Need help making a BIG decision. Please...

[JE3146]

Backstory - I'm in college. I got delayed a year at school due to an advising screwup. (IE. I was missing 1 class going into Senior Design, and they wouldn't let me continue without that 1 class). So I'm doing 2 terms this year to complete that one class and basically finish up everything else except 3 senior classes and the 3 senior design classes, which I will do next year part time at 6 credit hours per term for 3 terms.

That leaves a gap during spring term of this year.

I belong to an Internship Program that grants students internships. They are 6 month internships. I have completed 1 of these internships, and we are allowed and required 2 total.

Option A: Take a 2nd Junior level internship to fill the gap this year. It would go from Spring 09 through Summer for 6 months. I would make ~ 17 to 20$ an hour and be guaranteed a job for 6 months. This will require getting approval through a formal meeting.

Option B: Decline the second Junior Internship. Finish the 2 terms this year. Finish the 3 terms next year. Graduate, then do a Senior Internship from Summer 2010 through Fall 2010. I would make ~20 to 24$ an hour and be guaranteed a job for 6 months, as well as possibly having the option to continue working there after the internship is over, as I'll be graduated and needing a job.

The dilemma: I'm getting married this coming summer. This was planned into the works before I got screwed by my advisor, so the delay was a serious setback. The income from Option A would be seriously beneficial to the wedding as it'd be happening before the wedding.

Another thing to consider is the gap between Spring 09 and Fall 09 will trigger me to have to pay loans back at about 150$ a month or so. This will happen regardless of which option I take. That's about 900$ of expenses.

Another dilemma is car payments/phone/insurance... That is until student loans kick back in in the fall.

All this can be paid with a decent paying job (~10$ an hour), but I would NEED a job or... well lets just say I'd need a job... and with the economy in it's current position makes me worried.



So... to recap.

2nd Junior Internship
Take the safe route. Earn less money, make payments, help pay for the wedding. Leaves myself open after graduation for any company I might meet during Senior year. But I'd have to get approval prior to taking this option.

1st Senior Internship
Take the risky route. Earn more money later that could be put towards a house. Earn better experience for resume material. Possibly have the option of it leading to a full time employment in a rough economy. Possibly less budget for the wedding or a smaller honeymoon.


Please offer some advice..... I see benefits and serious flaws with both options


EDIT TO ADD: I'm in Computer Engineering. Forgot to even add my major.

You lost me somewhere with Option B. If the internship is. Required to graduate, how in option B do. you graduate, then do the internship? Or maybe I'm reading that wrong?

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

You lost me somewhere with Option B. If the internship is. Required to graduate, how in option B do. you graduate, then do the internship? Or maybe I'm reading that wrong?

It's not required to graduate. It's a program separate to my school program that I signed up for that runs parallel. I had to go through interviews to get in it... fill out applications... etc. It was a long drawn out experience, and out of like 500 applicants, only like 25 make it.

I signed a contract to fulfill the obligation though. I'm not really sure what they could do to enforce it really... but there really is no reason not to... I mean it's a job and makes good money.

[lightning9191]

I picked option B because I like the possibility of a job offer after the internship in the current market. I don't see why this is referred to as the "risky option" though. What makes it risky?

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by lightning9191

I picked option B because I like the possibility of a job offer after the internship in the current market. I don't see why this is referred to as the "risky option" though. What makes it risky?

If I can't secure a job this spring, I can't make payments.

There's no guarantee I'll find a job, whereas Option A is guaranteed pending approval of the meeting.

Thus... Option B is 'riskier'


I've been dwelling over this decision for 2 weeks and have to make up my mind by tomorrow. I tried to list every last detail, pro, & con I can think of.

[elderboy02]

I say take the risky route. I too am in a computer field. Computer people are in high demand right now. If you were in a manufacturing field, I would take the safer route.

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

I say take the risky route. I too am in a computer field. Computer people are in high demand right now. If you were in a manufacturing field, I would take the safer route.

The odds of me getting a job in my technical field this spring are slim to none as most companies in the pacific northwest that even offer internships belong to this program called MECOP (The program I'm in). Everything from Intel to Boeing.

And I'd be competing for an job with the 'interns' that would be just starting their Junior Internships. I know this from experience because every company I applied to a few years back for an Internship told me to go join the program. So I did, and I got a job lol.

So I'd most likely be reduced to some production line job or... something. The bonus is I wouldn't be fighting the high schoolers for summer work, as I'd be starting in Spring. So the odds of getting a job PERIOD are in my favor substantially.

[shaggy]

i would go with option b and scale back the wedding stuff if at all possible. tough times now may work to your favour later when you get a foot in on a full time job thro the internship

[Scottw]

Originally Posted by JE3146

Backstory - I'm in college. I got delayed a year at school due to an advising screwup. (IE. I was missing 1 class going into Senior Design, and they wouldn't let me continue without that 1 class). So I'm doing 2 terms this year to complete that one class and basically finish up everything else except 3 senior classes and the 3 senior design classes, which I will do next year part time at 6 credit hours per term for 3 terms.

That leaves a gap during spring term of this year.

I belong to an Internship Program that grants students internships. They are 6 month internships. I have completed 1 of these internships, and we are allowed and required 2 total.

Option A: Take a 2nd Junior level internship to fill the gap this year. It would go from Spring 09 through Summer for 6 months. I would make ~ 17 to 20$ an hour and be guaranteed a job for 6 months. This will require getting approval through a formal meeting.

Option B: Decline the second Junior Internship. Finish the 2 terms this year. Finish the 3 terms next year. Graduate, then do a Senior Internship from Summer 2010 through Fall 2010. I would make ~20 to 24$ an hour and be guaranteed a job for 6 months, as well as possibly having the option to continue working there after the internship is over, as I'll be graduated and needing a job.

The dilemma: I'm getting married this coming summer. This was planned into the works before I got screwed by my advisor, so the delay was a serious setback. The income from Option A would be seriously beneficial to the wedding as it'd be happening before the wedding.

Another thing to consider is the gap between Spring 09 and Fall 09 will trigger me to have to pay loans back at about 150$ a month or so. This will happen regardless of which option I take. That's about 900$ of expenses.

Another dilemma is car payments/phone/insurance... That is until student loans kick back in in the fall.

All this can be paid with a decent paying job (~10$ an hour), but I would NEED a job or... well lets just say I'd need a job... and with the economy in it's current position makes me worried.



So... to recap.

2nd Junior Internship
Take the safe route. Earn less money, make payments, help pay for the wedding. Leaves myself open after graduation for any company I might meet during Senior year. But I'd have to get approval prior to taking this option.

1st Senior Internship
Take the risky route. Earn more money later that could be put towards a house. Earn better experience for resume material. Possibly have the option of it leading to a full time employment in a rough economy. Possibly less budget for the wedding or a smaller honeymoon.


Please offer some advice..... I see benefits and serious flaws with both options


EDIT TO ADD: I'm in Computer Engineering. Forgot to even add my major.

Push the wedding out a year and take the risk. Tell her how much more of a wedding you can give her this way! Not to get too personal, how old are you?

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by Scottw

Push the wedding out a year and take the risk. Tell her how much more of a wedding you can give her this way! Not to get too personal, how old are you?

Can't do that... the setback occurred AFTER we had made deposits. And eating that money would be devastating to the budget overall.

And I'm 23, as my profile says.

[markem]

Here's my advice. Worth every penny that you paid for it.

Sit down with the soon-to-be-Mrs and discuss the options. The decision affects you both, so you should make the decision jointly.

[DavenportESQ]

I was in a similar situation. I graduated last spring, and had the option to come back (I am a student athlete and have another year of eligibility)Or go ahead and go hit the real world and try to find a job. I chose to go back to school and get my masters, and if the opportunity rolls around about a year from now, and the economy/job market is still this bad I will go back to school and pursue another degree. Securing a job is important, but to me there is nothing secure about our Economy, usually when firings come around recent hires are the first to go. I would rather be in school and further my education as much as possible so when the job market shows itself I will be more qualified...Dunno if this answers your question but something worth considering

[Mugen910]

Take Option A...Money now is better than $$ later!