3) Internship & Experience Engine (Core Student Output)
Internship timeline by semester
Big companies (the ones that pay the most and sponsor visas) often finish their summer hiring by October or November of the year before. That means if you want a job in June 2027, you are interviewing in September 2026. Use your first semester to polish your resume and LinkedIn. By your second semester, you should be applying to at least 5 jobs every week.
This is a "pro-gamer move" for international students.
- Take your hardest, most time-consuming classes in your first year.
- Your second year (or final semesters) is when you will be busy with job interviews, networking events, and career fairs. If you are stuck in a lab or writing a 40-page thesis during peak hiring season (usually September–November and February–March), you will miss out on jobs.
- Make your final semesters lighter so you can treat "Job Hunting" like a full-time 3-credit course.
3) Internship & Experience Engine (Core Student Output)
In the US, an internship isn't just a "summer job." It is a 3-month long interview for a full-time position. For international students, it is also the best way to prove to a company that you are worth a future visa sponsorship. Here is how you build your "Experience Engine.
Record your progress
Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.