Key Principles When Choosing Your Program

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Principle 1: Link Your Program to Your Jobs

Choose a program related to your current or future job role.

Example: If you’re a software engineer, pick MS in Computer Science, not MS in Organizational Behavior.

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Principle 2: Avoid Repeating the Same Major

Don’t select a program too similar to your previous degree at the same level - it may cause RFE issues.

Example: If you already hold a Master’s in Data Analytics, don’t pursue another one. Instead, consider an MBA with a focus in Business Analytics or aim for a doctorate.

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Choosing the Right Intake Date

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1. Check Your Status End Date

Always align your CPT start date with your OPT expiration (or other status end date).

Goal: avoid any long gaps in employment or status.

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2. Factor in Employer Flexibility

If your employer allows unpaid leave → you have more flexibility to wait until the later intake.

If not → you must transfer SEVIS before the earlier intake.

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Example

OPT ends: June 1

Intake options: Summer 1 (May 6) or Summer 2 (July 1)

With sufficient unpaid leave: transfer SEVIS & get CPT before July 10 → continue working smoothly.
With limited unpaid leave: transfer SEVIS before May 6 → maintain status without gaps.

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🌟 Upcoming enrollment window at National Louis University

If you missed the application deadline, reach out to a GoElite Advisor to check admission availability.

DBA Winter 2026 - 01/12/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 12/26/2025

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 11/12/2025

MS Winter 2026 - 01/19/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 01/05/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 11/19/2025

MS Spring 2026 - 04/13/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 03/30/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 02/13/2026

DBA Summer 2026 - 05/04/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 04/20/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 03/04/2026

MS Summer 2026 - 07/06/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 06/22/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 05/06/2026

DBA Fall 2026 - 08/24/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 08/10/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 06/24/2026

MS Fall 2026 - 09/21/2026

Application Deadline for Transfer Students: 09/07/2026

Application Deadline for Initial Students: 07/21/2026

N/A

Step 1: Contact Your Previous School

You will have to request your SEVIS I-20 Transfer/Release From from the international office of your previous school.This process requires the following information:

Offer of admission (scan or photo of admission letter or email with offer of admission)
New school’s SEVIS code (provided by the new school's admission office)
Decide your requested SEVIS transfer/release date.

Once you submitted the "Transfer-out" form, allow time for processing. You will receive a confirmation, usually an email, of your SEVIS transfer/release from the previous school. The process of transfer-out usually takes several business days. If the school declined the date of SEVIS release, communicate directly with them and arrange another date.

Step 2: Transfer-In your SEVIS

When your previous school release your SEVIS record, the new school's DSO will process the transfer-in and generate your new I-20. You might not get the I-20 right away since it takes time to process, but your SEVIS record will be held by the new institution right away when the DSO complete the SEVIS transfer-in, which only takes a couple of minutes.

Once you transfer out your SEVIS, you OPT will end immediately. However, your new school will start processing your CPT application only after receiving your SEVIS. Typically, the processing time for CPT I-20 is around 1 week. Thus, there must be a gap between OPT and CPT. During the transitional period between OPT and CPT, you do not have legal authorization to work, or to get paid. So it is common for students to take a few days, maybe a week of unpaid leave, instead of paid time-off.

Step 1. Register for internship class.

Proceed with instructions from your academic department of the course requirements. Get the internship site approved by NLU Career Bridge Staff and/or the academic department prior to the start of the term.

Step 2. Submit CPT application

Once contractual agreements have been approved in Handshake or by the Kendall Letter of Agreement with your employer information and provided to ISSS, complete and return the CPT Checklist.

Step 3. CPT Authorization

ISSS will provide an I-20 including the details of employment (obtained through Handshake or Kendall Letter of Agreement) authorizing you for CPT within 1-2 days.

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Campuses:

Tampa, Florida
Chicago, Illinois

Programs:

MS Business Data Analytics
MS Organizational Leadership
Doctorate of Business Administration

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	$0 (Waived thru GoElite) Application Fee
	$17,400 Av. Annual Tuition
	23 months Av. Program Duration
	5 Days (Thru GoElite) Av. Application Processing

National Louis University

Campuses:

Programs:

Step 1 | Select Your Major

Key Principles When Choosing Your Program

Principle 1: Link Your Program to Your Jobs

Principle 2: Avoid Repeating the Same Major

🌟 All Hybrid Professional Programs at National Louis University