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Shuey12
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Military Experience and it's effect on the B-School Application 20 Mar 2015, 23:24
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Hi folks,

I'm a 21 year old student studying Design and Management at The New School. From messy past experiences, I am now dedicating a part of my time to setting up future goals now and ahead of time to establish everything in place. Ultimately I want to get my MBA in finance/Consulting/ Marketing at a top tier school, the average buisness dream basically.

The situation is before all that I've always wanted to enlist and serve right after school in the military. Besides all the beneficial factors that could come into play such as Post G.I Bill which would financially help, It's just something I've wanted to do for a very long time.

Furthermore, I plan to work for maybe two years or three after I graduate with my BBA but also serve for say 4-6 years. Hopefully enlisting at 24 and being done by 29-31. The program director at my University was showing me statistics on how most or at least elite+ MBA schools are looking for more work experience 4-5 years+. This worries me because I don't want to be 35 going for my MBA or something. I mean, if it falls to that I probably would but its not a situation I'd like to be in.

I was wondering how serving say such Army Ranger or in Special Operations, Intelligence/Analysis, or just in the military affects your application/resume?

Do you think if I held a position in Special Operations in the military it would effect my application in the "right" way?

Would it be a good enough excuse for my minimum work experience? I'd still like to get at the very least 2-3 years of work experience.

If anyone knows anyone with a similar situation or experienced this personally, I'd be deeply thankful for whatever you have to share.

I was on the Law School forums as well because I'm interested in both Law and MBA and still deciding which grad I'd like to do. Learning towards MBA but they're both very interesting. The forum has a sub section for Veterans and apparently serving in the military for a law applicant looks "good". But law students don't necessarily need work experience before-hand.

I was debating on doing MBA initially, but I can't because the age limit for the position of work I'd like to do in the military conflicts. The Position I want to go for is between 17-29 and plus I'd like to take advantage of my G.I. Bill and all. Going for MBA after the service would be best.

Thanks,
Shu
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NCK
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Joined: 16 Dec 2013
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Location: United States
Schools: Ross '17 (M)
GMAT 1: 660 Q42 V40
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WE:Military Officer (Military & Defense)
Schools: Ross '17 (M)
GMAT 2: 710 Q47 V42
Posts: 22
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Military Experience and it's effect on the B-School Application 21 Mar 2015, 04:47
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Shuey12
Hi folks,

I'm a 21 year old student studying Design and Management at The New School. From messy past experiences, I am now dedicating a part of my time to setting up future goals now and ahead of time to establish everything in place. Ultimately I want to get my MBA in finance/Consulting/ Marketing at a top tier school, the average buisness dream basically.

The situation is before all that I've always wanted to enlist and serve right after school in the military. Besides all the beneficial factors that could come into play such as Post G.I Bill which would financially help, It's just something I've wanted to do for a very long time.

Furthermore, I plan to work for maybe two years or three after I graduate with my BBA but also serve for say 4-6 years. Hopefully enlisting at 24 and being done by 29-31. The program director at my University was showing me statistics on how most or at least elite+ MBA schools are looking for more work experience 4-5 years+. This worries me because I don't want to be 35 going for my MBA or something. I mean, if it falls to that I probably would but its not a situation I'd like to be in.

I was wondering how serving say such Army Ranger or in Special Operations, Intelligence/Analysis, or just in the military affects your application/resume?

Do you think if I held a position in Special Operations in the military it would effect my application in the "right" way?

Would it be a good enough excuse for my minimum work experience? I'd still like to get at the very least 2-3 years of work experience.

If anyone knows anyone with a similar situation or experienced this personally, I'd be deeply thankful for whatever you have to share.

I was on the Law School forums as well because I'm interested in both Law and MBA and still deciding which grad I'd like to do. Learning towards MBA but they're both very interesting. The forum has a sub section for Veterans and apparently serving in the military for a law applicant looks "good". But law students don't necessarily need work experience before-hand.

I was debating on doing MBA initially, but I can't because the age limit for the position of work I'd like to do in the military conflicts. The Position I want to go for is between 17-29 and plus I'd like to take advantage of my G.I. Bill and all. Going for MBA after the service would be best.

Thanks,
Shu
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Shu,

I was in a similar position to the one you are currently in. After graduating from a small college, I worked in finance for two years before serving as an Army Officer for seven years. Here's my take on a couple of your questions and comments:

1. First and foremost, do not enlist in the military unless it is something you truly want to do and have a passion about. While military candidates are very attractive, the lifestyle is extremely demanding and will put you in harms way. It can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but if you don't go in with a perspective of service, hard work, and sacrifice, then you could find yourself being extremely unhappy.

2. Army Ranger and Special Operations will give you the opportunity to do some unique things and help you differentiate yourself from other military candidates, but will not make your candidacy. Again, those jobs are EXTREMELY demanding, and even if you apply for those programs, you will go through a vetting process that will only take the best of the best. Check out what the programs entail to see if it is really what you want.

3. If you have your degree, you will want to apply to become an Officer. While there is nothing wrong with enlisting, as an officer your first job will almost always put you in a demanding leadership position, something prized by many b-schools.

4. There is no denying the value of the G.I. Bill https://blog.militarytobusiness.com/2012/07/post-911-gi-bill-for-business-school.html

5. Military applicants are generally slightly older than the average applicant, so you would be fine.

A good place to start your research is this forum and those of past years: https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all-us-military-fall-2015-applicants-169726.html

You can get some great perspective from Vets who have been there, don't that.

NCK
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Shuey12
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Military Experience and it's effect on the B-School Application 24 Mar 2015, 23:18
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Hey NCK,

Thanks for the thorough response and in addition thanks for your service.

1) I truly do have a passion for it so I can understand the concern.

2) Understood.

3) The problem I have with this was my recruiter telling me that Officers who go to the program I want to be in, by some chances if the fail or get medically dropped, the chances of them returning the program is little to none. A regular enlistee into the program has a higher chance of getting a second chance if he fails or gets injured.

Thanks for the information on the forum!

Shu