taking a gap year before starting IB full time? burned out?

I have an IBD SA offer from a top BB this summer as a junior at a target; I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity and know that finance/IB is what I want to pursue in the future. However, the more I think about how brutal the analyst stint will be, the more I think about how burned out I already am from college and whether jumping straight into a job that will burn me out even further is the best move. I am considering taking a gap year after graduation to travel/chill/work for a startup/relax before I dive headfirst into IB. What is the best way to go about doing this/communicating this to HR when the time comes? Does anyone know someone who has done this before?

If I end up receiving a return offer, it is possible at all to delay my FT start date for a year? Or should I ask for a return SA position instead of an FT offer? If I do not receive a return offer, should I rerecruit for an SA position for the following summer (the summer I graduate)?

Given the possibility of a recession in 2020, is it a stupid move to ask for too much and should I just suck it up and go straight into the workforce? Thanks in advance

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Most banks won't allow you to do a SA position the summer after you graduate because you need to have remaining credits following your internship (not sure why this is; might be a tax thing/the fact that you're a contractor for the firm in a way). On that note, you could add a minor and tack on some extra classes the following fall semester and take the one semester of light class load and winter semester off as your gap time.

I think communicating to HR that you want a gap year would be suicide. There is a line of students miles long that are willing and capable of occupying that position. Don't think it's beyond the bank or HR; it's their obligation to fill the job.

Let me offer you some perspective: if this truly is what you want to pursue, and you are passionate about the work, burning out should be far less of a concern to you than it seems to be. If it is so pressing that you feel you need to essentially shoot yourself in the foot, maybe this isn't your passion. I don't mean to make false assumptions, but again, there are thousands of students and professionals that would jump at the opportunity to take that role - why risk it at all?

For some context, I am in somewhat of a similar situation as you, and I'm trying to start EARLIER than they would typically allow.

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