International Student Meeting 08/29/2016 Penn State Actuarial Science Club

Agenda  Big Picture  General Resources  How to Enrich Resume  Education/Exams  Activities/Leadership  Related Work Experience  Skills  Graduate School  Visa Issues

NameCompany/ProgramLocation Max GuoAIGNew York, NY Tong GuoPwCNew York, NY Jiaxin LiangFalls Lake InsuranceRaleigh, NC Ying ShiPhoenixHartford, CT Eyan SuWakely ConsultingClearwater, FL Cathy WangWillis Towers WatsonWashington, DC Mckayla YangBC/BS of Western NYBuffalo, NY Zekun ZhangExcellus BC/BSSyracuse, NY Mavis ZhaoAIGNeptune, NJ Byung Kyu ChoiMasters in Applied Statistics (MAS) State College, PA

Big Picture  U.S. Pros : #1 job & STEM (RM students change CIP code) Cons : Sponsorship & Supply > Demand  China Pros : Increasing Opportunity Cons : Higher Degree Preferred  Canada / Singapore / Hong Kong / UK

 PSU Resources  Smeal Resource Smeal Resource BA297A (Recommended for Sophomores)  Eberly Resource Eberly Resource Bank of America career center  Outside Resources LinkedIn, Glassdoor… General Resources

Education  GPA (cumulative & major)  Major / Minor  Actuarial Exams  How to prepare?  Timeline  Important to pass Exam P & FM in Sophomore year  3 exams to get Full-Time Job

Activities/Leadership  Never too late to start  PSU resources:  Be confident and find you passion  Develop leadership roles Clubs Volunteer

Related Work Experience  One is better than nothing  What recruiters are looking for:  Communication  Teamwork  Ability to learn

Skills  Communication skills Interviews, s, daily conservations  Software  Excel Excel  VBA  SAS SAS  R R  Python Python  SQL

Graduate School  Why is it a good option?  How to prepare for the application?  (GPA/Activities/Experience/Recommendation letter)  Penn State Masters in Applied Statistics Program (M.A.S.)

 For interns —CPT(Curricular Practical Training)CPT Eligibility (a full-time basis for one academic year) Need to take RM395/SC294/STAT496  For Full Time jobs —OPT(Optional Practical Training)OPT usually 12 months, STEM 24 months moreSTEM  An additional year of OPT at each higher degree level (i.e. Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD.)  No job offer needed —H1B VisaH1B Visa Issues

Post-completion OPT Program  International students are eligible to work in the U.S up to 12 months after graduation.  International students who need H1-B Visa can find visa sponsoring companies during OPT program.  Again, PSU offers OPT-program, therefore, you are going to be holding EAD card, F-1 visa, and OPT I-20 during this program while you are traveling abroad.

Post-completion OPT Program  Post-OPT program accepts only 90 days of unemployment during the program periods.  Post-OPT program will begin at the certain date you select after graduation but before the end of your grace period.  Grace Period – F-1 Students may stay in the U.S up to 60 days after the end of school program date. During this period, you cannot re- enter to the U.S and cannot work in the U.S

Applying OPT-Program  You may apply OPT-program no sooner than 90 days before the graduation. I recommend you to finish the paper works and submit the application ASAP.  Some may apply the OPT-Program after graduation; however, we do not know how long USCIS will take to send you an EAD card(Employment Authorization Document). You must hold get EAD card by the end of your grace period.  EAD Card – a document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that provides temporary employment authorization to noncitizens in the United States.  Employers can’t let you work until the beginning date of EAD

Documents that must be ready  A personal check or money order payable to “Department of Homeland Security.” (application fee $380)  Complete Form I-765 (must follow the direction)  Complete Form G-1145  Printout of I-94 form  Photocopy of biographical page of passport  Photocopy of any previously issued EAD  Photocopy of most recent visa (F-1)

Documents that must be ready  Photocopy of all previously issued SEVIS I-20s and a copy of OPT I- 20(also called recommendation I-20)  You have to request post-completion OPT I-20 on  Two passport quality photos taken within past 30 days and put your name and SEVIS number on the back side of each photos

When and How we apply?  Once your OPT I-20 is issued, within 30 days, You have to apply OPT program.  DISSA advisers can review your application packages  You mail all completed documents to USCIS Center YOU MUST CHECK WHERE YOU MAIL OPT APPLICATION TO APPROPRIATE USCIS CENTER

When and How you apply OPT?  Your receipt number from USCIS will be delivered to you and you can use the number to check your OPT case status.  Once you get your EAD card, you must fill out your employment info on PSU istart webpage.

STEM Extension  F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, are employed by employers enrolled in E-Verify, and who have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT related to such a degree, may apply for a 24-month extension. optional-practical-training-opt/24-month-stem-opt  Actuarial Option in STAT and MATH can get STEM extension.  STEM fields can be changed. Must check US Homeland Security or USCIS webpage. extension

Check PSU Global Website for more details  psu/students/employment/f-1-optional-practical- training-opt psu/students/employment/f-1-optional-practical- training-opt  psu/students/employment/f-1-optional-practical- training-opt/24-month-stem-opt psu/students/employment/f-1-optional-practical- training-opt/24-month-stem-opt  You must check all your documents with DISSA adviser!!  Every Friday 12pm, July 1 –Aug 5 DISSA OPT Packet Review Sessions 412 Boucke

PSU Master of Applied Statistics (MAS Program) If you have a plan to go to graduate school, you need to prepare application early. 1. GPA (>3.5 and quantitative course grades ) 2. At least 3 recommendations letter 3. Your statements of purpose 4. GRE score (Analytical Writing score) 5. Since you will get the B.S degree in the States, your TOEFL score may be waived 6. Your experience

Questions about PSU MAS program  Deadline for Summer and Fall application is Jan 15  Dr. Mosuk Chow  questions questions

 Zhongyi Yuan, PhD & ASA  Teaches RM 410 (Financial Math) in Fall  Teaches RM 420 (C Exam = P&C and Health) in Spring Professor’s Advice

Q & A Thanks for coming!