State University of New York at Oswego

There are many strategies for exploring careers and identifying occupations that fit your career preferences. It is never too early to begin exploring!

Exploratory and Networking Events
Throughout the semester we host a variety of events that give you exposure to different career paths and professionals in various industries to aid in your exploration. Some events include:

Test Drive Your Career
We'll take you there! Join us for a visit off-campus to a company or organization that you are interested in to learn first hand about the industry.

Pizza with Professionals
Over 100 professionals come to campus each year to talk to you about careers. 

Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Program
Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) is a mentoring program that matches students with individual alumni in a diverse range of professional industries to explore career fields of interest.

Job Shadow/Informational Interview
Spend a day with a professional in the field or interview a professional about their discipline. This is a great way to learn firsthand about career fields or majors. Check out these tips on networking and the informational interviewing video to get you started. 

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Academic qualifications/averages
High school diploma or equivalent
Mean 89.5 GPA
Considerations
While no exact formula for college acceptance exists, we can tell you that grades, test scores, and essays are crucial in our decision — but we also look for more in our applicants. We search for students who are doers, makers, leaders and thinkers. We look for students with a well-rounded academic background, who ideally come to college with:

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of mathematics (algebra I, II, geometry)
• 3 units of social science
• 3 units of science (of which 2 must be lab science)
• 2 consecutive units of foreign language

English Language Requirements
Typically, international applicants must submit official test score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  

TOEFL: 79 overall, MBA programs require 83
IELTS: 6.5