MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 26 Dec 2008
Posts: 2457
Given Kudos: 2
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Please evaluate my candidacy, much appreciated
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01 Jul 2010, 10:11
You should shoot higher. You have a stronger profile than you think.
From what you wrote, the only potential negative is your current GMAT score. But if there's anyone whose lower-than-average GMAT will be overlooked by an adcom, it'll be yours.
Take a look at applying to HBS, Stanford, and Wharton. You are competitive enough to give these schools a serious try. Adcoms see enough officers that they can benchmark you vs other officers - and being a Ranger is certainly a huge asset (in fact I worked with a Ranger and a SEAL in the past, as well as a few Navy and Army guys in pretty specialized positions). In fact, your profile sounds very similar to someone I've worked with in the past, and he got into every school he applied to including HBS and Wharton.
The schools you listed are places where you shouldn't have a problem getting into, even with your current GMAT score. Sounds like you're committed to the east coast, so I'd drop Stanford from the three, so the list could look like: HBS, Wharton, Sloan, Darden, Duke. I don't think you need to apply to Georgetown, and add Yale as the sixth school if you have time.
What I encourage you to do is to reach out to the veterans at these schools through the various veterans clubs at each of these schools - they will be able to give you a ton of advice on their own experiences as well as your case. The big schools like HBS, Wharton and Darden all have a sizeable veterans population and an active veterans' club (just google for their websites and contact info), and they are known to be very helpful to people like yourself.
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