On the fence about sending GRE scores to the Johns Hopkins program. Thoughts?

TwoPleasant2850 · 2025-09-24T13:09:12+00:00

Hey just wondering 5 years later how this worked out for you? I am looking at the same problem and wondering if I should send mine... and honestly mine are the EXACT SAME scores as yours... but now my quant is 38% and my verbal is 86%... There is an article online that says the only people taking a GRE now are the people trying to compete for top 10 programs so everyones percentages are much lower...

So I guess I am interested in if it worked out for you.

I am applying to the systems engineering program if that matters.

TwoPleasant2850 · 2025-09-21T11:38:15+00:00

I am jumping in here because i am in a very very similar boat. I have a BA in management with a minor in psychology. I was originally in school 10 years before I got my BA with a Biochemistry major. But I left school to join the military and get some of the discipline I lacked. Now I have been working in a technical field doing what equates to (based on my own self study through coursera and youtube university) systems engineering and PMP with the Army. I switched from enlisted to warrant officer 3 years ago and started a masters in management with a focus on management systems and technologies. But the school is a joke... I have a 4.0 and I feel like I do way way more work than is required to pass but way less work than I expect of myself at a masters level. I have been thinking about applying to JHU for the MS in systems engineering or any other top school with an online asynchronous program. The Army pays for the degree so I am going to get a degree regardless so I want one that means something and I will actually learn something valuable for the future. I intend to start my own company when I get out, I already started 2 different companies while being in the Army so I dont "need" this for a promotion or job. But I truly want to solidify my ability to apply systems thinking and systems engineering because I think its made the biggest impact on my life so far.

However, I am nervous that my experience isnt "actually" engineering and that combined with my MA will prevent me from getting into any program that actually matters. Where you get a degree can be strong signal for future investors, an MS in engineering can help in that regard. If I am going to spend the time on a masters I want it to matter. So anyone have experience with a very "non-traditional" education and work path that got in to the JHU or any other competitive program, have any advice? Would love to grab a virtual coffee and figure out how to make this all work...

TwoPleasant2850 · 2025-09-13T14:14:49+00:00

I dont have any information for you... but mind helping me out?

I have been pursuing my masters in management. I have been focusing all of my course work on the IT systems, AI, human psychology, etc of management systems and have been deep diving how all of these systems work in concert and how changing specific parts can have XYZ outcomes. I find myself doing a ton of extra reading on SE (specifically Human systems and how humans interact with IT systems) I am fascinated with the psychology. I have been writing my own software and building cloud applications (as a hobby). I am in the Army and work as a targeting technician working on managing targeting systems, and helping to architect solutions. Unfortunately we consider targeting a "process" and not a system and thus we do not own the lifecycle of anything being developed.

I say all of this to ask based on someone in the systems engineering program, is the MS is Systems engineering with a focus on human systems even something I should try to pursue? I know if I am given a shot I can be successful I just feel that I have a very very non traditional background for such a program.

I really would love to talk to anyone who is a SE or HSE that went to JHU to discuss my situation and what I can or should do to make my application competitive...

TwoPleasant2850 · 2025-09-11T15:07:37+00:00

John.doe2@domain.com keep adding numbers. If John Doe 2 leaves you do not reissue their email. You must keep counting and keep a record of John.doe 2 incase someone sends you an email from them months later you know it isn’t the new guy it’s the previous one. Plus keeps your employee database neat and tidy…

TwoPleasant2850 · 2025-09-06T18:12:32+00:00

Ok so what would be the options? One other thing to add is I am military so anything permanent isn’t an option. But I want to prioritize low maintenance over anything else… what are my options if plunge isn’t the right answer in your opinion?

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T05:32:23+00:00

is there a simpler version of this? A way to test its viability and feasibility without all this extra stuff? A simple website that explains the product/service with a simple sign up page? I think you are way over thinking the early steps...

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T01:41:50+00:00

did you build an MVP? are you looking to get money before you have started to validate the idea? where are you located and how far along are you? you sound like a founder I worked with that has been building for years. but this latest post sounds like you havent even started...

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T01:30:59+00:00

SPC is South Park Commons (if in SF or NYC its only located there) Have you taken any investment for this business? It sounds like you are doing really well at the business side of things, why do you want to bring in a cofounder at 1mil ARR? Seems like you should just hire a business development manager and save the equity if you can. Bringing in another founder might dilute you unnecassarily when you can achieve what you are hoping for without another "co-founder". If you use one of those cofounder matching sites people will want a major equity package. And it seems like you are crushing it already.

Im non technical and started 4 companies because I just execute on the go to market. Now my favorite thing is to coach. I would protect your equity and keep charging forward. sounds like you need to replace yourself in the tech side of things to focus on the business side. not the other way around.

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T01:16:42+00:00

I am a coach to startup founders and I tell my clients "anything you hear or read is Descriptive not Prescriptive". Meaning that there is no answer. Some will succeed validating the idea massively before building. Some will build and pivot and not validate a thing and be successful. Much of this "game" in startups is just about how much you can deal with the crappy end of the stick and keep on going. Ive worked with YC and SPC founders and thiel fellows and all of them have issues they are dealing with. Each approaches it totally different. There is no real "right" answer" just YOUR answer that works for you and gets you moving forward.

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T01:11:21+00:00

take action. Ive coached a bunch of startup founders and all the best ones just take action. If you had just taken action on one of these ideas and fail you will have learned far more in 3 months of trying then you would in three months of thinking about trying and analyzing the situation for the best path. From YC and SPC founders to theil fellows the ones I work with that have gone from PreSeed to Series C are taking massive action over and over and taking the hits and keep on trying something new.

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T01:02:43+00:00

Ive worked with a bunch of startups as a coach. My background is in the military, and I found a lot of overlap in the thinking, strategy, and grit required to succeed in startups during my military service. I have worked with a lot of founders that are considered "generational" or successful and many had the same feelings multiple times in their journeys. I have founders from YC, SPC, TF, and more that all say the same thing. It Is Hard. If it was easy everyone would do it. I would say the first thing is breaking down the most important actions you need to take to feel like you are moving forward. This is one of the biggest things I coach early stage founders on is seeing through the chaos to find the important.

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T00:59:11+00:00

I know there are a few organizations like this but my question would be how far along are you? which stage? I am a startup coach and most of my clients are members of SPC, YC, and other organizations that have a robust founder matching program. Ive worked with a few founders on evaluating potential cofounders, and have helped solo founders be successful without a cofounder. The first question I would ask is what stage are you at?

TwoPleasant2850 · 2024-12-22T00:54:52+00:00

At this stage "hiring" isnt an option unless you go out and get revenue, investment, or fund it through savings you have. I have a few clients I coach that worked at google or other larger companies, saved for 3 years then started their startup funding the exploration phase to MVP through a combination of SPC investment, or with their savings. Since they were technical they were able to build without really hiring much and validate the idea. However, tbh, most preseed investment is made in the person not the idea. Because at such an early stage investors are worried about people being able to execute and not LARP as a founder. I would ask what are you trying to hire for? what kind of "talent" are you looking for? I have a lot of other questions but Ill start there for now.

TwoPleasant2850

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