I agree with the other two posts, definitely try to get into as many co-ops / internships as you can while your still in school. I have been working in the industry for about 6 years and I did not take advantage of any co-ops or internships while I was a student. Now that I am working I get the opportunity to work with the interns / co-ops that work at my company and I try to teach them as much as I can about what it’s like to work in a big medical device company and how to communicate with management and other co-workers. Having someone who has those types of experiences teach you these types of skills is invaluable to someone who has no experience at all. Understanding how to communicate your project status and how display and present your results is extremely important to being successful working as an engineer. Another big benefit that other’s have mentioned about internships / co-ops is the ability to network and meet people. In my opinion and experience, getting a job is directly related to who you know. As you meet people and make relationships while working as an intern / co-op it will only help you when you start looking for a job. My recommendation would be that if you do get an internship or co-op, make sure to keep in contact with the people you meet.