Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: There are so many schools in the U.S. How do
I decide which schools to apply to?
A: Research your options and define your
priorities. Contact the our advising center and browse college
search engines online. Check to see if the schools you are considering are
accredited.
Q: What’s the difference between a college and
a university?
A: Colleges offer only undergraduate degrees
while universities offer graduate degrees as well, but the terms are often used
interchangeably.
Q: Are there age limitations to attend U.S.
universities?
A: In general, you must have completed high
school and you must be at least 17 years of age.
Q: What is the academic calendar for
universities in the United States?
A: The academic year usually runs from August
through May with breaks for holidays. Most universities use either the semester
system (two terms), the quarter system (students attend three out of four total
terms), or the trimester system (three terms).
Q: What is the difference between "Undergraduate"
and "Graduate" degrees?
A: Undergraduate programs follow high school
and lead to an associate (two-year) degree or a bachelor (four-year) degree.
Graduate programs follow a bachelor’s degree and lead to a master’s or doctoral
degree.
Q: What are the different types of
undergraduate degrees?
A: Associate: a two-year program that either
leads to a specific vocation or transitions to a bachelor program. Bachelor: a
four or five-year program where students earn credits in a wide variety of
courses.
Q: What are the different types of graduate
degrees?
A: Masters: two-year degree providing
additional specialization. Doctorate: five to eight-year program certifying the
student as a trained research scholar and/or professor.
Q: Is it possible to take a professional degree
program without first earning a bachelor's degree?
A: Yes, but they are highly selective and
require a heavy course load across a total of six years of study.
Q: Is it possible to obtain a bachelor's degree
and a master's degree at the same time?
A: In a joint-degree program, students begin a
graduate program in their fourth year of college, earning both degrees upon
graduation.
Q: What is the length of study for MBA programs
in the U.S.?
A: MBA programs typically last one to two years.
Q: Can you work while studying in the United
States?
A: With permission of the International Student
Office, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours/week their
first year and can apply to work off-campus in subsequent years.
Q: Is distance learning available at the
graduate level?
A: Distant learning is not allowed for
international students. International students must be enrolled in fulltime
studies in the university or in the college.
Q: What is a community college?
A: Community colleges are typically
state-supported and provide the first two years of a four-year undergraduate
degree.
Q: How can I find out if an institution is
accredited?
A: Search the U.S. Department of Education's
Office of Post-secondary Education website to see if an institution is
accredited.
Q: How can I find out if a specialized program
of study is accredited?
A: For specialized program accreditation, see
“Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education,” available from American
Council on Education.
Q: How can I find out which universities are
rated best for a specific academic major?
A: Refer to college and university guides to
find which institutions are known for excellence in different fields of study.
Q: What are English language proficiency
requirements?
A: U.S. universities require an English
language proficiency test before admission to ensure you can read, write, and
speak fluently.
Q: May the bank statement be in my name, or
does it have to be in a sponsor's name?
A: The bank statement may be either from your
bank account or a sponsor’s. If you would prefer, it may also be a combination
of the two bank statements. If you use a sponsor's bank statement, your sponsor
will also need to write a letter to the school stating the following: "I
am the sponsor for [your name] and I intend to provide him/her with financial
assistance during his/her first year at the [name of school] up to the amount
of $_____.”
Q: What should I do if my bank statement
reflects a currency other than US dollars?
A: If you cannot obtain a bank statement that
shows your funds in U.S. dollars, you may get the conversion from the internet.
You’ll need to print the page showing the conversion and include it with your
bank statement.
Q: May I have multiple sponsors?
A: Yes, you may have as many sponsors as you
need, as long as you and your sponsors can explain to the visa officials why
they are willing to fund your education in the US.
Q: The schools in my home country are taught
in English. Why do I need to submit English Proficiency Documents?
A: In order to be accredited, schools need to
have physical documentation for each student's file. Unless you are from a
country where the first language is English, such as Canada, Australia, or the
UK, you will need to submit physical proof of proficiency.
Q: If I am still in my final semester of
undergraduate study, may I apply to a graduate program now?
A: Some schools may still process your
application before you officially graduate. You will need to send your current
transcripts along with the other required application materials and include a
letter stating that you will send your final transcripts as soon as you have
received them from your school. The school may send you a “conditional”
acceptance, which means that you may be accepted for admission once they have
received those final documents of graduation.
Answers to Your Work-Study Questions
Q: What is Curricular Practical Training
(CPT)?
A: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) refers
to employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, such as
the paid internship employment that students engage in while in a graduate
school work-study program. CPT is designed to give students practical
experience in the workplace to supplement their work in the classroom.
Q: What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
A: Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows
international students to work in the US for up to one year after they graduate
from their Master’s program. OPT is designed to help students gain practical
experience in their field after graduation.
Q: May I participate in both CPT and OPT?
A: If you work for more than one year of
full-time CPT, then you may not be allowed to do the one year of OPT. However,
international students are able to participate in both CPT and OPT, but not at
the same time.
Q: May I work in CPT for the entire time I’m
in my Master’s program?
A: This varies depending on your school. Some
schools do allow you to engage in CPT for as long as you are enrolled in your
Master’s program, no matter how long you are enrolled. However, if you do
choose to work full time for more than a year in CPT, you may not be eligible
for the additional year of OPT after you graduate, so it is important that you
check in with your school to find out their requirements.
Q: How can I go to school and work at the same
time?
A: Most courses in a CPT program will be
offered in the evenings and/or on weekends. This will allow you to work during
the week.
Q: May I take online courses?
A: Yes. Many schools offer online courses in
their Master’s degree programs, and it is legal for international students to
take one online course and two on-site classes per semester. However, you
cannot enroll in only online courses; at least two out of three of your courses
must be in-person.
Q: Are credits transferrable between schools?
A: Possibly. Your university may give credit
for some courses you’ve already taken at another school, if the other school is
accredited and if the content of the course is roughly the same as one of the
courses offered by your program. The Registrar at the school will make this
decision when you arrive for registration.
Q: May I transfer to a different university?
A: You are free to transfer to another
university if you choose to do so, although your school may have certain
limitations or requirements. You can find these in your school’s policy
statements or catalogs.
Q: What about financial aid?
A: As an international student, you have the
legal right to obtain full time, paid employment from U.S. based companies
while you are in a CPT program. With an internship, your earning potential is
much more than what you might obtain with a scholarship.
Q: May I apply for a U.S. visa in a country
other than my home country?
A: This will vary from one U.S. consulate to
the next. Generally speaking, international students are allowed to apply for a
visa in countries other than their own. However, you should check with the U.S.
consulate in the country you are currently residing in to make sure that they
will allow you to apply.
Q: What is SEVIS and how do I pay the SEVIS
fee?
A: The Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System, or SEVIS, is the Homeland Security Database. F-1 students are required
by Homeland Security to pay a $200 SEVIS fee before they may apply for the
visa. You will need a receipt showing payment of this fee before you may go to
the visa interview. You can go to www.fmjfee.com, and apply online using a
credit card. This is the fastest way to make this payment. You will then
receive an email receipt which you may take to the consulate office at the time
of your visa interview.
Q: May my spouse and/or children accompany me
to the US?
A: Spouses and children are allowed to apply
for a visa to accompany international students to the US. Your spouse (with
children) may apply at the same time that you apply, or they may wait a few
months until you have arrived and settled in the US.
Q: If I have already applied for Diversity
Immigrant Lottery and have been denied, will I be able to obtain a student (F)
visa to go to the U.S. to study?
A: To receive a student visa (F-1), you must
prove that you intend to return to your home country after graduation. If there
is anything in your background that suggests that you do not intend to return
to your home country, your visa application may be rejected. If you have
previously applied for the “lottery” immigrant visa, a visa officer may see
this as an indication that your real intent is to immigrate, rather than study.
This may make getting an F-1 visa more difficult for you.
Q: Do I need permission from Immigration
Services in order to work off campus?
A: The only permission from Immigration
Services that you will need to work as part of your university’s CPT program is
your F-1 student visa. Once you find employment that is certified to be
"curriculum related," your university will issue the appropriate
authorization signature that allows you to begin working. You will also need to
obtain a U.S. Social Security card before you are legally allowed to work in
the US.
Q: May I return to my country during the summer
and then return back to school for fall quarter?
A: Yes, most schools will allow a school break.
You will be required to attend school full time for two consecutive semesters (9
months and 18 credit hours) before you are eligible to take a vacation from
your studies. However, some schools do not have summer breaks scheduled into
their curriculum, so this will depend on the school you attend.
Q: If I have a two year visa, does that mean I
will need to get it extended before it expires?
A: If you have a two-year visa, that
does not mean that you have to return to your home country at the end of two
years. You may stay for as long as necessary in order to finish your education
in the US. The length of the visa refers to how long you have to cross the
border into the US.
Q: If I am already in the US on a B-1 visa, may
I change to F-1 student visa?
A: It is much easier to change to an F-1 visa
while you are in your own country. Applying for a change of status to F-1 while
you are already in the US may take up to several months while immigration
service processes your application. Instead, if you take your I-20 form from
your university to the consulate in your home country, you may apply for an F-1
student visa and the decision will be made immediately by the visa officials
there. This way, there will be no delay before you start school and begin your
paid internship.
Answers to Your Employment Questions
Q: Will my university find an internship job
for me?
A: No, your university will not secure
employment for students. But because the internship is mandatory, your school’s
CPT Employment Counselor will help you find and apply for internships. The
counselor may help you by assisting with writing your resume, introducing you
to companies that are looking for employees, and showing you how to search for
employment online, in newspapers, at job fairs, and through other placement
services. However, it is still your responsibility to obtain your internship.
Q: What is the likelihood that I will find
internship employment?
A: New internship positions open up on a
regular basis. The type of internship you obtain and how long it takes you to
obtain it will depend on your skills, your experience, your English ability,
and your personal ambition.
Q: How long does it take to find an internship?
A: Most students find employment within the
first two months at the campus, but it may take longer to find a suitable
position, depending on your skills and English language ability. Legally, you
cannot start an internship until you have:
1) enrolled and paid for school,
2) started classes and
3) obtained the Social Security number.
On an average, getting the social security number takes about two to four weeks.
Q: Do I need to have an internship in a field
related to my major or is any field acceptable?
A: Your internship must be related to your
field of study. A job that is related to concepts and principles that you may
be learning in any of your classes is acceptable.
Q:How many hours may I expect to work each
week?
A: You may work up to regular part time
employee hours (20 hours/week), with the same benefits as are granted to all
other employees.
Q: How soon after my arrival may I begin CPT
employment?
A: You may apply for a Social Security number
10 days after your arrival. Immediately after you arrive, you are allowed to
begin working with a career specialist at the campus who will help you locate
and identify possible employers, and teach you how to apply for
employment in the U.S. Most students obtain employment in the first month,
though it may take longer.
Q: Will I have to pay taxes?
A: Your employer will hold back funds from your
monthly earnings to cover any taxes that you might owe. After April 15th of
each year you will likely find that you get a refund for some of this withheld
amount.
Q: Is is possible to convert my work
authorization into a full time work permit upon completion of the Master's
program?
A: It is possible to convert an internship into
a full time job, but this will depend on whether or not the company you work
for during the internship is willing to sponsor you for an H1-b.
Q: I want to study in the United States, but my
English proficiency isn’t good enough yet. What can I do?
A: There are a number of programs for English
language study in the United States and online, as well as local possibilities.