Here’s my situation:

I’m in my 3rd year of college. I could graduate at the end of next semester, but I could also extend my stay at college and receive my bachelors a year later, in spring 2011. The reasoning for staying until 2011 would be that I receive scholarships (in excess of my tuition and fees) of about $7,000 per year. In other words, I would be forgoing about $20/hour that I would earn by going to classes, if I were to graduate early.

My concern is that, if I graduate early, I won’t be able to get a job, due to my lack of relevant work experience. I am looking for an entry level job in business, either for a large company in finance or marketing, or a position in the financial services industry. Although I haven’t done any relevant internships, I’ve held jobs as a poly sci research assistant, serving at restaurants, tutoring college students, and I’ve started a successful tutoring business.

I would only choose to graduate early if I could get an entry level job (more than just an internship) in my desired field. Is it realistic to expect to land a job without first interning?

I will say that, despite my lack of internships, I have a 3.9 GPA in econ. I also am very well connected within my college (USF College of Business in Tampa). I know the administration on a personal level, and they would be glad to recommend me to prospective employers.