Peace Corps out of undergrad? Would this be stupid to do?
I unfortunately haven’t been able to land another IB job despite having 4 IB/PE internships and graduating summa cum laude from my college (non-target). Didn’t get a return offer last summer. I’m so sick of the corporate rat race honestly and sent in application to join the peace corps out of college for an economic development advisory role in an African country.
I love to solo travel and did a lot of volunteering during my time in college, so think it’d be a cool opportunity. I also think it’d be a unique way to spend my early 20s doing something cool, rather than working an FP&A job, and I also don’t have any student loans or anything to pay back.
The only thing that gives me pause is that I’m scared I’ll be fucked when I come back to the US after my two year stint that I’ll be in the same position. I would imagine it’d be tough to go straight to a top MBA program just from that experience alone and I want to get back into IB FT or possibly consulting.
I know I’m taking a high risk gamble with this but would love to hear if anyone has taken this path or thoughts around it.
You’d be surprised what people in MBA programs did prior to going back to school. I took 2 years off and worked as a bartender in a ski town before mine, got in a great program and got a BB offer. There are certainly a couple of schools in the M7/Top 10/whatever that would value that experience.
You’d be surprised what people in MBA programs did prior to going back to school. I took 2 years off and worked as a bartender in a ski town before mine, got in a great program and got a BB offer. There are certainly a couple of schools in the M7/Top 10/whatever that would value that experience. Honestly, the bigger hurdle would be trying to do your MBA after only 2 years of work. You’ll probably be better positioned if you do something corporate after the peace corps and before the MBA.
Yeah that’s my intended path is getting back to a full-time job following that experience which hopefully can be something good like IB or consulting. I just would like to do something different for a few years.
Haha that’s a cool story, what was your prior job in? I know a guy who went to my undergrad who went to Stanford Law following his time in PC. Just seems like really variable outcomes but I guess as long as you network during your time in PC you can make things work out.
Forget the path. Is Peace Corps something you want to do? If so, do it. You'll be shocked at how much you can learn from challenging yourself, and opportunities often crop up where you least expect it.
Conversely, don't do it just because you need something to do. I think in 10 years you're going to look back and realize that the kids spending two years under fluorescent lights envy people with interesting life experiences...
Yes I would absolutely would do it in a heartbeat. The only thing I said that holds me back is that I’m going to have to find an FT job once I get back to the states and it’s the uncertainty of that. I never got to study abroad when I was in college so I would love the chance to do that while also doing stuff that’s relevant to my skillset/experiences.
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