.

"My first co-op was more general business, not focused on a specific market. The next one involved more accounting. I'm mathematically inclined, but I also wanted to see the business side of things. My third co-op, at McNeil Pharmaceuticals, really brought everything together. At McNeil my job was in materials management, so it melded the social and math sides of my personality. I came away from that saying, 'this is what I want to do.' "

Though Melissa knows she would have eventually found her career path, she credits the co-op program at Drexel with helping her find it sooner.

"Co-op is a résumé builder, but it also teaches you about yourself. You won't just find a 'job.' Through co-op you really learn what you want to do, and you're going to learn at 20 what others learn when they're 25."

Like many undergraduates, Melissa's program lasted five years, and she had to see her high school friends graduate a year before she did. Even so, she has no regrets.

"The extra year in school is really worth it to learn about the business world."