The Calling all US Military Fall 2009 Applicants thread was a good one and last year's group had pretty good results with their apps. https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all-us-military-fall-2009-applicants-75290.html It looks like there's enough applicants this year to start a new thread so here it is. To kick things off, the following links are a good place to start if you're a military applicant. Many of the top schools will waive your application fee, in addition to some other benefits. https://www.mba.com/mba/WhyBSchool/MilitaryCandidates/MilitaryFriendlySchools.htm If you qualify, the new Post 9-11 GI Bill offers great benefits to help make going to school financially viable. https://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Post-911.htm Good luck on everyone's apps!

Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 07:00

It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 07:00

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

The B-School Applications

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Apr 23
When to Stop Studying for the GMAT and Start Working on Your MBA Application
10:00 AM EDT
-
10:30 AM EDT
Admissions committees evaluate the GMAT/GRE in context — your background, your representation in the applicant pool, the strength of everything else in your file. The same score works for one candidate and falls short for another with identical numbers.
Apr 23
ISB Interview Call Guarantee Module
12:00 PM PDT
-
01:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
Apr 24
Live Coffee Chat- MBA profile enhancement: How to fix your gaps in 4 months
08:30 PM IST
-
09:30 PM IST
Join us for a Live Coffee chat with Jenifer Turtschanow where we talk about enhancing your MBA profile and fixing gaps in just 4 months.
Apr 29
MBA Class of 2028: AMA with Juno's Founder
08:00 PM EDT
-
09:00 PM EDT
Join us for a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Juno’s Co-Founder, where we’ll break down everything you need to know about financing your MBA in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Apr 30
Applying from a finance background
10:00 AM EDT
-
11:00 AM EDT
Applying to business school from a finance background? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with this quick tips video on how to set yourself apart during the MBA application process!

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Calling all US Military Fall 2010 Applicants!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

gregarious

Current Student

Joined: 11 Apr 2009

Last visit: 16 Jun 2012

Posts: 212

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Concentration: Operations

Posts: 212

Kudos: 14

02 Nov 2009, 00:12

Kudos

Bookmarks

To add onto what lakai777 said:

- If you're thinking in terms of the app, there's not going to be much of a return on the investment of taking some classes now in terms of apps. I doubt that you would have grades back in time for R2, so there might be some marginal benefit at best if you get onto a waitlist.

- If you're thinking more in terms of post-acceptance but pre-matriculation, then brushing up on business skills might not be a bad idea. As was pointed out though, some schools will already have some requirements to do just that before you start. HBS is one and I know there's a few top ten schools that either have online courses or on campus pre-term classes that you can take. Also, current students would be able to suggest some relevant textbooks too that you get familiar with before classes start.

I'm glad that to see all the military applicants posting, keep it up!

USMCCommO

Current Student

Joined: 19 Oct 2009

Last visit: 27 Oct 2010

Posts: 39

Own Kudos:

Location: Washington, D.C.

Concentration: Finance: Investment Management

Schools:MIT Sloan Class of 2012

Posts: 39

Kudos: 2

08 Nov 2009, 08:15

Kudos

Bookmarks

Fellow patriots:

I had an interview with a McCombs alumnus this morning. The interview was very relaxed (I posted remarks in the McCombs specific forum). Overall great experience.

Not sure what % get interviewed but now the waiting game for the big decision begins.

Good luck to you all!

gtg450g

Joined: 03 Aug 2009

Last visit: 17 Oct 2010

Posts: 28

Given Kudos: 1

Schools:Kellogg, Fuqua, Darden

Posts: 28

Kudos: 0

08 Nov 2009, 12:50

Kudos

Bookmarks

I've looked around on the HBS website and the HBS-specific thread, but I wanted to put my question out here for you guys. I applied to each of my other schools in R1, but I saved HBS for R2. Do they offer a military application fee waiver?

I know that being HBS, they probably don't need to in order to entice MIL applications, but I wanted to check anyway. Good luck guys...

USMCCommO

Current Student

Joined: 19 Oct 2009

Last visit: 27 Oct 2010

Posts: 39

Own Kudos:

Location: Washington, D.C.

Concentration: Finance: Investment Management

Schools:MIT Sloan Class of 2012

Posts: 39

Kudos: 2

08 Nov 2009, 13:11

Kudos

Bookmarks

They do not offer a waiver for military, unfortunately. MIT Sloan waived the military fee, just FYI.

Good luck on R2 for HBS!

lakai777

Joined: 15 Jun 2009

Last visit: 02 Oct 2013

Posts: 181

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 22

Status:Darden '12 Alumni

Affiliations: USMC

Schools:Darden '12

Posts: 181

Kudos: 26

10 Nov 2009, 16:06

Kudos

Bookmarks

Happy Birthday Marines.

Thread bump.

Updates anyone?

I'm going to the Darden Info Sesh in LA tomorrow.

ClanCSA

Joined: 10 Nov 2009

Last visit: 20 May 2010

Posts: 3

Kudos: 0

10 Nov 2009, 17:33

Kudos

Bookmarks

Anyone else notice that military applicants apply to more schools than most people? I am guessing the admissions fee waivers are a contributing factor.

USMCCommO

Current Student

Joined: 19 Oct 2009

Last visit: 27 Oct 2010

Posts: 39

Own Kudos:

Location: Washington, D.C.

Concentration: Finance: Investment Management

Schools:MIT Sloan Class of 2012

Posts: 39

Kudos: 2

11 Nov 2009, 11:18

Kudos

Bookmarks

I don't know about anyone else's situation but mine is... if no business school 1.) get out and do IT consulting or 2.) stay in and get moved again, which triggers another two-year committment. IT consulting not bad if you like it, I have lost all desire to do IT, if I wanted to do IT I'd just stay in the USMC.

I want to do finance so that's why the shotgun approach and lots of essay writing for me.

Can't speak to anyone else's reasons if their list is longer than non-military types.

Happy Veterans Day all!

lakai777

Joined: 15 Jun 2009

Last visit: 02 Oct 2013

Posts: 181

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 22

Status:Darden '12 Alumni

Affiliations: USMC

Schools:Darden '12

Posts: 181

Kudos: 26

12 Nov 2009, 11:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

at least in my situation, since i'm such a non traditional candidate, i've got to do the bird shot approach to the schools. i really have no idea what my chances are, so to make sure that I have an actual variety of choices of acceptance, i do a few in the top, few in the middle, and few in the "bottom", rather than those from IB/Consulting/Corporate world, who have a particular profile, and can weigh their options based upon others who have come before them and apply to 1 top, 1 middle, and 1 safe.

so for me, its literally a "i have no idea", "throw everything i've got and hope my poop sticks to wall", approach.

RonMexico

Current Student

Joined: 04 Jul 2007

Last visit: 30 Mar 2011

Posts: 99

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 25

Location: American working in Europe

Schools:HBS R2, Stanford R2, Wharton R2, Columbia RD, Tuck R2, Darden R2, Texas R2

Posts: 99

Kudos: 24

[1]

19 Nov 2009, 08:54

Kudos

Bookmarks

ClanCSA

Anyone else notice that military applicants apply to more schools than most people? I am guessing the admissions fee waivers are a contributing factor.

Not really a factor for me. Every school has different essays, and the effort I put into them individually is worth more to me than a $200 application fee. Additionally, a full time MBA costs as much as a house in some places (at least Detroit), making the $200 so fractional as to be insignificant. It is a nice gesture, but did not effect the number of schools I applied to.

I agree with the others - the "birdshot" analogy is pretty apt. You simply will not find a military applicant who is afraid to uproot from New York, Boston or San Francisco because there are no large bases there. When you live in Kansas, Japan or Norfolk, the military will move your stuff to a place of your choice when you leave the service. Geography is less a constraint - the quality of the program is.

Leaving active duty to attend business school is a profound act - you can't simply go back to work if you do not get accepted. At least for officers, the resignation process is virtually irrevocable, and must be submitted with around a year's notice. You are leaving perhaps the most secure line of employment in America (and a profession that requires tremendous idealism and emotional sacrifice) to go back to school and become the archetypal career switcher. Once you cross the Rubicon, you absolutely need to hedge your bets and apply to quite a few different schools. The cumulative application fees cost quite less than my last set of tires.

gregarious

Current Student

Joined: 11 Apr 2009

Last visit: 16 Jun 2012

Posts: 212

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Concentration: Operations

Posts: 212

Kudos: 14

29 Nov 2009, 22:42

Kudos

Bookmarks

This threads been pretty quiet lately, I take it that everyone is hard at work on their R2 apps! For myself, I'm waiting to hear back from Kellogg, Booth, and Wharton for R1. After completing R1, one additional tip I have is to practice phone interviews if you've never done one before. I had a phone interview which felt very challenging because it didn't seem conversational but rather like a series of mini-speeches. Without visual cues or a face to face connection, it also seemed much easier to ramble and diverge off topic. In person interviews still have much to improve on, but at least those are feeling much more natural.

Good luck to those working on R2 and be sure to post if you have news to share from R1!

Tobey03

Joined: 19 Nov 2009

Last visit: 01 Nov 2010

Posts: 3

Given Kudos: 2

Affiliations: CFA

Schools:Darden, NYU, Columbia, Booth, Wharton

Posts: 3

Kudos: 0

30 Nov 2009, 21:03

Kudos

Bookmarks

You can add me to the list of prior enlisted applicants. I was an 0311 in the USMC, got blown up in Iraq, was medically discharged, and am now in Portfolio Management.

I submitted R1 apps to Darden and NYU and will be submitting R2 apps to Columbia, Booth, Wharton, and possibly Harvard and Stanford (we'll see).

Good luck everyone,
S/F,
Tobey

lakai777

Joined: 15 Jun 2009

Last visit: 02 Oct 2013

Posts: 181

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 22

Status:Darden '12 Alumni

Affiliations: USMC

Schools:Darden '12

Posts: 181

Kudos: 26

30 Nov 2009, 21:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

Tobey03

Tobey, welcome welcome. Glad you have you aboard. If you've got time, please check out the non-prof that I'm at now. It was founded by combat vets, for combat vets, looking out for combat vets.

Once again, welcome aboard.

S/F
Chris

USMCCommO

Current Student

Joined: 19 Oct 2009

Last visit: 27 Oct 2010

Posts: 39

Own Kudos:

Location: Washington, D.C.

Concentration: Finance: Investment Management

Schools:MIT Sloan Class of 2012

Posts: 39

Kudos: 2

12 Dec 2009, 10:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello fellow military folks. This thread has been quiet for some time, I thought I'd bump it up to see if any new military types are lurking on page 1. To update: I've been dinged at Wharton R1 (no interview), accepted to McCombs, have heard nothing from HBS (assume ding is coming 15 Dec), invited to interview at MIT (interviewing in D.C. on 21 Dec). I'm working on R2 applications to Chicago and UCLA. My awkward visit to Kellogg is still grinding on me with regard to whether I apply there or not. I may forego the application there but I am unsure.

Good luck all!

gregarious

Current Student

Joined: 11 Apr 2009

Last visit: 16 Jun 2012

Posts: 212

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Concentration: Operations

Posts: 212

Kudos: 14

12 Dec 2009, 17:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

USMCCommO

Congrats on the MIT interview! R1 has been mixed for myself so far: dinged at Kellogg, waiting for post-interview decisions from Booth and Wharton. If you're still on the fence about Kellogg, I highly recommend contacting their Veterans Club. The website has some useful info and the person I reached through it was very helpful in discussing the school. domtri33 is a vet who's there now who posted on last year's thread and this year's MMM thread, so you could contact him as well. Good luck!

Tobey03

Joined: 19 Nov 2009

Last visit: 01 Nov 2010

Posts: 3

Given Kudos: 2

Affiliations: CFA

Schools:Darden, NYU, Columbia, Booth, Wharton

Posts: 3

Kudos: 0

12 Dec 2009, 20:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

Things are going well for me so far. I will be traveling next week for interviews with Darden and NYU. The rest of my apps are R2 so I am a ways from hearing from them.

Good Luck All
S/F

lakai777

Joined: 15 Jun 2009

Last visit: 02 Oct 2013

Posts: 181

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 22

Status:Darden '12 Alumni

Affiliations: USMC

Schools:Darden '12

Posts: 181

Kudos: 26

15 Dec 2009, 21:08

Kudos

Bookmarks

Gents,

Had my consortium interview today and was asked a question that was a pretty good humdinger that i didn't expect.

"You being in the military, you're used to taking charge, leading, and taking responsibility. How would you deal with being in study groups and student organization where you would have to take a back seat and let others lead?"

Something along that vein.

i thought i answered it pretty well, but wanted to give you all a "Shot, Over."

ATCer

Joined: 29 Oct 2009

Last visit: 26 Feb 2010

Posts: 4

Location: San Francisco

Posts: 4

Kudos: 0

15 Dec 2009, 21:27

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hey guys, I also had an interview that was pretty interesting.

The interviewer first waited until I responded "name three of your qualities." He then asked: ok, in business school there are going to be hundreds of people that are X, Y, Z. How would you, with these qualities, contribute to an interesting class?

Good luck everyone!

lakai777

Joined: 15 Jun 2009

Last visit: 02 Oct 2013

Posts: 181

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 22

Status:Darden '12 Alumni

Affiliations: USMC

Schools:Darden '12

Posts: 181

Kudos: 26

17 Dec 2009, 21:27

Kudos

Bookmarks

I gotta also say, that jargon continues to be more of a challenge than expected.

you would think, that with all the news over the past few years, that everyone and their mother would know what an IED is.

TOC, COC, FDC, etc etc, totally understand. I gotta look some 'em up sometimes too. But IED? She had to stop me and ask. "Improvised Explosive Device...." she continued to look at me as if I were speaking greek. "Homemade bomb...."

"Ahh..." she said.

Barney style gents... gotta do it by the numbers.

HERM3S

Joined: 18 Dec 2009

Last visit: 09 Sep 2010

Posts: 79

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Schools:HBS/KSG Class of 2014 (deferring)

GPA: 3.66

Posts: 79

Kudos: 7

18 Dec 2009, 08:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello all, happened across this forum when searching for info in regards to Sloan admission fee waivers for active duty military.

I actually just submitted my app to Sloan the other day, specifically the LGO program. As I am looking at dual/joint degrees I am applying to HBS/KSG for MPP, Wharton/UPENN Engineering, and Stanford MBA/IPER (Sustainable Energy Program). My undergrad was Nuclear Engineering and I am doing a joint degree to build on this to either work in the Nuclear Industry, or transition over to the alternatives, hence the Engineering programs. As for KSG - I ultimately want to go into energy/nuclear policy, so if I choose that program I'd probably head that route much earlier. Interestingly enough, with my Nuke degree I was not in the Navy; I was in fact on the opposite end of the spectrum as an Infantryman, so naturally didn't use Nuke in the workplace.

I am pretty confident in my chances to get into at least one of the schools, as in addition to very strong GPA at a very strong school, I have good a GMAT, a very strong leadership background (like all of us military guys here), and a distinguished albeit short Army career. What really helps though is that I was severely wounded in Iraq, which definitely makes my story interesting and compelling.

Other than blasting out the rest of the apps over the next few weeks, I really have nothing admissions related going on, but will certainly keep everyone updated and look forward to reading more interview stories! Best of luck all!

RLTW

justsearle

Joined: 18 Mar 2009

Last visit: 27 Sep 2010

Posts: 5

Own Kudos:

Posts: 5

Kudos: 2

19 Dec 2009, 13:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Folks - been perusing this website as I labored through the application process and I've appreciated all your insight. I'm a Navy guy in San Diego - so any SoCal guys holler and we'll link up for a beer or several. Currently in at Booth, waitlisted at HBS and Kellogg, and waiting on a response from Sloan.

Good luck to all you second rounders. Would love to talk through everybody's plans to finance this education at some point. Merry Christmas and good luck to all the applicants; congrats to all the admits.

Take care,

Justin