Corporate and Investment Banking Career Advice and Military Careers

I do not know if this is in the right forum so I apologize in advance. Any insight, advice, or ideas would be greatly appreciated

So just to you give some background I am a rising senior at top 20 ACC public school double majoring in Accounting and Finance. My GPA is sub-3.4 overall. This is a function of having to work a lot because I am almost completely independent of my parents financially and if I am being honest partying. Other than that, my resume is pretty good when it comes to work history and involvement.

 I am currently interning in a middle market corporate banking underwriting group in healthcare (think Truist, Fifth Third, Regions) in a major southern city (think Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte). I would say that the return offer is more than 50% likely and is very tempting given the compensation package. My concern here is that there are not really any great skills I am learning or would learn as an analyst. The work life balance seems like it would be great, but I would not want to do this my whole career.  It is not very stimulating work.  I also feel like I may be kind of dumb given the current job market and my bad GPA not to accept an offer. Basically, I am trying to say is my exit opportunities are not good at all. I have considered trying to make the switch and get into an IB position. But the hold up there is the work life balance. I know its cliché to say. I have just seen what that can do to someone firsthand.  I am not afraid of working hard and a lot though. My Dad works that much (in more of a blue-collar role), and it has had a negative impact on his mental and physical health and his relationships with the family. Also, to get back on the IB idea there are some decent MSF and MBA programs around me that I could do right after undergrad to try to get into IB.  For perspective these are programs where the debt is less than $30k for the whole degree. I just know the exit opportunities are so much better from IB so I guess its smarter to bight the bullet up front.

I made the switch to banking/corporate finance later in the recruiting cycle, I was planning on doing the Big 4 CPA route; but after some research and some conversations I decided it was not for me. I did not really try anything else after getting spot so late in the process (did not bother with IB)

So that leads me to my next question; I would like to go in the military in some form as an officer. I am thinking about three different forms:

1.      Flying- I would not be done with my first contract until I am 35 at least

2.      Active duty but with only a short contract (like 5 years)

3.      National Guard or reserves

I know that I could end up with some GI benefits that I could put towards an MBA if I go active duty. And then if I just do the national guard or reserves how would that impact my career in banking/ finance? I know about the laws governing it and what your company can and cannot do. I also do not want to start my second career after a possible active-duty military stent too late in life.

 

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