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Introductory Statement and Form for Applicants to Arts Co-op and Science Co-op
You will receive a link to the Introductory Statement and Form via email. Complete the statement and form only once.
Before You Begin
We are providing the contents of the form so you know what to expect because the form will time out after one hour of inactivity. To help you prepare, see the example introductory form.
Ensure you are ready to complete the entire form, provide employment history details, and upload your resume. Please do not submit the form more than once.
During the Interview
The interview will last no longer than 15 minutes. You will have an opportunity to verify the information you have entered in the form during your admission interview
Although we require you to submit a resume and complete the introductory form, we will consider only what you tell us during the interview when evaluating your suitability for admission to co-op.
We urge you to answer each question fully during the interview, and to provide examples from your own experience.
Interview Location
Your admission interview will take place as an online video call over Microsoft Teams. You must arrange to have access to the Internet and a device with a webcam and microphone. We will provide a link to information on using Microsoft Teams.
Evaluation Categories
The interviewers will evaluate your strength in each of the following four categories:
- paid work experience in the last three years
- volunteer service and extracurricular activities in the last three years
- academic record in your first year at Laurier
- performance during the interview
We give equal weight to each category.
Your interview is your only opportunity to tell us about your paid work experience, as we use your resume and introductory form for reference only.
We will evaluate the work you performed during the last three years. For most students, this will be from the beginning of grade 11 to the end of Orientation Week in second year at Laurier.
What We Expect
We want to hear about your duties and assignments in each position. We especially value jobs in offices or professional environments, and supervisory roles or positions with significant responsibility.
Summer Employment Experience
When comparing candidates, we give higher standing to students who have worked full-time for the past three summers than to those who have worked less consistently. Be prepared to confirm the hours and dates worked for each job.
If you were not able to find employment at some point in the last three summers, be prepared to tell us:
- How you used your time.
- Certifications you gained.
- Volunteer work you participated in.
- Any skills or knowledge you gained and that you could apply to co-op jobs.
Employment Affected by Global Pandemic
We recognize that all candidates for admission have been affected by the global pandemic. We will compare you with each other, not with candidates in previous years. Many students were able to secure paid employment during the last three summers (or worked part-time year-round) and we will assess their experience.
Your interview is your only opportunity to tell us about your volunteer service and extracurricular activities.
We will consider your volunteer service and extracurricular activities at school and in the community in the last three years. For most students, this will be from the beginning of grade 11 to the end of Orientation Week in second year at Laurier.
What We Expect
List your roles and tell us about any significant contributions you made.
We will consider all activities, but we tend to value leadership roles more highly than general membership and we tend to value varsity sports more highly than intramurals.
When evaluating your interview performance, we will consider:
- The quality of all your answers.
- Your ability to communicate your skills and accomplishments.
- Your ability to be concise and stay within the 15 minutes allotted.
Tips
- When telling us how you have developed specific skills, use examples from experiences other than class competitions such as the New Venture project. (It is challenging to stand out when referring to a project required for all BBA students).
- At the end of the admission interview, we will ask you to tell us anything you wish to add in support of your application. Tell us about any accomplishments or experience you have not had an opportunity to mention earlier, especially about things that set you apart from other candidates.
Verifying Information
We expect you to present your skills and experience truth fully and factually. We reserve the right to verify information you provided. Any students who have misrepresented themselves will be ineligible for enrolment in the co-op program. We also reserve the right to review your academic status and history with your faculty.
Admission Decisions
You will receive an email to your Laurier email address if you are offered admission to co-op.
If you receive an offer of admission, you will receive instructions on how to accept the offer by the deadline.
- We will notify you of our admission decisions by email at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023.
- The deadline for accepting an offer of admission to Arts Co-op, Science Co-op, or Business and Economics Co-op is 10 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Job Search Tips
Co-op students from Arts or Science need to be prepared to invest considerable time and effort in finding a co-op job.
We help students uncover and apply for positions that interest them by assisting students individually and in workshops. We approve jobs that provide students with the opportunity to develop analytical, communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills, among other skills that employers value. Most positions are not specific to only one discipline but are suitable for students in a range of majors.
Although we encourage students in Arts Co-op and Science Co-op to apply to postings on the Navigator database, many will not find work that way.
We recommend that you also conduct an individual job search, with the support of your co-op coordinator. You will receive information on searching for work during the Fundamentals of Co-operative Education course, and you will learn how to uncover additional job opportunities by networking with employers.
The summer employment market can be a tough one for co-op students. While we post jobs as early as January, many employers in the public and not-for-profit sectors may not be able to hire until they receive funding in April, May or June. Some of these jobs offer valuable experience but may provide only 10 to 12 weeks of work at minimum wage.
In 2021, 77% of students had secured an approved co-op job by May, with the final employment rate being 99%. In 2020, 42% of students had secured an approved co-op job by May, with the final employment rate being 94%.
Although we regularly invite employers to recruit, they may not be seeking students specifically in your major or in the positions you are seeking. We don’t, for example, receive many job postings from physiotherapists, laboratories, hospitals or schools. You will likely see postings for administrative roles in private companies and government offices, along with client services in children's camps and facilities for people with special needs.
Sample Jobs and Employers for Arts Co-op and Science Co-op
- Therapeutic Fitness Summer Student – Adult therapeutic and recreation facility, Toronto
- Recreation and Leisure Support Worker – Assisted Living Centre, Waterloo
- Student GIS Technician – Regional government, Waterloo
- Historical Teacher/Interpreter – Regional museum, Waterloo
- Public Relations Intern, Corporate Communications – Leading provider of laboratory services, Toronto
- Office Assistant and Communications Assistant – Provincial government, Toronto
- Summer Language Program Monitor – Community college, Toronto
- Communications Assistant / National Events Assistant – Non-profit, charitable organization, Kitchener
- Research Assistant Positions in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology – Wilfrid Laurier University
- Program and Outdoor Skills Program Leader – Summer camps, Haliburton
- Junior Finance Assistant – School board, Southwestern Ontario
- Investment Finance Co-op – Pension plan provider, Toronto
- Software Developer – Municipal Government, Guelph
- Junior Web and Mobile Software Developer – Technology company, Waterloo
- Laboratory Assistant Co-op – International life sciences laboratory - Waterloo
Example Introductory Form
I, the Undersigned
- have read the introductory statement.
- verify that the information in my resume, to be submitted below, and in the introductory form is accurate and factual.
- have provided the name and contact information (phone and or email) of my direct supervisor on my resume agree to provide accurate and factual information during my admission interview
- acknowledge I do NOT have permission to record the co-op admission interview by any means
For international students:
At any point in the last three years, was there a time when you were not eligible to work in Canada?
- Yes. I was not eligible to work in Canada for a period of time
- No. I have been eligible to work in Canada the entire time I lived here within the last three years.
Form Format
Provide details about your work experience over the last three years in reverse chronological order (i.e., start with your most recent job and work backwards).
Indicate, when prompted, whether you were paid for each job.
Most Recent Job
Employer:
Job Title:
Dates of Employment (Month Year - Month Year (e.g. May 2022 - Sept. 2022)):
Number of hours worked per week:
Was the work paid (at least minimum wage)? (yes or no):
Previous Job
Employer:
Job Title:
Dates of Employment (Month Year - Month Year (e.g. May 2022 - Sept. 2022)):
Number of hours worked per week:
Was the work paid (at least minimum wage)? (yes or no):
Job Before That, Within Last Three Years
Employer:
Job Title:
Dates of Employment (Month Year - Month Year (e.g. May 2022 - Sept. 2022)):
Number of hours worked per week:
Was the work paid (at least minimum wage)? (yes or no):
Job Before That, Within Last Three Years
Employer:
Job Title:
Dates of Employment (Month Year - Month Year (e.g. May 2022 - Sept. 2022)):
Number of hours worked per week:
Was the work paid (at least minimum wage)? (yes or no):
Any Additional Employment information from the past three years must follow the same format as above.