Study Abroad Sophomore Summer
Hi everyone,
I am a rising sophomore at a semi-target (Top LAC) and am interested in doing a language-intensive study abroad program for the summer of 2023. However, I definitely want to secure a 2024 SA IB offer. I know the recruiting cycle starts really early and it wraps up even before sophomore summer starts. Should I still try for the study abroad program, or do you recommend having a finance internship for that summer, just to have another thing on the resume for 2024 SA recruiting?
If I didn't have any finance experience on my resume, I wouldn't consider the language program. However, I did a market research internship this January and will be interning at a small boutique investment bank this summer. Resume-wise, I think I am solid (non-diversity, but 4.0 Math & Econ, and I play a sport) enough in that I could still pass screenings even without an "incoming sophomore..." position.
I'm enticed by the language program because it's seemingly my last "chill" summer before I start interning and working for real. The language program is from June to July, so that leaves me the month of August to explore and backpack across Asia. It seems like the trip would be an unforgettable experience. I don't want to do this language program during the school year because I want to pursue other study abroad programs that relate to my major.
(Also, I would receive scholarships and fellowships, so the language program would practically be free besides plane tickets)
What would you do if you were in my shoes? Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated.
I would do it for sure. Your record is strong and it's a great way to differentiate yourself from everyone else with a finance internship. I've seen many folks (at my semi target) place really well with no sophomore internship, much less a cool language program thats essentially free due to your scholarships. Great talking point during networking/interviews
To put it briefly: you got nothing to lose, and I speak from experience. I'm sorry in advance if this is going to be long, but this good question deserves a lot of thought and examples.
I think your timing is good. I'm not sure what school you go to, but in my university the latest and hottest period of recruitment for summer internships is the fall semester prior (for example, you could still try to get a summer 2023 internship in the fall 2022 semester, and that's when a bunch, if not most, people get an internship for that summer). Doing the program in the summer is perfect so that you can focus on looking for an internship during the school year. I actually studied abroad the fall of my junior year, it wasn't the best idea because that's when the internship market is hot, but I couldn't do it sophomore year because I was committed to a whole different one-year program. But I don't regret it at all. I would actually do it again if I could.
In your case, I think there is no better time to do the program than that which you're suggesting. Even if that lowers your opportunity to hunt for an internship, you'll still have time for that when the program ends. Plus, recruiters also love to see some study abroad program in your resume because it shows you're willing to challenge yourself.So, really, what do you have to lose? If you do the program and realize you didn't like it, or that it wasn't as good as you expected, that's totally fine because at least you'll know for sure. But if you say no to the program, you'll never know if you'll be missing out on something amazing, and it could be difficult to get that thought out of your head.
STUDY ABROAD. Soak it in, learn and make a good story of it for recruiting/resume.
Definitely a Midd kid
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