I’m applying to universities after a 4 year gap after high school with no extracurricular activities, volunteering, or certificates. What should I do? Plz help I’m lost

Hi everyone! I'm Avalon L. Paul, an immigration attorney at Manifest Law. I help individuals navigate US immigration matters, including employment-based options and the challenges that can arise when plans change.

For international students, immigration questions don't always end with graduation. You might be thinking about your options after OPT, what happens if your employment plans change, or whether your achievements could eventually support an employment-based immigration petition.

I'll be answering questions today from 1 PM to 5 PM ET about US immigration pathways, employment-based options, and planning for the future while navigating student status.

Feel free to ask your questions below!

Please note: Any information shared here is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, so please consult an immigration attorney directly for advice about your specific situation.

Do firms still hire international students for investment/finance roles? I’ve applied to countless jobs, got a couple calls from
HR, but I always got stuck at the OPT sponsorship question. Once they hear you need OPT sponsorship, they just simply stopped the process. 😭

Hi all, I am looking for some success stories and advice.

I am currently on a gap year between my bachelors and masters, and I would like to work within my field, get some work experience, etc. but also get to experience living some place new.

I’ve Studied STEM (biomedicine to be more specific), in the EU, I’m an EU citizen, and I would love to conduct an internship/traineeship in US/Canada.

I’ve done hours of visa research, looking at companies, institutes etc. and while I continue to do so, I was wondering, if there are any success stories here. If there is someone, who managed to arrange a temporary opportunity in North America, I would love to hear your story and any potential advice/tips you may have!

Thank you, please be nice! (I’m posting this so that it hopefully helps more people than just myself)

I’m currently a 1st-year BS-MS student studying pure science at IISER Thiruvananthapuram in India. I’m planning on coming to Kyoto University for an exchange program in the near future and wanted to reach out to people actually studying there right now.

I’ve already sorted ( learn the procedure and all ) through most of the official application stuff, so I’m mostly curious about what life is actually like on campus especially for STEM / pure science majors and hoping to connect with a few people before I make the jump over to Japan!

A few things I’d love to hear your take one

Lab & Science Culture: For anyone in the

Science or research labs, how balanced is undergrad life between coursework, lab work, and free time?

If anyone currently studying at Kyoto Uni (or did an exchange there recently) and are down to chat about campus life, feel free to drop a comment or send me a DM! Always down to connect with fellow science nerds and hear firsthand experiences.

Basically the title, I am here on my own and need student loans, but the ones I found ask for a cosigner to apply which I don't have. My sister could be a cosigner but she lives out of the country so I think that wouldn't work. Has anyone here successfully gotten a loan in these conditions? At this point I don't even know if it is possible.

I am doing undergrad now.