| Q. |
How soon can I obtain off-campus employment? |
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This depends primarily on three factors: |
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(1) Your level of American spoken English.
(2) Your previous work experience.
(3) Your initiative in scheduling job interviews. |
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Those with excellent spoken English and previous work experience who attend several job interviews each day generally get job offers within 30 to 45 days. On the other hand, those with poor English skills, who make little effort to attend job interviews each day may not receive an offer of employment for several months. |
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| Q. |
What kind of employment will I be able to obtain? |
| A. |
All students are advised to initially apply for “entry level” jobs which are plentiful in the service and sales industries. However, whenever you choose, and become qualified, you may apply for higher paying, more competitive employment in your field of interest. Advancement opportunities are often available in the companies offering the entry level jobs. |
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| Q. |
Can I continue working during any school breaks or vacation periods? |
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Yes |
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| Q. |
What is the minimum eligibility requirement to qualify in the co – operative educations programme? |
| A. |
To qualify for any of the cooperative education programs, an applicant must: |
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- Have a bachelor degree or associate degree.
- Provide a bank statement showing sufficient funding (to cover tuition and living expenses for the entire first academic year as required by each school)
- Have sufficient funds available to start program.
- Display proficiency in English.
- Be willing to work during the day and take classes in the evening.
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| Q. |
Will the university find an internship job for me? |
| A. |
Because the internship is mandatory, the CPT Employment Counselor will assist the applicants in finding and applying for an entry level position. It is then the applicant's responsibility to obtain a higher paying employment position. However, we will help the student in this endeavor by assisting with the preparation of a resume, introductions to companies looking for employees and showing students how to search for employment through the newspapers, the internet, job fairs or other placement services. |
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| Q. |
What is the likelihood that I will find my internship employment? |
| A. |
New internship positions become available on a regular basis. However, the type of internship position and how long it takes you to obtain it will depend on your skills, your experience, your English ability and your personal ambition. |
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| Q. |
How long will it take for me to obtain my internship employment? |
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Most students will obtain employment in the first two months at the campus. For those with limited skills, it may take a much longer to find a suitable internship position. English ability is also a factor in how quickly a student can obtain his/her internship position. Legally students can not start the internship until they have 1) enrolled and paid for school, 2) started classes and 3) obtained the Social Security number. Getting the social security number takes about two to four weeks. |
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| Q. |
Will my internship job be arranged before I come to the U.S.? |
| A. |
It is very difficult to have a job arranged for students prior to their arrival due to the fact that employers almost always want to interview the candidates personally. However, the university has contacts with companies that will hire students for a temporary entry level job, so they can be employed as soon as possible. At some of the schools these entry level job may be pre-arranged. While working in the entry level position, the student can simultaneously be searching for a more suitable job, and still fulfill the requirement of being in an internship. |
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| Q. |
What kind of employment will I get initially? |
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Initially, all students will be asked to accept an "entry level" position paying $8.00 to $10.00 per hour, mostly in the service or sales industry. These initial jobs are generally below the skill and wage level of jobs for which the students are actually qualified. However, at any time after starting in the initial employment, when the students have become accustomed to the American workplace and feel they are ready to apply for and accept a position which is more satisfying and which pays a higher salary--they are free to change employers. (Usually, only a two week advance notice will need to be given to the current employer in order to leave for a different job). |
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| Q. |
How much can I earn in an internship job? |
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Some entry level jobs will pay approximately $7.00 to 10.00 per hour, but more highly skilled positions may pay $10 or more per hour. Students are allowed to work up to 40 hours per week, with overtime also possible, depending on the job. The type of job will depend on a student's work experience, background, skills, English ability and personal ambition. |
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| Q. |
What kind of work will I do? |
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The work you do will depend on your background, previous work experience, bachelor degree's major, skills, English ability and personal "drive". We have applicants in a variety of jobs, all at different levels and pay scales. The lower paying jobs are between $8-10 and hour and require little work experience, skills, etc.. Our highest paying job right now is a gentleman who is a financial advisor in a bank and his pay is over $100,000 a year. However, he came to us with quite a bit of experience and skills, and his English is excellent. |
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| Q. |
Can you tell me some of the companies that I might be working for? |
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Although we can not tell you exactly where you will be working until the placement agency has reviewed your file and resume, and you have completed the interviewing process, we can tell you what companies have hired students in the past. Intermountain Health Care, Primary Children's Hospital, American Express, Discover Card, Goldman Sachs, Dillard's, Citibank, Convergys, Fidelity Investments, Alt View Hospital, Aerotek, CCI Mechanical, Overstock.com, Marriot Hotel, Ramada Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Fifth Third Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Delta Design. |
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| Q. |
Can I find an internship job only in the field related to my major or is any field ok? |
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The employment needs to be related to an integral part of the curriculum. Consequently, a job which is related to concepts and principles that you may be learning in any of your classes will be acceptable. |
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| Q. |
How many working hours will I probably work each week? |
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Your employment can be as a regular full time employee with the same benefits as are granted to all other employees. Most employees work 40 hours per week and receive a one week vacation per year. However, part-time employment is also available, as you may choose. |
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| Q. |
How soon after my arrival can I begin Curricular Practical Training employment? |
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By law, you can apply for a Social Security number 10 days after your arrival. Most students obtain employment in the first month, while for others ("timid and shy" students) it takes longer. The time required to obtain employment depends on the skill sets of the student, especially the level of the student's oral English and communication ability. |
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| Q. |
Do I have to work overtime? Can I keep the overtime bonus? |
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Some companies want the interns to work overtime, while others do not have overtime available. However, you may keep for your own use all overtime income that you may earn. |
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| Q. |
What if I can't find employment? |
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Because there are many entry level jobs available, it is highly unlikely that an intern would not be able to find some type of employment. However, depending on your work experience, skills, and English ability, it may take up to two months to be placed in the entry level job. The more work experience you have, and the better your English skills, the quicker you will obtain a position. |
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| Q. |
Do I have to have a social security card and a work permit? |
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Yes, you will need a social security card in order to start working. The procedure for obtaining a Social Security card and permission to work begins with obtaining a job offer letter from a prospective employer. Once an employer agrees to hire an applicant, such a letter will be issued by that employer. The letter is to be taken to the University for a Signature on the student’s original I-20 form where Curricular Practical Training is authorized. This signature by the university official on the I-20 serves as the co-op student’s “work permit”. The next step is to take the job offer letter and the signed I-20 to the Social Security office where application is made for a Social Security Number. |
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| Q. |
Will I have to pay taxes? |
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Your employer will be required to hold back from your monthly earnings to cover any taxes that you might owe. However, after April 15th of each year most international students find that they get a refund for some of this withheld amount. |
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| Q. |
Is there a way for me to work before actually starting to attend classes in order for me to save more money and add it to my current savings? |
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Students must first be registered and attending their first semester classes before they can legally start working. They also need to have received their social security card. This process can take two to four weeks. However, students can start looking for employment as soon as they are registered for classes. |
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| Q. |
Could the work authorization be possibly converted into a full time work permit upon completion of the Masters program? |
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Converting the internship job into a full time job, such as under an H1-b, is possible. But, it all depends upon whether the company you find to work for during the internship is willing to sponsor you for an H1-b. |
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| Q. |
Is there a deadline for applying for the course in the universities? |
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No. Applications will be accepted and processed at all times of the year and the College will make special efforts to notify the applicants quickly of the status of their applications. |
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| Q. |
Can I have more then one sponsor? |
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You can have as many sponsors as you need. However, you and the sponsors need to make it clear to the visa officials why they are willing to provide money to you for your education in the U.S. |
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| Q. |
Is the GRE or GMAT score required for admission? |
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No. For admission, it is not required that you have taken either the GMAT test or the GRE tests. However, we recommend you take the GMAT or GRE test. We suggest this because, having taken the test, you are more likely to be viewed as a more serious student by the U.S. visa officer when you go to apply for your visa. You will be required to take the GMAT before you graduate from the co-op program in some schools. |
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| Q. |
What if I am in my last semester of undergraduate study. Can I apply to the program now? |
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You can send the transcripts that you now have along with the other required application materials. Also, include a letter indicating that your final transcripts will be sent as soon as you have received them from the College. In the meantime, the School can work on "conditional" acceptance for you--that is, you can be accepted for admission subject only to presenting those final documents of graduation. |
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| Q. |
What is Curricular Practical Training? |
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Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the legal description for the one year employment that you are allowed to engage in after you graduate from your Master's program. The purpose of OPT is to give you further practical experience in the workplace relating to your major. |
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| Q. |
Am I allowed to engage in both CPT and OPT? |
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Yes. However, 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. |
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| Q. |
If I choose to work in CPT for the entire length of time I am in the Master's program, will I be allowed to do so? |
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Yes, you are allowed to engage in CPT for as long as you are a student in the Master's program up to 36 months. However, as indicated above, if, in fact, you do work full time for more than a year you may not be allowed to do the additional one year of OPT after you graduate. Part-time CPT, regardless of how long it is, will not take away your right to do the OPT. |
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| Q. |
How can I go to school and work at the same time? |
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All Co-op courses will be offered in the executive format. That is, classes will be offered in the evenings and/or on weekends. |
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| Q. |
Can I take on-line courses? |
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Yes. Some course offered in the Master degree programs is available on-line. It is legal for International students to take one on-line course per semester along with two on-site classes. |
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| Q. |
Can I transfer my credits from another school? |
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The University may give credit for some courses already taken at the Master's level at another school, if the other school is accredited and if the course content being transferred is basically the same as one of the courses in the university's requirement for that major. The Registrar will make this decision when you arrive for your first class. |
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| Q. |
What if I decide to transfer to a different university? |
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If you enroll at the university and complete your course work for one semester and choose to transfer to another university you are free to do so, so long as your bills at the university are all paid in full up to that date. |
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| Q. |
Should I contact school for application? |
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You will need to contact an office in your country or an authorized consulting agency or placement agency there. There will be a substantial fee charged by the consulting or placement agency to handle your application material, assist you with complying with U.S. government Immigration Service regulations, training you in preparation for the visa interview with the U.S. consulate, and in the scheduling of the dates for enrollment in the program and for the visa interview. School will not directly take any applications due to the exclusively contract arrangement with agent. |
