Prospective FAQs
Immigration
What should I do to get a student visa?
- Apply and be accepted to OCCC
- Receive your I-20 from OCCC
- Pay the SEVIS fee
- Fill out application for the DS-160 form
- Schedule your visa interview found on the website of your country’s US embassy
- Prepare for visa interview
Q: Can I bring my dependent with me to OCCC?
A: Yes. Make sure you have submitted your dependents passport, visa, and proof of dependency to your DSO. Your DSO will then make a new I-20 for your dependent and will send both I-20s to you at the same time.
Q: How should I prepare for my trip to the United States?
A: Familiarize yourself with the different kinds of documents you might need. It is a good idea to keep your original copies with you at all times. Do not put them in your checked baggage.
Documents needed:
- Valid Passport
- Valid U.S. Visa
- Form I-20
- Proof of I-901 fee payment
Admissions
Q: Should my documents be translated into English or stay in the original language?
A: All documents must be translated into English.
Q: Do I need to take an English proficiency test?
A: All international students are required to take an English proficiency test.
General
Q: Can International students work while in the United States?
A: International students are allowed to work 20 hours a week with on-campus employment. However, students are not allowed to work off-campus.
Q: What is the difference between a college and a university?
A: Colleges offer Associates degrees while universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. Associates degrees allow you to work for one year after completion and then for your records to transfer to a University, saving you thousands of dollars.
Q: What is the academic calendar for colleges in the United States?
A: In Oklahoma, the academic year usually runs from August through May with breaks for holidays. You can see our academic calendar .
Q: Can I transfer to a U.S. university from a university outside of the United States?
A: Yes, although you may lose some credits and require extra time to complete your degree. You can go through our third-party evaluators to have your credits evaluated.
Q: Why should I attend community college?
A: Community colleges offer lower costs, easier admission policies, close ties to state 4- year schools, and many of the required courses will transfer to an Undergraduate degree. International students also are able to work for one year extra in the USA by getting an Associate’s degree first.
Q: How do you transfer from a community college to a four-year university?
A: The transfer process varies for each school. It is best to apply to the four-year institution early. Once you know where you will transfer out, you will then fill out an easy online form to have your SEVIS record transferred.
Q: How can I find out if an institution is accredited?
A: Search the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Post-secondary Education website to see if an institution is accredited.
Q: What is the credit system in U.S. universities?
A: A credit is a value assigned to each course, which reflects the number of hours the class will meet with the professor each week. Most classes at OCCC are 3 credit hours. To be a full time student, you must be enrolled in 12 hours, which would be 4 classes as semester if each class was 3 hours.
Q: What is the U.S. grading system?
A: Letter grades indicate a student's academic performance. Each letter grade has a numeric value, which is used to calculate a GPA, on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0.
Grade options: A (excellent)=4.0 B (above average)=3.0 C= (average)= 2.0 D(below average)= 1.0 F(failing)=0.0
