6) Student Time, Money & Energy Management
Balancing GPA, internships, job prep
In the US, a 4.0 GPA is nice, but it won't get you a job on its own. A 3.5 GPA with a great internship is much better than a 4.0 with no experience. (The 70/30 Rule): Spend 70% of your energy on keeping your grades solid (above a 3.0 or 3.2 is usually the safety line for big companies). Spend the other 30% on Job Prep—networking, fixing your resume, and practicing interviews.
There are hundreds of clubs on campus. Some are noise (just social) and some are signals (they help you get jobs).
- Join clubs that do things. The Data Science Club that hosts a monthly hackathon is better than the International Students Social Club.
- Aim for a Leadership Role. Being the President or Treasurer of a club proves you can manage money, people, and events in the US. If you enter a competition (like a Case Study or a Hackathon) and win—or even just finish—put it on your resume! It shows you are competitive and driven.
6) Student Time, Money & Energy Management
Being a student in the US is a marathon, not a sprint. You are juggling your grades, your future career, and your bank account all at once. If you try to do everything perfectly, you will crash.
To win, you have to manage your energy like a professional athlete. Here is how you balance your life so you don’t just survive, but actually thrive.
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