An important reminder as we approach orientation for new international students

From September 8th - 15th, OISS Staff will be welcoming new students and leading orientation activities to welcome a large cohort of new international students. So that we may focus our efforts on the newly arriving students, advising appointments will not be offered September 8 - 15 and virtual advising via Web-In-Wednesday will not be offered on Wed. August 13th. Please plan accordingly and email your advisor if you have an urgent need during that time period.

OISS will be closed for Labor Day  on Monday, September 4th 

Labor Day (observed on the 1st Monday of September) is a federal and University holiday. All administrative and academic offices, including OISS, will be closed. 

Learn about OPT

The next online Optional Practical Training (OPT) workshop will be held Wed., Sept. 6th  beginning at 12:00 noon (CT).  OPT eligibility requirements, application timelines and application requirements will be covered in detail. All F-1 international students interested in applying for OPT are encouraged to attend.

See event details for more info including Zoom link to join the meeting.

Looking for an on-campus job?

Check the Northwestern University Student Job Board

Beware of Job Scams!

Scammers advertise jobs the same way honest employers do — online (in ads, on job sites, and social media), in newspapers, and sometimes on TV and radio. They promise you a job, but what they want is your money and your personal information.

How to avoid a job scam:

Before you accept a job offer, take these steps to avoid common job scams:

• Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person. No complaints? It doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints can tip you off to possible problems.

• Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also helps give you vital time to think about the offer.
• Never pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy gift cards with it. That’s a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.

Read more advice from the Federal Trade Commission on Job Scams.

NCA: International Student Career Fair Drop-ins

When: Thursday, Sept. 21st from 12 - 2 PM
Where: OISS, 630 Dartmouth

Have a question about developing a strategy for the in-person or virtual career fairs? Want to practice your elevator pitch? Need help identifying which employers can hire students on CPT/OPT or are willing to sponsor? Drop by the Office of International Student & Scholar Service (OISS) at 630 Dartmouth Place on Thursday, September 21st from 12-2 pm speak with NCA Career Advisers Brett Boettcher, Laura Droste, and Meg Flanagan!

More Info on Handshake

NCA Sponsored Career Fairs on Sept 26 & 28

Coffee Talk 

Coffee Talk is a welcoming space tailored for international students & scholars as well as those who have or are interested in international experiences. Attendees can: 

• Connect and interact with other international students on-campus over coffee, tea, snacks, and fun games. 
• Support each other in navigating friendships, cross-cultural adjustment to academics and living in the US, overcome imposter syndrome, homesickness, relationships, career, stress and anxiety, and other relevant topics.
• Grow self-confidence and cultivate a sense of belonging on campus. 
• Celebrate the pride and resilience of international students.
• And take a break from studies! 

Coffee Talk is co-sponsored by CAPS and OISS, and each meeting will be hybrid: In person at OISS (630 Dartmouth) or attend virtually via Zoom.

• Fall 2023 meeting times: Every other Friday at 3:00 - 4:00 PM, beginning September 29th
  Dates: Sept 29, Oct 13, Oct 27, Nov 10

View the Coffee Talk flier for full details including link the Zoom link for those attending virtually and all fall dates.

A message from the African Graduate Student Association (AGSA) at Northwestern University:

AGSA is an organization that aims to build a community of African students at Northwestern. AGSA is committed to supporting and empowering African graduate students on campus. The AGSA mission is to provide a space for African graduate students to connect, share experiences, and support each other academically and professionally. AGSA organizes events such as networking events with African professionals and alumni, professional development workshops and seminars, cultural events and celebrations, and advocacy and support for issues affecting African graduate students on campus.

If you are interested in being a part of the AGSA community, you can send an email to  agsa@u.northwestern.edu and learn more on the AGSA website.

Calendar of Events

September 4th - OISS is closed in observance of Labor Day holiday

September 6th @ 12 PM  - OPT Workshop (virtual)

September 21st, 12 - 2 PM - Int'l Student Drop in Advisement to Prepare for NCA Career Fair

September 26th - Virtual Career Fair

September 28th - In-person Career Fair 

September 29th, 3 - 4 PM - Coffee Talk