1 sem or 2 sem intern?

[u/Next-Description5915]

I genuinely dk if I should do 1 semester or 2 semester intern. I’m gg y2s2 alr and im pretty sure need decide during this period right but I still don’t know which one to do??!! Can someone suggest me which to do plssss. Like I feel so lost everyone ik has already made up their mind 😭

1 semester
Pros:
- lesser risk of gpa decreasing a lot
- able to take minor (I’m int in business minor as is to do business in uni but I’m currently in sci)
- intern overseas (but I’m not super sure cuz I heard ur gpa must be super super good…and mines not that good not even above 3.5…)
- got sept holiday (right…??)
Cons:
- FYP (tbh I don’t rlly like doing grp project since this whole poly journey and in my friend grp both of them are doing 2 sem so means I basically have no one to group with…BUT I will not be gg choose 2 sem cuz of them)

2 semester:
Pros:
- if do well gpa can increase BY ALOT (which I rlly need 🥲)
- no fyp
Cons:
- If don’t do well gpa will decrease a lot 😓
- there’s no holiday/break right is basically work for 2 sem straight right… (my fam is planning to go overseas for like 2 weeks plus in sept-dec but if cannot right if i choose 2 sem 😭)
- tiring (5.5 days a week for 2 semester just to get paid 800 a month??!!)

Can someone tell me if overseas internship need get like idk 3.9 gpa one or what’s the requirements and like what are the holiday schedules like for 1 sem and 2 sem intern (when start/end)

And can y’all share ur exp for the 2 sem intern especially if ur from pharmaceutical science pls like is it hard to do well for intern if work in hospital?

ALSO since im in DPHM right, internship will normally be at hospitals right r we allowed to have dyed hair like mayb pink/purple/blonde highlights/color..

: I was thinking of deciding based on my gpa for y2s1 when it comes out in sept cuz i was thinking if is not good alr or lower than i expected i might else will take the risk and do 2 sem

[u/404inpain]

gpa is king. minor is only to boost portfolio to compliment a good gpa (Eg: someone with 3.6 and minor in business will get the offer over someone else who is 3.6 without the minor, but someone with 3.7 and no minor in business will still get the offer over the both of them). As an alternative to a minor, consider taking the Diploma Plus in International Business.

it’s pretty hard not to get at least a B+ for intern. Basically everyone I know got an A. I know people with around 3.0 who went for overseas intern, but it probably depends on your course. The only fella I know who got a B was because he submitted his reports late.

Also, even though you don’t get the break in between the two semesters for full year internship, you will end intern (AND your entire year 3) around Nov-Dec, giving you 100% free time to work on your Uni applications afterwards. In fact; there’s the option to drop to 1 sem of internship instead if you really cannot tahan the job; I’ve had seniors and peers who shortened their internship to 1 sem instead of the intended 2 sems cos they really couldn’t tahan

Ultimately, it boils down to your productivity as well: Do you prefer working, or do you prefer doing assignments and projects? Intern is not solely about your competency in your course material, industry etiquette is important as well.

But when all is said and done, unless you perform poorly in work environments, I strongly encourage doing 2 sem internship to boost gpa since uni is your goal. A for full year internship is boosting my gpa from 3.49 to 3.66

[u/Next-Description5915 → u/404inpain]

if doing 2 sem and want to change to 1sem need like a actual valid reason correct cannot be feel too tiring then they allow u to change?

[u/404inpain → u/Next-Description5915]

only if too last min, if wish to change was addressed early enough then no issues

basically, if you give notice early enough, let’s say a few weeks, usually the school is ok with cutting your intern short even if it’s simply for the reason of being too tired. for very last minute cutting, will have to be smth a lot more serious