I’m also from UC.
I’d like to point out the benefits of a winter/summer co-op. Someone pointed out that spring and fall are the best times to be somewhere else. I would tend to disagree - the best time to be in school is fall, when everyone is fresh from summer break and there are parties, activities, and lots of things to do. Also spring is great because Cincinnati has pretty nice spring weather and there is DAAPworks, graduations, etc.
The winter is crappy in Cincinnati - an inch of snow closes down roads because of all the hills. You can go to California or Florida in the winter if you want…And its dead in the summer. The weather might be nice but there isn’t as much to do. If you’re going to a public school instead of an art school, you might as well take advantage of the fall and spring activities!
Oh yeah, and just to let you know - you will begin co-oping after your second year in school, not your third. Just in case you were misinformed…