Calling all US Military Fall 2010 Applicants!

For those that are unaware and might be able to attend a part-time or EMBA program while still on active duty, the GI Bill pays 100% of all tuition and fees for all stateside programs without a state cap while you attend prior to seperation. The VA and military education offices usually do a lousy job of getting this word out. See this VA link:

https://www.gibill.va.gov/documents/Post ... l_Info.pdf

I recently got an e-mail from West Point to apply for their minority outreach program next year. I was wondering if anyone on here actually served in this position for a year or knows someone that did? And do you feel it would possibly hinder me in the future since its not exactly a leadership role?

I know a few people who have done this job, to include one who got into one of the top 10 schools (I think it was Columbia) with a slightly sub 3 and 650 gmat. It would not hinder you at all as long as your put the appropriate spin on it, and naturally it could be spun to be extremely attractive to bschools.

I would say go for it. PM me if you are interested in getting some contacts who have done the job. Just give me a day or two to get back to you.

Hey all. I'm actually a 2011 applicant, but didn't want to start a thread just for this question...

When you were filling in your employment history, did you put a separate entry for each unit you were in? Or was your employment history only "Military, 200x to present?"

I'm just starting my first ap now... I've got my resume set up to differentiate between different squadrons, as the missions were very, very different, but not so sure on the application itself.

Thanks, Square

Square,

I spoke to some ADCOMS about your question. They want an entry for each unit you were in on their application form. They know you've only had one employer (eg. Air Force), but adding all your units/positions as separate entries will help them get a clearer picture of your career.

-Via

Via, thanks you. I assumed as much, but had one of those, "maybe I should throw it out there and see what others have done" moments.

Square

I've been reading the thread for a little while now so I'll chime in. I'm separating at the beginning of this next year (Jan 11) after being in the Air Force for 4.5 years. I stayed in the extra 1/2 year to be eligible for 50% of the Post 9/11 GI bill after paying back my commitment for the ROTC scholarship. I'm not going for an MBA, instead I'm going for a MS in Finance. After reading numerous threads I've started questioning if I really want to go to the University of Wyoming for my masters degree. It's got a lot of things going for it: proximity to where I live, cost (would get in-state tuition since I would apply while I'm still active duty) so it would be virtually nothing out of pocket, new facilities being built for the business dept, wife goes there, I've heard it's got a great business/econ dept. My hesitation with UWyo is that it is a smaller, less renown school and that will make a huge difference in the finance world. I don't want to take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans to end up with virtually the same degree as I would get going to UWyo, but I also don't want to handicap myself when I graduate and try to get a job.

Few other notes, my undergrad is a BS in Aerospace Engineering and I have no real interest in using it after I get out. My passion lies in finance, specifically financial planning and advise. I would like to use that MSF to be a financial planner and also get a CFP and possibly a CFA designation.

I just wanted to add myself to this group, I am a YG 2006 Army Officer and I plan to apply to Round 1 at MIT, W, and Darden; Round 2: Columbia, Duke, Georgetown

I wish everyone the best of luck during this cycle.

Good Luck Gents/Gals. Let us know if you have any questions. I felt very ignorant when I started my business school research so if you feel the same way, don't worry. As always, there's a learning curve to this process and you're starting your research at the right time.

-Via

Lots of great discussion in this thread. Best of luck to all of you in your future endeavors. I'm going to start a 2011 US Military thread and would like to invite anyone here to chime in with any words of advice for the next group of applicants.

getting interviews going and am now unable to resign from active duty as my branch will not concur with resignation from active duty. looking to the forum for advice, need to come up with a good deferment strategy that will allow me to do my follow on assignment (recruiting command). anybody have any good ideas? my target schools are ucla (R1 interview complete), uc berkeley (R1 waiting), and MIT (R1 interview this week)

PS - don't really want to reapply, too many things happened to come together by chance (great recommenders, etc) and don't want to chance that not happening for me again.

That sucks something awful. I was concerned my branch wouldn't let me out due to some ambiguity in my contract, but I've gotten my resignation approved. I was concerned about it, and did a ton of research on how the Marine process worked. PM me if you want some of those details. I can't give you too much help on the specifics because I don't know where your letter got stopped. I had to break out a couple of references in a couple of orders to get my letter past base admin. Headquarters didn't give me any problems.

Haas, Sloan, and Anderson are supposedly "military friendly" per https://www.mba.com/mba/WhyBSchool/Milit ... chools.htm, which includes a commitment to provide a one year deferment for involuntary extensions. I can't vouch for how current this is, but it's something. I'm assuming you got two year orders to recruiting command. This gets you halfway there and a basis to request two years.

In general, the first thing I'd do is get accepted. Don't ask for a deferment until you're positive you've exhausted all your options and keep as many schools open as you can afford. Once you're positive you've done everything you can do, including consulting base legal if your commitment is actually up and you're being involuntarily extended on active duty, then I'd ask for a deferment. I think asking for a deferment immediately upon acceptance makes it seem like you weren't honestly expecting to enroll that year.

Assuming you can't get out, I'd get the highest ranking person I could to sign a letter to each school to which you were accepted basically saying that you were involuntarily extended past your original EAS due to the needs of your service and that he'd advise the school to grant a deferment because of your general amazingness. Assuming one accepts, you're good. Otherwise, you might be stuck.

The only other thing I'll say is that some admin types don't know their head from a hole in the ground. If you come armed with references, it becomes hard for them to say no, because they can't back up arguments with anything other than a standard "this is how things are done." Don't let some E-3 ruin your chances at business school.