I think that you definitely want to have some sort of experience to put on your resume-- especially if you're applying to the big companies. I wouldn't say that internship/co-cop experience is required though. You could certainly get sufficient experience from working in a lab or some unrelated job on-campus. I would say that even club leadership positions and volunteer experiences are valuable if you appropriately relay what you have gained through those. 

Great point to bring up! I believe that all students should have some type of experience when graduating, especially to get a head start into a upcoming job. I feel as though employers can appreciate someone that has a bit of work experience in the field rather than someone who has absolutely none. On the other hand, jobs can be gate-kept with experience barriers and a great employee may be overlooked due to lack of experience. So in my opinion, get out there and try to get one step in the door! I even believe getting a job that may not be related to your major can help give you professional experience and skills that are extremely useful in the work-force.

I also wonder the same thing if internship and co-op experience gives you a step ahead when it comes to looking for a job. I feel like it's very situationally based because I know of some people who had great internships and struggled very hard to find a job after graduating but I also know people who've had great internships and easily got a job after graduating. From my perspective as an undergrad student, getting internship and co-op experience to me seems like it will jet-set you right to a job that you want. However, I think that might simply be the best-case scenario. I also wonder if any regular jobs that people have throughout college but is work experience nonetheless appeals to people looking to hire. Sometimes it feels that if you are not constantly participating in things that are applicable to your major that you are wasting time. So of course, I think in general it is good to have experience before applying to jobs, not only to better your chances of getting hired but to also figure out what you even like in the field. However, to add a question, do we think that job experience of any sort matters to companies looking to hire? Or are they only looking for directly applicable experience? 

With a job market that is as competitive as our own, I think having a co-op, internship, or even solid lab work on your resume can really make a big difference and it shows employers that you can apply what you’ve learned in class to real-world problems. A lot of companies are aware that new graduates may not have the same amount of technical knowledge as someone who’s been working in the field for 5 years or even just one year, but they still want to know that you can do the work that you are being hired for, can work collaboratively in team oriented projects, and have had at least some exposure to the environment that you are entering into. I also believe that having some of those internship or lab experiences also gives you a chance to really elaborate more on what you worked on and how that fits into the role you're applying for when going through the interviewing process. That being said, I think companies would be looking for directly applicable experience, because it also brings up the question of how much time and resources they would spend to train someone who doesn't have any relevant experience besides their degree. 

In my experience when I was interviewing for my first internship, one of the things that really caught the recruiters eye was my research experience, and once they asked about it, I was able to go into full detail (more than I would have been able to using the limited space on my resume) about the project I was working on and what I contributed to the team. This helped to make my interview a bit more personalized, because everyone has different experiences, from which I was able to land my first internship.

However, this isn’t to say that you can’t get a job without those experiences, but it definitely gets harder. When job searching online, I noticed that a lot of entry-level postings ask for at least some experience and internships/co-ops/lab research are the best way to provide that for new grads. Above all else, I think they also help you figure out what areas of BME you actually like working in, which can save you time later on. 

I always thought that Co-Op or internships were essential for getting started in the biomedical engineering industry during my undergraduate education, especially if I wanted to work for bigger organizations like Stryker or Merck. Gaining practical experience in on-campus research labs was also very important to me since it gave me a solid basis for applying what I've learned in the classroom. These chances proved to be crucial for me. My first full-time position as a biomedical engineer at St. Clare's Hospital in Denville was a direct result of my internship at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. Working in a campus research lab also helped me hone my technical and problem-solving abilities, which came in particularly handy for senior-level classes like Capstone. However, internships and lab experience aren't the sole way to find employment after graduation, even if I believe they significantly improve the odds. Some students use leadership positions, personal projects, or specialty certifications to highlight their technical proficiency and effort on their resumes. Employers ultimately seek proof of abilities, flexibility, and dedication, whether from a research position, Co-Op, or another source.

I do not personally think that the idea of coop or internships is just making it easier for you in the future, but I think it mainly about what you can learn from it. I did not realize how much I did not know before going into my first coop and I am genuinely happy that I got it because it made me realize what I was lacking in my skill set. I genuinely believe that you will not be able to learn everything in a book and that you need to use your skills on a real project because real life is not as simple as the problems that we are assigned. A lot of the times I will want to design something, and I will think the work is perfect, but I would then show my boss and he would point out so many flaws in the work. There are certain factors and scenarios that cannot be replicated when you are simply studying in classes and that realization of needing experience working with your hands will truly change how you think going forward. Especially after you learn what you are lacking, you can show those specific skills on your resume by adding projects that will help you hone in on those specific thinking patterns. I do not think that there is a clear path that can confirm anything for a full time offer, but if you are able to show what you learned more than just having that experience on your resume it would definitely make a difference. The main skills companies are looking are if you are a team player, but also that you can think on your feet especially in the engineering field and these are skills you mainly can only learn from being in real life situations. I do not think it is just enough to get an internship, but it is also you speak about your experience there and what you absorbed from being there. My boss mentioned to me immediately that this internship is for me and that I will get an outcome based on the effort that I am willing to put in and that means asking for more work and getting to work on various projects. It does all seem to be based on the imitative that someone takes and it does not necessarily confirm your future job, but I think that it sets you up for a much better chance simply because you know a lot coming in and that you will not need too much guidance.
Also, going off what Naomi said about talking about their research experience helped them get their job, I think it helps a recruiter know that you are not just book smart, but can apply those actually topics. That first experience lets you actually answer that question every student has at the beginning of the semester, " when am I even going to need this course and how does it fit into my career path?" Once you are able to answer that question, I personally believe that you have actually learned and are ready for a full time job because that shows you can take your knowledge outside the classroom.

I don’t believe internships or co-ops are strictly required to secure a job right after college, however, they are valuable for reasons beyond just landing that first role. While internships can make you more competitive, they don’t guarantee employment. For example, I had an internship at a good company while completing my bachelor’s degree, yet I’ve still faced challenges securing my first engineering position. I am however thankful for the opportunity because I gained a lot from it. Before starting, I had little understanding of how a corporate environment operates, and the experience helped me see how different departments within a company work together to achieve a common mission.

Internships can also help you narrow down what type of engineer you want to be. Going into mine, I was interested in R&D or product development but was still open to exploring other paths. The only offer I received was in a manufacturing environment, where I worked on calibrating various devices. Even though it wasn’t my first choice, I learned a lot, and the experience ultimately confirmed my desire to pursue R&D or product development.

Another benefit is that internships provide valuable material for interviews. In nearly all of the interviews I’ve had, the conversation focused heavily on my internship experience (even when it wasn’t directly related to the role), as well as my senior capstone project. On-campus research can also serve a similar purpose, giving you concrete experiences to draw from and discuss during interviews. Overall, while internships/co-ops aren’t the only path forward, they play a meaningful role in building skills and direction as you start your career.

I think Co-Ops, internships, and even on-campus research experiences are extremely valuable because they give students direct exposure to real-world applications of what we learn in class. They not only strengthen technical skills but also help you build connections that can make it easier to get into huge companies like Stryker, J&J, Merck, etc. In fact, many employers use internship programs as pipelines to recruit full-time hires, so having that background can definitely provide an advantage.

That said, I don’t think those opportunities are the only path to success. Some students progress through strong academic performance, networking at career fairs, or gaining specialized skills in areas like programming, CAD design, or regulatory affairs. Others may start in smaller companies or academic labs and later transition into larger areas after building experience. At the end of the day, what matters most is being able to demonstrate to employers that you can apply your knowledge to solve problems, whether that comes from an internship, research project, or senior design project like Capstone.

It’s also important to recognize that the job search process isn’t always entirely merit based. Two applicants may have the same GPA, major, and relevant experiences, but sometimes a hiring decision simply comes down to chance or subjective preference. Networking plays a huge role as well because meeting the right person at a career fair can open doors, while another recruiter might not be as receptive despite similar qualifications. In many ways, timing, connections, and even luck can influence career outcomes just as much as preparation. In terms of what Naomi said with how she spoke about her research to recruiters, I think that as long as you are doing more than just being a good student and not going home after class and actually taking advantage of the opportunities in your school, you chance will come around.

In my experience, I know tons of people who have had success or failure in getting a full-time job after graduating undergrad. If you lack the experience needed, then make it up with your grit and talk about any other experience you've had in class or outside the industry. If you are able to apply what you know outside of a classroom, I believe you will be fine after graduation. That being said, do you think companies ultimately place more value on hands-on industry experience, or could strong personal projects carry the same weight when competing for positions?

I’m a big advocate for internships and co-ops because they give you a problem-solving experience that’s pretty different from what you get in the classroom. Like a few others have mentioned here, they not only show recruiters how you’ve applied your skills in the real world, but they also work as a kind of long interview process- sometimes even leading to a return offer. I see internships and co-ops as related but still unique. I’ve done both at the same company, and each had its own value. Co-ops, since they’re longer, usually come with more responsibility and require more planning and commitment, while internships are shorter (2–3 months in the summer) and really push you to be efficient and adaptable to get things done in that tight timeframe.

Beyond the work itself, these experiences help you build useful skills, grow your network, and figure out whether a certain role or industry is the right fit for you. Talking with managers and directors about their own paths can also give you perspective on where you might want to take your career.

As for whether you need to land a role at a big-name company, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer. I’ve worked with people who came straight from college, from startups, or from other biomedical engineering companies. People switch companies all the time. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you think will help you grow and move forward in your career.