Calling all US Military Fall 2017 Applicants!

You probably already know this, but your GMAT score is good for 5 five years. Flight commitment is what 8 years? If you end up leaving active duty, your score date should still be valid by the time round 1 applications open. There are about a thousand and one things you have to weigh though when deciding between these two options. Also consider major life events between now and when you'd potentially leave active duty. If you don't already have a family/kids that would obviously be a major decision point in opting to forego about two years of steady income to pursue a full time program. That being said, IF I (me personally) had a 3.99 undergrad and a 730 GMAT, I'm taking my pick of the litter and applying to every M6 school that I was even slightly interested in.

It sounds like you're still very much on the fence about leaving active duty which is understandable with how much of your active committment you still have left. Are you just trying to get your master's over with now so you don't have to worry about it later on down the road if you do decide to transition?

I am partially trying to get it started now because I know I will only get busier during my career here, and you're correct in that I don't know how long I plan to stay in for. I also am not sure if business is where I want to go after the Air Force.

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Yeah that makes sense. Have you had a chance to explore different industries and job functions that are out there? I hate to admit it, but there are careers and industries that recruit MBAs that I had no idea even existed before I started researching programs. I still don't have a solid "this is the exact job function and industry I want to use my MBA to break into" yet and I fully expect my career aspirations to change about 20 times a day during school, but, at least for me, the MBA is a way for me to open doors and have options more than anything else. I spoke with two Senior Consultants at Deloitte who earned their MBA at Emory, both prior service and they both do federal consulting. So kind of a crossover between federal and private sector. There are endless opportunities that earning an MBA opens you up for but not as technically specific as say a MS in IT or engineering or a highly specified career path which I think is exactly why it appeals to transitioning military because most of us are still on the fence as far as a career goes. I'd take some time to weigh your options and make the decision process happen over time so you can be as objective as possible.

If you look a little but up this thread, I mentioned I was accepted to ASU and Kelley's online program but went with my gut feeling and ended up holding off for a full time program because it was a better fit for my goals. Don't rush the decision though. Right now might actually be the best time for you to pursue an advanced degree on the basis that you have more free time now than you will later in your career, but you also want to make sure you're taking the appropriate amount of time to figure out what's best for YOU.

Hoping for better luck this week, struck out at HBS, Booth, and Darden. Kellogg and Tuck decisions Wednesday and Friday.

Hey man sorry to hear that, good luck to your rest of applications. So I got offer from GWU and invite from Stern, waiting on McDonough and CBS. GWU was my ultimate backup. Did you apply to any backup?

That sucks dude. You still have a bunch of decisions in the pipe though and are getting these decisions in round 1 which is good. You have plenty of time to react. What's your safety school?

No safety schools, if I swing and miss on all 9 schools I'm going to take the GRE and try again next year.

I'm not at all worried yet. HBS and Booth were a stretch, Darden was a surprise but tons of military apply there - my stats were below average.

Now if I get to 6 or 7 misses I'll start to worry.

Yeah that's a solid plan. Are you still in or have you already transitioned out? I'm kind of stuck at this point in my career. It was either get out or spend another two-ish years in so I didn't really have the opportunity to try again next year after dropping my packet to get out.

I applied to schools that seemed like they actively recruited veterans but whose stats were better than what I was working with. Ended up working out for 3/4 BUT I'm realizing I'm not getting jack in the way of money so I kinda shot myself in the foot with that strategy.

I got out in 2015 - still in the reserves. I have a steady job so I can afford 1 more year if I have to.

That's why there is R2 - to correct the mistakes of R1. You can submit a few more apps and check about scholarship money. You will probably need to pay a deposit at the best program you got into (great job by the way) in time for R2 decisions in March but it won't hurt to get a few more shots at it potentially and get a clear picture back but make sure you only apply to schools you are actually willing to attend. You will be surprised how many people apply just to apply in the fog of applications. Just saying...

I'm retaking the GMAT after speaking with two of the schools and having them spell out for me what score I'd need to get in order to get XX% paid for so I'm still not dead in the water yet. Regardless, I have options that, even without merit-based aid are still very reasonably priced which is largely why I applied in the first place, for this exact reason.

I'm gonna use this next week to mull over applying to one more school for R2 that I regret not applying for in R1 though so we'll see. Thanks for the advice by the way.

Another option to look at is the GRE. I don't have the stomach for the GMAT again if I have to take it for next year.

I honestly just don't want to have to sacrifice the study time having to learn the format and patterns of a new test. Just need to find the disconnect between my prep and practice tests and the real thing. Scored a 720 and 740 on both official GMAT Prep practice tests. Was getting 690-720 on four of the MGMAT practice tests before my second attempt. Just totally **** the bed on test day. My first one was a wash because I was taking it for online programs so I didn't really dedicate very much time to it.

Yea that should work out for you. I just don't have the willpower to study for the GMAT again (it took me a year to get a 690). I'd rather just start all over with a new test.

Plus I know the GRE is better for people strong in verbal and weaker in quant.

The GMAT retake is a potentially good path/way to go. I sort of assumed it was out. If you feel that with a retake you may be considered for a Scholarship, i would definitely bring it up to the adcom in a conversation and check whether resubmitting a score would help be considered. No shame in asking for money in this situation. it is always tight.

Also, you scored 3 out of 4, that also kind of means you hit very well in the middle and there is also room to go up potentially if you are going to submit more apps.

P.S. Both the GMAT and an Application are a pretty big undertaking with essays, LORs, Transcripts, scores, etc.

Good Luck!


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I wasn't initially considering it, but all three programs I was accepted to spelled out for me a score to shoot for to put me back into consideration for anything from 50% to full tuition which was nice. Finally having a solid black and white goal to aim for was all I needed to get back to it. Worst case scenario is no improvement and I'm exactly where I am right now.

The hardest part was securing RELIABLE LORs form people who actually showed some sense of urgency to get it done but now that I have that covered I'm feeling pretty good with where I'm sitting for applying in round 2.


I was really looking forward to not having to see another GMAT practice question but oh well. I heard the GRE is more verbal intensive but is it accurate that because the quant is considered, I guess, "easier" that ADCOMs expect a pretty monumental score in quant?

Any other military waiting on Wharton's Thursday decision?