Surprisingly, all 106 individuals that participated in this class profile were in a co-op program! Most don't opt out of it because co-op can be one of the best experiences you can get from attending UW!
Many students started in the GTA/Toronto or Waterloo region, then slowly progressed to the USA. Software jobs in California in particular are known for their prestige and high paying salary, which may explain why most students eventually try them out. However, due to the pandemic, the last 3 co-op placements were predominantly remote.
32% of students enjoyed their co-op terms in Toronto. Students really enjoyed their time working in California as a close second.
There are lots of companies that people have worked at! This just goes to show that the software world is HUGE.
There’s a fair share of companies around here, with Google being the most popular vote. Jane Street ranks 2nd highest, followed by Meta/Facebook.
A sixth of respondents have gone through a term without a co-op placement. You’re not alone if you are here and can’t find one! Finding your first job can be especially difficult. Another possible reason for these results can be due to pandemic conditions.
Reneging an offer can be a risky move, but it can still be beneficial when you believe that your other contract or salary can be better.
Most people probably lost a position immediately when the pandemic began (Winter 2020), but it seems that the effects have not spread too much. Most CS / CFM / CS/BBA students hold software-related jobs, which make for a relatively easy transition to a remote work environment.
Compensation generally increased throughout the terms! For reference, in 2021, the average co-op salaries in the Faculty of Mathematics in Canada were $20.15, $22.05, $24.98, $27.60, $28.96, and $30.95 CAD, respectively. The same amounts in the USA were $28.08, $30.82, $33.65, $34.50, $37.15, and $37.60 USD, respectively. So, CS students tend to get paid more than the faculty average.
Additional compensation had increased as terms progressed and students got better jobs. It’s great to see students having accommodations to make their lives easier. We can also note that most participants didn't get any other form of compensation which explains why the first quartile and the minimum is at 0 for all terms.
Ratings were pretty positive overall, with “Outstanding” and “Excellent” making up the vast majority of evaluations! Respondents did not receive any ratings below “Very Good” in their 3rd, 4th, and 5th co-op terms.
The ratio of people rating 4+ in happiness stayed roughly the same throughout the terms. There seems to be more 5s towards the last work term, likely due to students being more satisfied with better jobs that suit their interests.
People found more co-ops externally and through return offers as the terms progressed, which makes sense as people gain more experience as they learn and grow. WaterlooWorks was still really good in helping people find jobs in the main and continuous rounds.
Interestingly, the referral to non-referral ratio stayed roughly the same as the co-op terms progressed, apart from the first one which had the most referrals. This goes to show that, without a doubt, networking can really give you some great opportunities!