What should I do this summer? - Senior graduating in May

I'm a senior, graduating in May, with a FT offer starting in August. I am a non-citizen, and as it turns out, I am not allowed to leave the U.S. this summer because of Visa issues. Had plans to go home to see my family and to go backpacking in South America, but that's not happening anymore. Basically, my question for you guys is, do you have any good ideas of what I could do in the States for three months?

I am taking CFA in June, so I'll spend the first month after gradaution studying for the exam. But after the exam, I'll still have over 2 months left. The problem is I can't work legally in the U.S. because my work permit won't be valid yet. Also, I don't want to work illegally. Not that I'm lazy, but it's not worth it to work some cheap job, just to waste time and make some extra pocket money and risk losing an FT job if I got in trouble for it. My student Visa also expires right after graduation, which means I can't go back to school, take classes, or do anything academic-related that I'd need student Visa for.

Honestly, I'd love to do something to prepare myself better for my future job, but I can't think of anything that could benefit me in this regard given the options I have. So far the best idea I was able to come up with was a road trip around the States. Anybody has any better ideas?

Thanks a bunch!!

12 Comments
 

I kind of wish CFA was in July instead of June. That way I could spend more time studying for it to make sure I pass it and that would also kill some of my time...

A road trip would be awesome, the only problem is that all of my friends with whom I was supposed to spend this summer are going to South America now. It took me a few months to get them excited about it and now that they are all going I can't go with them...

Is there anything like CFA, some kind of course/self study thing I could do to help me prepare for my job? I really have nothing to do...

 
Best Response

And wonder what was wrong with you. Go have some serious fun. Vegas, Florida, anywhere warm and awesome in the summer.

It's fine to do some job prep too, but I would strongly recommend having fun before starting an IBD job. It's only now, nearly at the end of my 2 years, that I actually sort of have fun occasionally.

Learning an additional language is another idea. If you have no other obligations and study it intensely, you can get pretty far in 3 months. If there's an issue with your Visa, try a combination of independent study and a private tutor. If that's too expensive, maybe some independent project or just do a massive road trip?

 

I know exactly the kind of predicament you are in with your Visa...sounds familiar, I have friends in the same spot. If money is no problem, then sure, rent a car, fly to Vegas, go to Hawaii, whatever you want!

If money is the real issue and you have no place to stay either or something like that (I know a lot about that), then get a volunteer position somewhere that will pay for your accommodation and living expenses. For example, Habitat for Humanity, local Rotary clubs, something like that. They may give you a free place to stay and you can do something productive and worthwhile. Otherwise, a friend of mine who is in the same spot as you and has no money nor place to stay after they kick her out of the dorms, is going to volunteer for a Presidential campaign this summer and one of the people she contacted said that she'll get a free place to stay.

Anyhow, but of course if you have the money, then do something fun with other people who are not heading to South America!

Gini

 

I know I know, my original plan was not to spend the whole summer trying to teach myself financial modeling :) It's just that there isn't a lot of fun stuff I can do at this point because as I said, those of my friends who had some time off this summer are planning on going to Brazil and Argentina and those who aren't going there are busy doing something else..

I don't know, I'll have to come up with something... But in any case, thanks for everybody's advice/suggestions...

 

June? That seriously makes no sense. Even the Bar exam is at the end of July.

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