International students have a lot on their plate without having to worry about international student health insurance, especially right now, with summer just two months away. For many international students, this is a good thing, because it means that they can work on campus for 40 hours, compared to the 20 hours they are usually able to work during the fall and spring semesters.
It is a good time to put out feelers to prospective employers within the campus. If you are an international student in a graduate program, it is a good time to gain both valuable experience and money, by applying for a job that is related to your field of work or study.
To make the most of summer, it is also good to just speak with some professors in the department about opportunities within the department. Professors from allied departments might also have some research opportunities, and it is best to approach professors through friends in the department, to look for potential employment in the summer.
However, if a student is nearing graduation, now is a good time to discuss options for OPT health insurance with your institution’s department of international students, and also do some independent research. Remember that many college-sponsored plans do not cover the student at the subsidized rate during the OPT period.
