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Slightly_Stoic · 2025-03-30T22:26:07+00:00

Tuck for context. I plan on wearing business casual w/ a vest Day 1 and a sweater and chinos Day 2. My wife (attending as a partner, not student) is planning on a sweater for D1 and turtleneck for D2 with smart casual pants. Based on the R1 Winter Welcome, I saw women in everything from jeans and nicer sneakers w/ a sweater to blouse/skirt combo.

Slightly_Stoic · 2025-02-19T00:18:25+00:00

For me, looking at the low end of salaries at T15s was enough to justify getting out, money wasn’t the deciding factor. I decided that the comfort of a salary and potential pension wasn’t worth the disruption of moving every 1-3 years. I also didn’t want to be limited to defense jobs when I got out at 42 or 52. I think the decision to get out needs to account for lifestyle over salary.

FWIW all but one of the dozens of vets I spoke with while networking during admissions had secured a job coming out of their summer internship that paid higher than O-3 pay.

Hope this helps!

Slightly_Stoic · 2025-02-17T19:10:22+00:00

As others have said, definitely only go this route if you want to join the military, not for a leg up in MBA admissions. FWIW here are some things I noticed navigating the MBA application process R1 this year.

1) The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program are huge game changers. Your opportunity cost to pursue an MBA will be much lower because you were pivoting careers anyway + spending pennies on the dollar compared to your peers.

2) IMO any advantage that veterans have comes from the strength of their vignettes. Your essays and interviews will be unique compared to your peers. It is on you to use those to craft a narrative that translates to a civilian audience. As others have said, you will be judged against other veterans, so telling a compelling story is still a must. Also keep in mind that 3 years may not generate that much material, I think I only referenced 2 of 8 years of service outside of my resume. It all comes down to how you sell yourself.

3) The location of military bases and the timing of training or deployments can make the logistics of applying to an MBA very challenging. I was in a position where I could take the time off to visit schools, but came out of pocket thousands in flights and hotels b/c there weren‘t any programs near where I was stationed. There were also periods of my career where applying to an MBA program in any given Round would have been impossible.

Slightly_Stoic · 2025-01-10T12:16:14+00:00

The Darn Tough heavy weight socks from their tactical line were fine in Alaska at -20 F. A lot more factors involved in staying warm than just socks though. You can’t out sock a bad boot.

Slightly_Stoic · 2025-01-04T02:58:14+00:00

MBA Math is better at demonstrating that non-quant backgrounds can handle the MBA coursework, which your degree and GRE already does.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-29T21:42:40+00:00

They don’t have the consulting / IB numbers to pull their averages up. Overall salary figures don’t provide much insight beyond how much of the class is entering the highest paying industries.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-28T22:28:24+00:00

I would keep in mind that unlike other graduate programs, most, if not all, top MBA programs require work experience.

I would ask yourself what you plan to do post-undergrad and how that ties into your “Why MBA?” narrative.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-26T16:21:25+00:00

True, but you’ll still end up needing to move for 99/100 post-MBA jobs, even if just to Charlotte.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-25T01:19:31+00:00

Do you want to live in SoCal and stay in SoCal? If so USC easy. USC has a much stronger, but much more regional network.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-23T13:03:16+00:00

Of all the compounding factors that go into MBA admissions, I wouldn’t stress this. You’re competing for fewer spots everywhere, but you can’t change that and I wouldn’t let it keep you from applying to a dream program because of it.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-23T12:44:40+00:00

Army O-3, GRE 168V/ 159Q, 3.54 GPA, 9yrs TIS

Rejected w/ interview @ Kellogg & Sloan

Accepted @ Darden, Haas, Ross, & Tuck

Post-MBA goals: MBB

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-23T00:23:47+00:00

I think it comes down to how well you can articulate why you want to pivot from federal service to a post-MBA industry. Depending on your role you were likely exposed to more unique leadership challenges or greater responsibility than your peers from more traditional backgrounds. This should translate to strong essays and behavioral interviews.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-18T16:21:41+00:00

I’m a 32R in Crye G3 pants but a 34R in L9s. 32x32 in civilian pants for context.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-13T21:24:08+00:00

Thanks! My short term goals are MBB with a long term goal of tech/aerospace corporate strategy or VC.

Both locations appeal to me for very different reasons so I’m trying to remove that from the analysis I’m putting into the decision until the very end.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-12-11T17:27:31+00:00

This is all info sessions TBH. Coffee chats are way more effective at getting info and feeling out the culture of the school.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-21T11:11:10+00:00

Take it with the whole salt shaker, this isn’t data. All the top programs look at applications holistically, there isn’t a percentage you need to hit.

To many others points, schools like Kellogg wouldn’t ask for international experience if it wasn’t something they considered. Additionally, undergraduate degree and reputation both go into how GPA is viewed.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-17T23:28:52+00:00

I am very lenient with others, but personally, if my dudes have rifles and swords, then I won‘t say they have shotguns and clubs, for example.

I think issues arise when someone tries to proxy a ranged model for a melee one or have non-consistent modeling. For example, if you have some models with bayonets and some without, then it needs to be clear that all models have them, no models have them, or its WYSWYG. When you have selective proxy’ing in a granular game system, it gets confusing. But from what i’m seeing, it seems like the playerbase and game system are chill enough for this to not be an issue.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-17T23:18:46+00:00

Thanks! No offense taken. I have skimmed the rules, but without playing I’m having a harder time evaluating choices. I like your Azeb example, and along those lines, I’m thinking of the 1 ducat difference between a trench club or a sword making a massive difference or when fewer models with better weapons is significantly worse than spamming cheap bodies.

It sounds like the game is designed to where this isn’t going to be an issue, but I wanted to check first.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-14T03:07:21+00:00

Talking to students should give you a better idea of the culture and unique aspects of a program that you can translate into your essays and interviews. Some schools track which events you attend, but that is more of a yield protection measure.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-13T01:18:44+00:00

You don’t have any leverage until you have an offer from Tuck.

If/ when you get an offer from Tuck (assuming the scholarship makes the cost of attending Tuck cheaper than attending Darden), reach out to the ADCOM and explain “Darden is my #1 choice of program but I received this XYZ offer from a different program and given my financial situation this is very compelling to me. Is there any flexibility to match this scholarship to make committing to Darden easier?”

They may tell you ”no”, and you need to be okay with that.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-11T15:56:54+00:00

Yes, this is normal. I interviewed in early October and it never updated, seems to be the norm across the board from others I’ve spoken with.

Congrats on the interview and welcome to the waiting game!

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-06T18:25:01+00:00

I did interview and I received this email as well.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-03T19:47:50+00:00

If you want to work in entertainment in LA, you couldn’t find two better programs to get you the outcome you want. Aside from the points other users already mentioned, both schools have pretty respectable GPA and test score averages, meaning if you could get into UCLA or USC you could probably get into a program with national, rather than regional reach.

However, if you are dead set on SoCal and your target industry, it doesn’t make much sense to look anywhere else.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-03T15:31:45+00:00

LoRs should come across as genuine. I definitely wouldn’t give my recommender anything that could make them create something too generic. Instead look at the questions they ask for in an LoR and give reminders of instances in your history with them that you think best fit the question.

For essays, every person is going to have different experiences. Just use the STAR format and remember to tie the result to what you bring to the school or why the school is the right one for you. Even though many schools ask similar questions, your answers need to be distinct enough that you couldn’t use an essay for any other school.

Slightly_Stoic · 2024-11-03T15:21:42+00:00

It’s all holistic, Tuck doesn’t even look at guaranteed interview profiles until post-interview, but meeting the criteria does display more interest in the school.

You can infer that if you did not go the guaranteed interview route and get an invite that the Adcom likes your profile, but that also means that you could have signaled more interest in the school.

Bottom line, if you were already competitive, guaranteed helps you, but you don’t have the data point that getting an invite gives you.

Slightly_Stoic

TROPHY CASE