CHAT: Transcript of Q&A for International Students
Chat for International Students
Q&A with Prof. Josh Friedman
Thurday, July 19, 2007
[ See other chats and transcripts ]
JFriedman(P) This is Josh Friedman. I will be speaking to you today with Dragon NaturallySpeaking This is a voice dictation program so you may see some weird mistakes that don’t make sense. I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out what I’m trying to say. Otherwise, just ask and I’ll clarify what I’m saying.
Susana(Q) International Students are not allowed to work off-campus until 9 months into a student Visa, but would that restrict us from work as paid freelance contributors for magazine/radio/etc?
JFriedman(A) Hi Susanna — As far as I know, you student visa prevents you from doing work for money. I think the nine-month part you’re talking about is something called Optional Practical Training or OPT, which gives you a year after graduation to remain here in the U.S. to work in something related to what you studied.
DeanHuff(P) Susanna, you may work on campus on an F1 visa, but aren’t allowed to work off campus until you have been a student for nine months: Full-time students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.
On-campus employment means that you are paid by Columbia University or working at a University location with an employer that is providing services to students, such as the Bookstore. On-campus employment requires an I-9 Employment Verification Authorization form to be completed by you at the ISSO in advance of beginning to work. This does include freelance writing!
susana(C) Part two of that question - Following graduation (which coincides with the end of that 9 month period), is there a buffer or window of time that would allow us to stay in the US to work? I remember reading about a 1 year grace period when I looked up my Visa info a while ago.
JFriedman(P) Susanna — I think you are referring to the Optional Practical Training program (OPT). This is something you have to request from the US government. A limited number are given out. But if you apply early enough in the spring, you have a good chance of getting permission to stay one more year to work.
DeanHuff(P) More information on Optional Practical Training at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/F-1/index.html
dg2345(Q) Prof. Friedman - Divya here. If you’ve lived in the States for a long period of time but are still an international student, would it be possible to substitute the US as a foreign country class for another elective?
JFriedman(A) If you feel that you’re familiar with the culture and institutions of the United States, you can replace New York As a Foreign Country with the law course, which concentrates on laws affecting the press in the United States. It is useful for people who intend to stay here but others may find the laws not applicable. Except for people who live in the states for awhile, I recommend the New York As a Foreign Country class
susana(Q) This may not be quite on topic, but — I speak a few languages (Portuguese, Spanish, French), and I’m wondering if there will be opportunity to make use of them during the JSchool program? Perhaps in the context of International Reporting?
JFriedman(A) Susanna — if you speak Spanish,you will be able to communicate with large segments of the population who don’t speak English. As for French, you’ll be able to function in the city’s very large Haitian community. So, yes, you’ll use your languages in many courses, starting with RW1 in the fall.
DeanSree(Q) Prof. Friedman, a question I received yesterday. “My parents worry about my moving to NYC. Should they be worried?”
JFriedman(A) I think the answer depends on where you are moving from. If you’re coming from Baghdad or Chechnya,I don’t think they should worry. In fact, New York City is not at all as dangerous as it was 20 years ago but the image still persists., it’s a big city and they’re all the problems ago with the big city. But we will work with you when you arrive to make sure you understand how to stay safe here. So tell your parents not to worry. I’ll by the way, we only allow one explosion the year and that occurred yesterday so don’t worry.
DeanSree(Q) Question via e-mail: Any tips on how I can prepare before I get there in a few weeks?
JFriedman(A) few answers to that. I hope you got the letter I addressed specifically to international students which told you how to prepare. That was supposed to be iincluded in the admissions packet. If you didn’t rreceive it, let us know and we will send it. Secondly, we will be sending you a link to a film made by international students urecently to give you a sense of what you should anticipate. Thirdly, practice English as much as you can — and get a lot of rest. You’ll be working very hard with you arrive.
susana(Q) Thanks for the responses thus far! I have a question about income taxes. Namely, will we have to file taxes in the US?
JFriedman(A) will have to research that question and we’ll let you know when you get here.
DeanSree(Q) A question via e-mail: I ‘registered’ my ballot a few days ago, but haven’t received a confirmation e-mail. Can you confirm that you have received my preferences? Thank you.
DeanHuff(A) If you didn’t receive a confirmation e-mail you should resubmit your ballot. And if it still doesn’t come through, please e-mail me directly.
Please note that we process the ballot with the latest time stamp before the deadline.
DeanHuff(P) Susana - Yes, all international students are required to submit income tax forms in April. The ISSO folks will walk you through the processs
dg2345(C) Susana/ Prof. Friedman - I know from my Hopkins experience in DC when I was working on campus that I had to pay taxes on the income earned.
Yian(Q) Professor Friedman, Good Morning. Thanks a lot for conducting this chat. How many of the international students typically take the Law class vs the US as a Foreign Country class?
JFriedman(A) Yian– most of the students take theNew York As a Foreign Country Class.a few, who have lived in the United States for many years, take the law course. But frankly, my impression from previous students is that they enjoy the New York Is a Foreign Country Class a lot more. Unless you have the job lined up here, it is very likely you will return back home so I’m not sure if American press law will be that helpful to you.
DeanHuff(P) Here is the information page:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/tax/ However, don’t worry about this now. You will receive lots of information and instructions once you arrive.
bs2452(Q) Prof. Friedman what would be the best way of using a background in international law with the course work at Columbia, particularly international reporting. (I realize this question maybe a bit vague). Is a Masters Project in this area practical since we have to base the bulk of the project in New York.
Thanks Betwa.
JFriedman(A) Hi Betwa–I’d be glad to sit down with you and discuss all this when you get here. Don’t worry you’ll have plenty of time before you have to make these decisions on your Masters project. But yes, I your point is well taken that it is much more practical to find a a local angle to your Masters project, even if it is internationally oriented. This will give you a lot more opportunity to were closely with your Masters advisor on reporting and then following up areas which you need to investigate further.
dg2345(Q) In the *Skills of the Journalist, it says we require 1 credit per unit. What does a ‘unit’ mean? How many units do we need?)
DeanHuff(A) Skills are one credit courses. FT students don’t have to worry about taking enough credits to graduate as we do all the registering for you.
As long as you complete your ballot, you will be registered for the correct number of credits and all of the requirements.
dg2345(Q) When is the deadline for the ballot?
DeanHuff(A) The deadline is Monday, July 23, 10 a.m.
cco2106(Q) Question regarding job hunting: From past experience how difficult/easy has it been for foreign students to find work in the US? Do a large percentage of them eventually go back to work in their home countries?
JFriedman(A) beyond the one year of practical training, it is very difficult for foreign students to find permanent journalism work in the United States.
There are a few reasons for this — 1 is the anemic state of journalism business here. In order for employers to foreign students obtain work visas, they have to certify that you are no Americans seeking the same job. That’s obviously very difficult for them to do in the current situation. Secondly, the entire visa situation in general is a lot more difficult since the attacks of 9/11. so be returning to your home country.
dg2345(Q) Is it certain that Prof. Sig Gissler will not be teaching RW I this year?
DeanSree(A) Yes, he will NOT be teaching RW1. He is teaching one of the the New Media Newsroom sections. NM Newsroom is mandatory for NM majors, and open to others. About half the students in each of the three sections will be non-majors.
db(Q) Not sure if this is appropriate for this chat, but I have a question regarding overseas employment (I’m from the US). I am fully aware it can take many years of “paying dues” before being able to work overseas, but is there one kind of direction to take as opposed to another. I’m particularly interested in covering the US military overseas.
JFriedman(A) I’ll be very glad to work with you when you get here to prepare for working overseas. I can’t guarantee you’ll get a job but I’ll do my best to help you. I think most of the students to go overseas quickly out of school are generally willing to take a risk as freelancers The “paying dues” part pertains only to staying with the same employer in hopes that you’ll eventually be sent overseas .that is really kind of dated because so many US journalism employers are cutting back on sending full-time employees overseas and are filling the void with freelancersand stringers.
lam_vo(Q) I would really like to do an internship during the spring semester… If I were to land an unpaid position at a magazine would that be considered “work” and thereby would I not be allowed to do it?
DeanHuff(A) As long as the internship is unpaid for all participants regardless of citizenship, then it is fine. What you cannot do is work for free at something Americans are getting paid for.
bs2452(Q) Dear Deans, I am Broadcast major and am still debating whether to do my MP in Broadcast or Print. If I fill in Broadcast in the ballot and later switch to print, will I still be able to opt for an adviser. Thank you for speaking with us. Betwa
DeanHuff(A) If you opt out of broadcast a print adviser will be assigned.
However, if you don’t ballot for a video project, you cannot opt in later.
anupk(Q) Good Morning Josh, Dean Sree and Dean Huff — Josh, what is the basic difference between the International Reporting class that Tom Kent teaches and the International Affairs Reporting that you teach in the fall?
JFriedman(A) Anup –couple of differences. First of all, his is an elective that demands less time on your part. You will be spending most of your fall semester of assessing about RW1 and then your Masters project. I think is a lot more reading and writing on the basis of documents in his course The spring international affairs course is six credit seminar and demands a lot more time.
There’s a lot more reporting out in the field. So these two courses are not actually mutually exclusive.
taismoraes(Q) hi, while studying at Columbia will I be able to write for a publication in my home country? I have an F1 visa.
JFriedman(A) yes,you can write for publication back home. The only restriction would be in a much time you would be taking from your studies.
There are many cases of students sending stories back home.
mathildep(Q) Hi there, I only just managed to join (power cut in Nairobi, long story) so apologies is this has already been asked: Medical insurance - how does this work? I’m an American who’s never had to deal with this as a dual-French citizen living in Europe. The Health Services website says that “all registered full time students are automatically enrolled in the Basic Level of the Columbia Student Medical Insurance plan offered by the University”
- is this just for international students, or will I be automatically enrolled as well? How much does it cost?
DeanHuff(A) Yes, all FT students, regardless of citizenship, are automatically enrolled for health insurance as of August 1, 2007. Full information is at http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/overview/index.html
lam_vo(Q) As for visas/greencards, I know this is a very specific question, but hope this applies to some of the others as well. If many of my relatives are US-citizens (grandparents, aunts, uncles) or greencard holders would it be easier for me to get a greencard? (My brother is working in NYC actually and his company is trying to get him a greencard)
DeanHuff(A) The folks at the ISSO are best suited to answer this - http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/
franz(Q) Prof. Friedman, I deferred to next year and I now have a whole year to think about my master’s project. Do you have any hints as to how I can approach this from overseas, and not being in NY?
JFriedman(A) Franz–frankly, I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying I write your Masters project. I would say if you have asked her year they should put your energies into improving your English and saving more money since is so expensive to go to the school.we can communicate about the Masters project during the year if you want.
anupk(Q) Could you please lead me to any information on medical insurance for international students?
DeanHuff(A) Medical Insurance is the same for all students - please go to http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/overview/index.html for details
dg2345(Q) A clarification -if I understood correctly, an earlier question suggests that even if you are a broadcast major, you can still to a MP in print. Is that correct?
DeanHuff(A) Yes, that is correct.
DeanSree(Q) Another question via e-mail: Can you tell me where some of the intl alumni end up working? Where are they now?
JFriedman(A) there is no neat answer for this question.some international students come here with the intention of returning back to the same employer for whom they have been working. In this case they usually get a promotion when they return. graduates from industrialized countries with a thriving Free Press usually wind up with a better job than they had left. It’s hard to generalize about the others. this is a good question and I’ll look into it so I can answer later on
mathildep(Q) Not sure if this question is appropriate for this chat or rather for the careers service one, but since you need questions… how much help can we get when it come to looking for jobs outside the US after graduation? Are the careers services more US focused?
JFriedman(A) over the last few years, the school has invested a lot more in career services. wer now have three people working on this full-time.just a few years ago, it was only one.Of course, it is a lot easier for them to help people with jobs in the United States.this extends to helping international students find jobs for optional practical training. But they’re pretty ingenious and if you press them I think they can help yousomewhat.
taismoraes(Q) I’m a broadcast concentrator and I want to do a video MP. Will I be able to sell my documentary on the US after graduation? Do I need an OPT?
What if an american is in my MP group?
JFriedman(A) Dear Tais–that is one hell of a question.I think is going to take several of our finest minds awhile to come up with an answer. Let’s discuss this when you arrive.
dg2345(Q) Thank you. A question related to immunizations. I got the MMR form requirements fulfilled but I read somewhere that it is strongly recommended to international students that they get vaccines for hepatitis B, tetanus, chicken pox and the PPD for Tuberclosis. I have most of these vaccines already but no record. What do you suggest?
DeanHuff(A) Only Measles, Mumps and Rubella are required and only for those do you need documentation. You don’t need a record for any others. That you have them is great, but nobody will ever ask about them. When you arrive you will need to make a decision about Meningitis. We handle this during orientation.
susana(Q) Is it possible to do a mixed-media masters project? I have a strong background in both radio production and magazine writing/editing. I’m currently enrolled as a magazine concentrator, and am curious as to whether I’d be able to develop an audio component as part of my print project.
DeanSree(A) Print students who take Radio Skills - or have previous radio experience (and know our tools) - can try to do a radio MP.
DeanHuff(P) taismoraes: Most likely you would be selling it just after graduation and at that point would be OPT eligible so it wouldn’t be a problem.
mathildep(Q) Josh, following on from anupk’s question about the differences between Tom Kent’s class and yours, what about Ann Cooper’s International Newsroom Spring elective?
JFriedman(A) Ann’s course was offeredfor the first time last year. I’m not completely familiar with it. Since it’s in the spring you’ll have a chance to speak directlyto her about it when you are here.. I think they concentrated on one particular theme in the news and produced a group project. again, since it is an elective it will not demand as much time and reporting as a six credit seminar.
lam_vo(Q) I’ve heard that there is a job fair in spring. Will there also be international employers/organisations looking for journalists?
JFriedman(A) Lam–great question. The job fair is a work in progress. In the past I don’t think we’ve had too many international lawyers but this is something that the international students and I should work on was you are here. Let’s press them to reach out to international employers for the spring job fair.
DeanSree(P) Please be sure to spend some time reading through all the useful tips and advice at http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/careers
anupk(Q) Not a question - For all int’l students: The career website is a great resource friends. I was able to find an internship this summer with its help.
DeanSree(A) Thanks, Anup.
bs2452(Q) Is the ‘covering a beat’ exercise in NYC any different for international student as compared to the home grown folk?
JFriedman(A) initially, it may be more difficult for those who come from or rural areas. New York City is a very confused and dense soup of overlapping government institutions and independent civil society organizations. my major goal in New York As a Foreign Country is to help you understand how it works so that you will not be handicapped in doing your RW1 beat stories. I’m also available to you whenever you have questions. So after the initial shock, I think it’ll be okay.
DeanSree(P) Sites to be reading closely starting now. GothamGazette.com Gothamist.com - my favorite NYC blog WNYC.org (lots of great radio - you can listen in, too) Plus, all the big newspaper sites: NYTimes.com, NYDailyNews.com, NYPost.com, Newsday.com, etc.
mathildep(Q) Unlike Franz I didn’t defer as I had already sorted out my life to start Columbia in a few weeks, but had a known earlier I probably would have, because as Josh puts it, it’s so expensive! Are there any scholarships we can apply for the Spring or anything? I’m quite desperate! I even asked to be considered for the redistribution round but that didn’t help.
JFriedman(A) toward the end of the first semester, I’ll be working with the admissions office to reassess financial aid for current international students.
we will have some extra money to get out to those who are doing really well or are having crises. But it will not be a lot of money. also, I could try to help you reach out to other sources of assistance. There aren’t many but let’s put our heads together. Look forward to working with you.
anupk(Q) What if the int’l students want to take Covering Religion class?
Will there be difficulty in traveling?
DeanSree(A) The course - http://www.coveringreligion.org - is terrific (full disclosure - I have been involved with the India versions - this year, they are going elsewhere). Each year, we have several intl students from various countries in the class - they have gone to places like Russia, Israel, India, etc… Yes, there might be visa issues, but we sort them out. Not to worry.
dg2345(Q) What is the general protocol with going and sitting in on classes that you have’nt officially taken but would like to learn about. In other words, can you audit and if so how many per semester?
JFriedman(A) if you want to audit a course in the journalism school, the protocol is that you have to approach the teacher and request permission. the protocol may differ in other parts of the University. But, frankly, most of us find themselves so overwhelmed with assignments from their scheduled courses ,that there is very little auditing going on, especially during the first semester
susana(Q) Thanks very much to all. That was quite helpful!
JFriedman(A) you welcome, look forward to meeting you and working with you
dg2345(C) Thanks, Prof. Friedman. To Dean Huff and Dean Sree as well…this was indeed helpful.
DeanSree(P) Watch for the transcript later today… Thanks for playing, everyone! Watch for the next Career Services chat on Monday - and all sorts of other topics coming soon…
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/chats-online-chats-about-the-school-3/
Enjoy your last few days of freedom
JFriedman(P) thanks everybody, I think that wraps up the questions. We’ll be seeing everybody soon. If you have any questions in the meantime,contact me by e-mail. We’ll be sending out any more detailed schedule of orientation for international students soon. we should be having some fun in August.
