Since yesterday, many places across the country have begun to announce college entrance examination scores one after another.
It's the annual time of "a few happy and a few sad", some people cheer, some people beat their chests, some people run to tell each other, and some people secretly feel sad.
However, we must understand that the college entrance examination is only a barrier on the road of life, and it cannot determine a person's future. In fact, there are many choices in life, and studying abroad is one of them.
At a time when many candidates are still anxious about the college entrance examination, children who choose the path of studying abroad have begun to prepare for the start of the new semester abroad. Recently, New York University, the University of Southern California, Durham University and other prestigious universities in the United States have held pre-departure meetings for freshmen.
For the new students who are about to embark on the journey of studying in the United States, many seniors and seniors who Xiaoqiao knows have shared a lot of constructive suggestions, which can help the new students avoid many unnecessary detours.
Stella: Find the right major for you
Everyone's career is an important part of their life, and if it aligns with their strengths, it will bring endless fulfillment and joy. Some people are lucky enough to find their "true destiny" all at once, while others are not so smooth and may take a long time to explore.
So, don't wait until you've finished your studies to find out that you don't really like your major. Try and correct mistakes as early as possible, such as making the most of your vacation to experience different careers.
For example, I originally studied accounting and business, and I did a short-term internship at a university, but after the internship, it became clear to me that I didn't like this major and that I was really not good at it.
I quickly switched my major to economics and started trying to work in management consulting over the summer. It's more fun for me and it makes me perform better. It is just like continuous trial and error, continuous attempts, and finally found a development direction that suits me.
Choosing is a very difficult thing and requires great courage, and choosing a major that suits you will allow your efforts to achieve results faster.
Stu: Master those skills that are hard to acquire
When we first enter university, we are often attracted by the colorful subject courses. It is true that they can give us a glimpse of the wider world, but it is not enough. We need to make the most of our time in school to build our professional skills.
Professional skills mainly refer to those professional knowledge that is difficult to master through self-study, such as mathematics, statistics, law, accounting, etc. These courses usually require the guidance of experienced tutors and the pressure of credits to succeed in these difficult courses. And if you are free from the guidance of pressure and credits, it will be very difficult to rebuild the curriculum system.
For those who are interested in law, public policy, business, economics, medicine, etc., at least two semesters of statistics are required. Because over time, you'll find that data can play a huge role in a variety of industries, and even if you don't have the opportunity to take advantage of it in your current life, it will definitely come in handy in the future.
I have a female classmate who always chooses some highly specialized and seemingly challenging courses to study. Every time I see her stay up late writing a paper for a statistics class, and she is so busy with group discussions that she can't even take care of food, I always advise her, "You don't need to be so serious in class, just deal with it casually." And she always shook her head, then took the sandwich and continued to write the report.
Later, when she was hired by a company in Silicon Valley for her rigorous data reporting, I realized that many people's efforts are not meaningless, and their achievements are actually foreshadowed.
Mike: Take the path that opens up more options
In today's era, confusion seems to have become a common mentality among young people. If, like most people, you're confused about what you want to do in the future, don't try to limit your options.
More choices also mean more possibilities. When I first arrived in the U.S., I didn't know where I wanted to go, but I never gave up any possible opportunity. In order to adapt to the new environment more quickly, I actively participated in various club activities, participated in various practical projects in my spare time, gained experience, and also listened to the advice of my seniors, and took many courses that were interesting and helpful to me.
And when faced with the uncertainty of the H-1B, I did get lost. Luckily, I was determined to take the path that would open up more options, so I got my U.S. green card.
After having a green card, you can live and work freely in the United States, no longer subject to many restrictions on visas, and can plan your life and career more calmly. You can freely choose your career and pursue the job you really love, without worrying about the trouble caused by visa issues, and fully demonstrate your value.
In fact, it is also very useful for freshmen studying in the United States to get a green card as soon as possible if they have the opportunity. Generally, in the United States, international students are not allowed to work for a U.S. or non-U.S. company without a legal work authorization, except for on-campus work. Unauthorized work may result in the student's visa status being invalidated, or even repatriated to their home country in severe cases.
Therefore, international students must apply for a work permit CPT as prescribed when considering any job or internship opportunity. The total duration of CPT during the 4-year period in the United States is only 12 months, which is not only very limited, but also very limited to apply.
Some U.S. universities do not allow international students to apply for CPT to work part-time off-campus during the semester, and only allow them to apply for CPT during the winter and summer vacations, or some professional programs are allowed, and some professional programs are not allowed.
Compared to the restrictions on internships or part-time jobs in the U.S. for international students, students with green cards have much more freedom in the internship and job market. Not only does it not require CPT to participate in the internship directly, but it also has a wider degree of freedom when choosing an internship position. Not only can they choose internships related to their majors, but they can also do internships across majors and explore different career fields. This interdisciplinary internship helps them broaden their horizons, discover new areas of interest, and build a solid foundation for their future careers.
There is also no cap on the length of internship for green card students. If you have time, you can flexibly participate in various part-time jobs, which can not only increase your income stream, but also enrich your resume and enhance your overall competitiveness.
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