Looking Ahead to Summer Internships- Should We Stay or Should We Go?

After a fairly grueling five months, recruiting season is OVER! At least, for us.  It started back in September with info sessions and networking events, and reached a fever pitch the past few weeks with an intense round of interviews, but Zach has now secured a great summer internship with a top consulting firm on the West Coast.  We really couldn't be more excited!  This is part of why we chose Tuck-- it has been amazing to see how many highly sought-after companies come on-campus to recruit students, and the opportunities that are open to him and the other Tuckies because of being a part of this community.

So now, summer... What do partners and families do when their student goes to their summer internship?  To be honest, this is probably the one aspect of business school that I've been really dreading.  A large number of Tuck students seem to stay pretty local, going to Boston or New York for their internships which makes it a bit easier to either relocate together or simply visit often on weekends. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of us choosing to go to a school on the East Coast but recruiting for positions on the West Coast.  After considering many different factors (including cost of temporary housing, the hassle of relocating our whole family for just 2 months, what to do with our cats, etc) we've decided that Zach will go alone, and the kids and I will stay here in Hanover over the summer.  The thought of Zach being gone for 10 weeks is not an easy one to stomach.  BUT, I am actually getting a little excited about what the summer will bring.

One of my reasons for wanting to stay is that our time in New Hampshire is limited and I want to make the most of it while we are here. Summer in the Upper Valley is pretty amazing, with lots of fun things to do-- I'm looking forward to farmers markets, picking a whole new batch of berries and other fruit at the many pick-your-own farms in the area, going hiking, swimming at local lakes and water holes, etc. And I already know of a few other families here in Sachem who will also stick around for the summer, so I know we'll have friends around for playdates and to help support each other. It won't be easy... but then again, I wouldn't exactly describe the past 5-6 months here in business school as "easy"yet they have also been incredible and memorable and wonderful, in so many ways. I have a feeling the summer will be the same.