Freshman Year - Discover
Students
- Discover your interest(s).
- Meet your high school counselor(s) for advice on college planning & course selection and scheduling.
Parents
- Encourage good study habits and communication skills.
- Talk to your child about which classes they enjoy and where they are struggling to help them set and maintain academic goals.
Sophomore Year - Explore
Students
- Take the PSAT.
- GPA counts! Stay on track with your courses and activities.
- Explore your curiosity and express your creativity.
Parents
- Keep checking in with your child about their evolving interests.
- Encourage them to challenge themselves by getting more involved at school and in the community.
Junior Year - Choose
Students
- Keep building that GPA!
- Know date(s) for SAT and/or ACT.
- Search for scholarships & plan college visits.
- Build community service hours & familiarize yourself with college applications.
Parents
- Stay informed with your child's teachers and counselor to discuss their progress.
- These conversations can provide valuable insights into opportunities your child can pursue after high school.
Senior Year - Achieve
Students
- Plan out requirement deadlines for colleges.
- Complete your FAFSA & scholarship packages.
- Ask for reference letters while completing college applications.
- Graduate high school!
Parents
- Support your child during this critical time by attending and participating in school-sponsored Parent Nights and Workshops.
- These events offer valuable information and support as your child prepares to transition beyond high school.
How should I go through life?
Journey to roadmap
As an international student, it's crucial to remember that your student visa outlines the terms and conditions for employment, including internships, while in the US.
To secure an internship in the USA, you must understand what your visa permits and prohibits regarding internships to maintain your eligibility status at your US college or university.
Each student visa has specific conditions related to internships.
f-1 visa students
Can F-1 students apply for internships? Of course! With an F-1 student visa, your purpose of travel to the US is completing a degree program at an accredited university or college. F-1 visa allows you to apply for an internship with assistance from your university. Take note that some programs require an internship as part of your program—Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
You may not work off-campus during the 1st academic year…
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… unless given permission from your university. You can apply for on-campus employment opportunities.
Through CPT, your internship must be directly connected to your degree program, and you must have completed your 1st year of university. You are required to apply for CPT authorization and secure an updated I-20 form before starting your internship.
After finishing your program, you have the option to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). You can also seek OPT while still studying, known as pre-completion OPT, which restricts work to 20 hours per week during the academic term but permits full-time employment during breaks and vacations. Post-completion OPT grants permission to work full-time in the US for up to 12 months, pending approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If your degree is STEM-related, you may be eligible for an extension of up to 2 more years.
refine your resume
Crafting a strong resume is essential for showcasing your skills, experiences, and accomplishments to potential employers. Set yourself apart with career-quality experience that forms the ultimate foundation for your future.
cover letter
A cover letter accompanies your resume when applying for a job. However, I strongly believe that cover letters are often unnecessary. They frequently duplicate information already present in the resume and can be overlooked by hiring managers who may only glance at them, potentially missing any additional effort you put into crafting one.
The stakes are high—while a well-crafted one can significantly boost your chances, a poorly written one can equally hinder your prospects.
What are the requirements? Rules?
Internships and Visa
Statistics
The statistics included in Open Doors 2023 encompass international students enrolled at U.S. higher education institutions, including those studying online from abroad and those participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT). The purpose of presenting these statistics is to highlight trends, identify key source countries, and offer insights into the global mobility of students. This information is valuable for policymakers, educational institutions, and researchers to understand the impact of international education on the U.S. and
global higher education landscape.
us institutions hosting
international students 2022/2023
Source: Map Chart - Geographical Chart of U.S. Institutions hosting international students, 2022/2023
Source: Open Doors, Fast Facts 2023
primary source of funding for international students in 2022/23
The statistics presented on this data aims to provide an understanding of the financial landscape and different sources that support international students in the United States. This information is crucial for educational institutions, policymakers, and financial aid organizations to tailor their support systems, create more effective funding strategies, and identify potential areas for financial assistance.
By including precise data labels, we enhance the clarity and comprehension of the funding distribution, making it easier to identify the most significant sources of financial support for international students.
Created using Matplotlib in Python, visualizing the distribution of primary funding sources for international students based on 2022/23 data.
Source: Open Doors, Fast Facts 2023. Proportion of International Students' Primary Source of Funding 2022/23.
Students In Different Fields of Study In 2021/22 & 2022/23
The comparison of the number of students in different fields of study between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years provides valuable insights into trends and shifts in academic interests among international students. By analyzing these statistics, we aim to identify growing or declining fields of study, which can inform educational institutions, policymakers, and advisors in their strategic planning and resource allocation. Understanding these trends can also help prospective students make informed decisions about their academic pursuits.
Created using Matplotlib in Python, visualizing student counts across various fields of study for the academic years 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Source: Open Doors, Fast Facts 2023. Comparison of the number of students in different fields of study in 2021/22 and 2022/23.
PLACES OF ORIGIN OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS in 2022/2023
Country
This information is valuable for understanding international education trends, identifying key countries contributing to student diversity, and shaping policies or strategies for educational institutions aiming to attract a diverse student body. The goal is to highlight patterns in international student mobility and inform stakeholders about the geographical landscape of international education.
Created using Matplotlib in Python, visualizing the number of international students from different countries based on data from 2022/23.
Source: Open Doors, Fast Facts 2023. Distribution of international students by country of origin in 2022/23.