| Introduction
First, let me give you a brief introduction to my background. I am a Master's graduate in the humanities and, after using my OPT for a year, I chose to maintain my legal status as a student working in the US by using CPT. At that time, I sought help from Wildfire Education for school selection and application and finally settled on the MBA program at Monroe College in New York. As is well known, an MBA is relevant to most professions because all fields involve some knowledge of management, which makes it easier to demonstrate the relevance of the degree to one's future career.
CPTDog has provided a very detailed introduction to Monroe College's basic information on its school page, which I won't go into here. Today, I mainly want to share some details of the process of my studies and some important considerations with those who may need it.
| Academic Structure and Attendance 📅
The MBA program at Monroe College is accredited by ACBSP, making it relatively stable in terms of qualifications, which is why I chose this program. The entire program takes about two years to complete, with three semesters per year: fall, winter, and spring.
Students are required to attend classes on campus 3-4 times per semester
Usually at the beginning, middle, and end of each semester
Onsite classes are usually held on one day of the weekend
With morning sessions from 10:30-1:00 and afternoon sessions from 1:30-4:30. Professors may also end class early on occasion
In addition to live and recorded online classes, the school has strict attendance requirements for onsite classes. However, this also means that, in the event of an H1B RFE in the future, having strict attendance records can be helpful.
One thing I'd like to mention is that, after completing three semesters of coursework at Monroe, students can apply for a one-semester leave by filling out a semester leave form. Moreover, during this break, students can still apply for CPT as usual and work, making it a good opportunity to increase the chances of obtaining an H1B visa. An additional semester may also cover the H1B lottery in March of the following year.
For course selection, I referred to Wildfire Education's internal rating system for professors, which allowed me to choose the most suitable professor for my learning style.
| Course Selection System📝
Academic Pressure: 🧐
In my opinion, the intensity of the program is moderate, and spending four or five hours per week on coursework is completely manageable.
In the first semester, several one-credit foundation courses are grouped together, which may be slightly more tiring because the assignments for the three courses combined can make the workload seem larger than a three-credit course. However, after overcoming this stage, the three-credit courses in subsequent semesters will be much easier.
Regarding assignment submissions, I certainly do not advocate passing the due date, but overall, the teachers are quite understanding. If an assignment is submitted late, just send an email to the teacher and explain the situation, and it should not be a problem.
Also, it's important to note that for online courses where there is no need to video chat with the teacher, the teacher will post the assignment on the school's Blackboard platform. So, students should remember to check for new assignments posted on Blackboard.
| I-20 Application🎯
Schools prefer to have 1-2 weeks to process the I-20 application before the start of the semester, which is about 15 days. For example, if the start date is January 6th, your previous school should send the release form and SEVIS transfer date to Monroe on December 24th of the previous year. This way, the school has enough time to ensure that you can receive CPT on the first day of enrollment. Monroe can only start issuing CPT to students after your previous school has transferred your release form and the new school has received the document.
As a negative example, I procrastinated and missed the deadline for applying to a CPT program. I found Wildfire Education to help me with an expedited application when I faced the desperate situation of my OPT soon expiring. Fortunately, I encountered a very professional and helpful education institution. Wildfire Education cooperated with Monroe's admission process, so I received an offer within 4 working days, with the application fee waived, smoothly enrolled, activated CPT successfully, and maintained my work status.
In case anyone needs similar help, scan the QR code at the end of the article to consult with Wildfire's professional consultant teacher.👇
| CPT Application ⛳️
After completing enrollment, to apply for CPT, you only need to：
register for the internship course
fill out the application form, and
sign the employer agreement.
once you have prepared the above materials, submit them to a teacher named Diana for review
Her response is usually fast, and you can receive CPT one or two working days after the employer signs the agreement. By the way, there is no requirement that the agreement must be sent from the employer to the school. You can prepare it yourself and send it directly to the school. It is better to take the initiative than to passively wait for the employer.
Some students from large companies, such as Google, are not provided with an employer agreement. However, this issue can be solved easily. I have encountered classmates who asked for a separate offer from a Director with good relations, stating that they need it for CPT. This offer can look different from the official letter, and you can use it repeatedly when renewing CPT every semester by changing the date.
Many students complain that other schools allow CPT to be renewed once a year, so why can't Monroe do the same?
Personally, I think Monroe's approach is based on a serious and responsible attitude. Continuously renewing CPT also consumes the school's human resources and time, so why bother? Ultimately, it is to provide more legally compliant documents for H1B or green card applications in the future. When renewing each semester, the required documents and application process are the same as the first time. I believe that the smart reader who has read this far can handle the subsequent process smoothly.
In addition, if you do not want to interrupt your CPT, you can work normally during the one-month break between semesters, as long as you communicate with the school in advance.
| Transportation 🚗
The Professional Experience Track campus provided by Monroe College is located at the New Rochelle Campus, which has very convenient transportation. The New Rochelle Campus is located in the center of New Rochelle, a city in the north of New York City.
The MBA program that I attended was located at the New Rochelle Campus, which is only about a 20-minute drive from the central station in Manhattan. The frequency of the schedule is also quite high, so if you live in Manhattan, commuting is very convenient. During non-class hours, you can also take the opportunity to explore Manhattan, combining learning and relaxation.
Students who live nearby can easily come and go on the same day. The parking problem is easily solved. There is a free ground parking lot on campus, and there are also garages around the school that require payment, but the price is not too expensive.
| Vaccination 💉
According to the school's regulations, if you haven't received the MMR vaccine, you cannot register for classes normally.
I found that some of my classmates encountered this bottleneck during the same period and were in a rush to find out that they couldn't register for classes at the beginning of the semester. In fact, the solution is very simple.
I believe that everyone has received the MMR vaccine in their previous school. You can find the vaccination record issued by the previous school's hospital, upload the materials to Monroe, and then waive this hold!
| Dining 🍗
For students who attend classes at the New Rochelle Campus, be sure not to miss the desserts handmade by culinary students and the restaurant The Dining Lab, which is completely operated by students. The restaurant's menu is updated twice a semester, aiming to provide diners with the freshest local seasonal ingredients. The average cost per person for dinner is only $29.95 before tax. If you take a look at the menu, you will know that what I said is not exaggerated. This set menu includes starters, main courses, and desserts.thedininglab.com/menu
| Accommodation🏨
Students who fly in to attend classes may also consider the issue of accommodation. I usually stay near the Grand Central Station.
Here are some hotels that I recommend for their low price (around $100), proximity, and value for money. You can consider them according to your personal preferences:
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Address: At Grand Central Terminal, 109 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Hilton Garden Inn New York/Midtown Park Ave
Address: 45 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
The Tuscany Hotel by LuxUrban
Address: 120 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016
