Delaying graduation by a semester, could I do same for start date if I get FT offer?

I have a CIB JPM offer for next summer, and I applied under the impression that I would definitely graduate in May 2024. I am now considering slowing down the pace a bit for personal reasons, and very comfortably graduating in December 2024 instead.

If I do get a FT offer after my summer 2023 internship, how difficult would it be to push back start date from Summer 24 to Winter (Jan) 2025? Is it difficult to do this at BBs, and specifically JPM? 

Would appreciate any insight. Thank you.

 

Will be tough. Would say dependent on what those reasons are (relaying it as "personal" will be insufficient) but frankly don't see any valid reasons you would have to push back graduation a full year. Pushing back on starting a few months, after graduating, if you needed to be a care-taker, etc for a family member would probably be the best extenuating circumstance I can think of - and you would still graduate on-time if that was the case. If you were an incoming FT, I would say it's different (pushing back 4 months for an off-cycle Jan start is usually NBD) but would say 80-90% a no-go for SA's. 

Seems to me like you want to do a victory lap or go on exchange (aka your reasons are for fun), which I think is fine, but HR / JPM will not. I recommend doing the internship (as opposed to negotiating for a start date a year from then), getting the return offer and then having a conversation around:

1) doing another summer internship the following year if you are truly set on graduating later

2) pushing out your FT start date a year

3) leveraging your offer to do a summer internship at a "more" prestigious bank the following year

If they really like you and you're a rockstar, there's a good chance they'll be flexible. If you're just a mediocre intern that barely scrapped by though, don't even think about it. 

 

I think you misunderstood my question and read it as me wanting to push back my internship which is NOT the case, I want to keep that as is... sorry if I worded it in a confusing way.

What I'm saying is: since I am scheduled to graduate in May 2024, if/when I get a return offer from my 2023 SA gig, it will be for a June/July 2024 start date (whenever Summer FT cycle starts).

I want to see if I can push that FT offer back from July 2024 to January 2025. Would this be fine? Because I believe when you say pushing back for a Jan off-cycle FT start is no big deal, that is the scenario I am talking about.

And I'm not trying to push back my graduation a semester for a victory lap of some sort. It's actually just to spread my remaining credits out over more semesters in order to avoid coming into FT feeling burnt out from school.

I hope this explanation makes more sense!

 

Yes, I believe then that is up for fair negotiation. But the points I made about having to be a rock-star remain. They will not make this adjustment for a mediocre intern. Your performance will certainly be pulled up when the talking heads decide.

First, I would definitely have this conversation in-person or over the phone. Not over email. Say something like "very grateful for the opportunity to start my career at JPM - I wanted to talk to you about potentially starting a quarter later. I anticipate my course load next year to be very intense, and I'd like to spread out my credits so that I complete 1 more semester. I feel that this will position me to be much more fresh once I am on the desk...etc"

 
Most Helpful

I would not do this unless you have a really serious reason - this may run the risk of your offer getting rescinded, unless you have very pressing reasons (i.e. medical or mental health issues causing you to drop the course load, specifically with a doctor's note, or immediate family member you need to care for).

Banks are typically happy to have you start a few months early because they need the extra hands and they can teach you on an ad-hoc basis, but starting a few months late means you'll miss all of training. I know your friends in consulting or accounting might get a wide choice of start dates, but banking only has 1 training per year and missing that / your group-specific training will hurt you. Not to mention you'll likely be bottom bucket as everyone in your class will have ramped up.

You said above you just want to spread your credits out more... you can drop any extra minors, or even a double major - banks don't care about that. But that is really not a sufficient reason to try and move the start date. Plan some fun post-grad trips for the summer before you start if you're worried about burnout.

 

Well the other option is to just stay at my complete non target school.

The main reason I would struggle in the slightest or be overwhelmed to finish in 3 years is because I am transferring to a solid semi target from my current non target. If I just stay put here, then there would be no issues.

So I guess another question then… is it worth going to the semi target at this point, especially if I’m happy with the offer and can graduate comfortably in 3 years, is it even worth it?

I worry down the line it may catch up to me since school is something that always sticks with you. I don’t plan on going back for my MBA either.

Thanks again for the insight, all of this feedback has been super helpful.

 
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