What the heck do I do with my summer.

About me: BS/MA candidate (IR/econ) at target school, good GPA. I'm graduating undergrad in May, but recently found out I would have to come back in the fall to finish up the grad work. In early 2012 I report to active duty (Infantry BOLC). After the Army I'd like to get an MBA or potentially MBA/JD and ideally claw my into a BB associate slot.

Right now I work as a part-time analyst at a small financial services consulting firm (great reputation in area, but not widely known). I have an opportunity to stay on for the summer as a "full-time" analyst but on the same shitty intern pay scale, and it would mean I'd need to stay where I am and keep paying rent--whereas I could just live with my buddies in my home city for free.

My friends have pretty much talked me into quitting the job, on the basis that 1) I wouldn't be making much money; 2) it's a boring, repetitive job and I won't learn much more than I already have; 3) I've already got the experience at the firm on the resume (in addition to other internships); and 4) I'd be missing out on a lot of beer, golf, and Halo (yep) if I didn't go back home.

My only concern is that I will feel like a lazy asshole being unemployed over the summer, as my friends back home have already graduated and work at good firms. When I found out that my summer would be open it was already pretty late in the game, and so far I have not been able to wrangle any kind of internship/job back home.

So... my plan right now is to go back home and fill time primarily by studying for the GMAT and October LSAT, with the end goal to crush both (the scores for both will still be good by time I leave the Army, assuming I go directly b-/law school). And, err, straighten out my swing and work out a lot.

I know it may be hard to make any kind of recommendation on all this, but I would appreciate any feedback: 1) Am I wrong to dismiss the benefits of staying at my current firm over the summer? 2) Is there anything else I could/should consider doing to fill up the three months of gaping free time?

Thanks for any advice or direction on this.

3 Comments
 

without reading your entire post and only reading point 1&2 at the bottom - I can answer 2 for sure: go traveling buddy! go to south east asia, take a backpack and enjoy life.

öÖö
 

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