<p>[if you don’t feel like reading all of this, pick and choose to what you want to respond, sorry for the length] So I must admit, this isn’t actually my first post on CC. My old account has 1300+ posts, but that was a different time, so I figured I would reincarnate myself. Looking back at what was merely a few years ago I laugh at how things have changed.</p>
<p>Firstly let me tell you about myself, as is protocol here.</p>
<p>I’m a senior by credits, although I’ve just started my third year in school at a large state school. I will be graduating in spring 2009. My current GPA is a 3.97 and I haven’t taken any of the major tests yet, mainly because I’m not 100% decided on my plan of action. I’m a decent test taker though. I studied abroad in France and got a diploma saying I was somewhere around Advanced-intermediate. Currently I am interning at the State Department, working with economic policy. I am a major in Economics, with minors in French and Global Studies. For ECs I also am a member of the Econ Club, I’ll be starting a finance org when I return to school, working as a Resident Assistant, and running a half-marathon (FWIW). There are probably a few other things that I’m forgetting.</p>
<p>Basically, with spending almost half of my time in college away from college, and then graduating early, life post-bachelors has snuck up on me. So it has now dawned on me that after May, life will be changing again.</p>
<p>After much deliberation and thinking “What will get me the most money the fastest?” I have decided to get back to the basics of my desires.</p>
<p>Towards what have I always been naturally inclined?</p>
<p>Money.
From my earliest memories, I have found pleasure in earning money (who hasn’t 
) saving money, and managing money. And I’m pretty good at it. I’ve recently come to discover that I enjoy doing this for others. I want to take this to a much more advanced level.</p>
<p>Decision making.
There’s something invigorating about being in group of people and voicing my opinion. Sitting around a table, churning through ideas, and developing plans from the brainstorming is so fascinating. I’ve always been good at having my ideas accepted in this situation, and I love seeing how this group dynamic can take my plans and cultivate them into something even better.</p>
<p>Exploring
I’ve spent most of my life not wanting to be where I am in the moment, always looking for the next place to go. When I start to settle in somewhere is when I really start to feel the itch to go out and explore something new. It’s important for me to get out and stretch my legs once in a while.</p>
<p>So that really makes me feel like doing some international consulting work would be a good route to go. But I am sure there are other options out there that you guys could tell me about.</p>
<p>So right now, the plan is as follows:
-Quickly scrounge together some apps for the next fall
-Volunteer in Brazil Summer 09 (this is a must although length is variable)
-Return for school, which will likely be a MS in Finance or Economics (Tier 2)
-Graduate then work for a few years
-Return for a MBA (Hopefully Tier 1)</p>
<p>I want to use a Masters in Finance to open the door to better opportunities as well as grow my personal understanding of the field. Is this the right idea? I’m open to many suggestions, even going a PhD route then later an MBA, taking some time off for work (how do I get a decent job with a degree from a regional school?!?!), or heck joining the military. I feel that many things in life are enjoyable, and I wouldn’t mind giving them a shot. But this is my inclination.</p>
<p>Also, where does my current internship fit into all of this? Does it look good or is it moot?</p>