Calling all US Military Fall 2014 Applicants!

It depends--based on a general assessment of your profile, would you have a decent chance at getting into a better school in R1 this coming year? Would you be able to boost your GMAT or add some quant courses to your transcript?

Trading off one year to go to a top 20 school vs. a top 40 school is likely to pay off significantly more in the long run, unless you're dead-set on staying in Texas after graduation and know that Rice has a track record of putting grads into the companies/industries that interest you.

In general it's a terrible idea. Unless you know for sure that that's the ONLY school you would ever go to. Then okay, but otherwise, isn't it better to wait, apply to 4-5 schools, maybe get into a better one, or maybe get some options with scholarships and THEN decide???

Hey everyone...I am in a serious debate right now and am hoping you all can help me decide and need some help!

So I am an enlisted sailor, E5 intelligence specialist and an coming up on my EAOS. I finish my bachelors degree in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University (regionally accredited) next month. I EAOS in June of 2015 and am debating if I should start an online MBA with an AACSB accredited institution or should I wait, prep for the GMAT, do well on it hopefully and apply to a top 30 school?

About me...

BA Intelligence Studies, American Military University 3.6GPA
6 Years intelligence analysis, supervisory roles, multiple extra specialties and classes taken
2 deployments totaling 18 months on Aircraft Carriers
Can easily provide great letters of recommendation
Can get the GI Bill to pay for a GMAT prep course here in DC so hope to score 650+

Target schools would be a top 30, but what are my realistic chances since I am coming from the enlisted side of the house with a bachelors from a for-profit online college, but it is RA.

I can apply for college like Ohio State, Texas a&m commerce and Northeastern university completely online, no GMAT and they are AACSB but i know the top 30 will be better for me in the long run? Thoughts? anything you guys can provide would be great! Thanks so much for reading this!

Don't let your enlisted status put a damper on things. We have two former enlisted Marines here at Johnson. While your online degree would probably hold you back from top-5, it should be okay for top 30.

IMO Online MBAs for transitioning military isn't good - you're trying to switch careers, and you won't get any of the benefits of on-campus recruiting.

Cobra,

Thanks for the reply. Starting to get some hope of getting into a better school than deferring to the online MBA. I have read so many articles about how important the networking is and like you said, especially for me it is that much more vital switching careers. I appreciate the insight!

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Agree with CobraKai. For a career-switcher (especially one coming from the military) I'd rate a top 50 full-time MBA as a better option than pretty much any online MBA.

Shoot for a big GMAT score and try to get some additional quant-heavy courses on your transcript over the next year...I think BYU and UCLA offer decent online courses, or a local community college wouldn't be a bad option either.

Anyone receive any good news this week? Anyone potentially going to Ross?

Congrats on the Ross acceptance, JLong! (I saw your post on the Ross thread, and gave you a kudos). I got an acceptance as well, which is a really awesome feeling, since it's my first acceptance! I still have an interview for Haas next week, which is my first choice school, but honestly I'm excited for either!

Congrats on the Ross admit and good luck at Haas! I'm still waiting to hear back from Darden and Booth, but I think Ross is going to be the place for me. Let me know when you get more fidelity on where you are going. Good luck!!

Any good news for military guys/gals these last few days?

I got the thumbs up from Kellogg and Booth, both with enough $ to cover the difference between the GI Bill and tuition... I'm about 99% for Kellogg. Saying I am ecstatic at this point would be an understatement.

That's a good "problem" to have--Booth vs. Kellogg is close enough to a tossup that it's really a matter of which campus visit/student body felt like the best fit for you, whether you want to be in the city vs. a college town, etc.

I was fortunate enough to gain acceptance to Booth and Wharton this week. Now I'm also faced with the "problem" of deciding between the two.

Congrats, that is a great position to be in. What do you want to do after school? If its finance then you should go to Booth. If you don't want to work in investment management then it's pretty much a toss-up and comes down to fit.

Thanks! Post-MBA plans are up in the air at this point...I'm strongly leaning towards Kellogg based on fit and some feedback I've received from alums of Kellogg, as well as some other top schools.

I, too, agreed with Cobrakai and EBM. I am an enlisted (E6, MI as well ) and I got in UCLA, UC Irvine ($$) and Texas A&M College Station ($$ with full housing for my family). And I will have my interview at Yale tomorrow. I originally thought about doing UNC online MBA program but decided to apply to top 30 programs instead. Like Cobra said (and from talking to many b-school alum), the best thing about doing an MBA is the networking you will have and can depend on for the rest of your life.

From my status, 4 out of 7 ain't too bad right? (I applied to Wharton just a bit late so it got sent to R3, which I'm sure I will not have a chance). Best of luck to you and let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Congrats to everyone! Anyone who is in NYC next year and needs a couch, I'll be heading to NYU Stern beginning in July for Summer Start. I thought my Kellogg interview went very well, but I'm sure my GMAT was not in their wheelhouse, but needless to say, I am thrilled to be heading to Stern!
I'm separating May 1 and beginning school July 7...does anyone have a line for any summer programs? I have applied for the Credit Suisse Military Bootcamp, the McKinsey Emerging Scholars (you miss 100% of the shots you don't take right?), and the JP Morgan MBA Early Advantage. You guys know of anything else out there? Thanks!