Dartmouth / Tuck - 10-16-2020 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

October 16, 2020 3:45pm ET

Applying: Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2022

Pre-MBA Career: Military, Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Amazon , Apple , Facebook , Google , Microsoft , Tesla

GRE: 321

GPA: 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 7

Location: Clarksville, TN

Post MBA Location: Boston, MA

Notes:

I want to pivot from the military to management consulting at MBB or a product manager for a large tech company. I know they are very different goals but I have some time, so I'm not terribly concerned. I want to live in Boston post-mba.

I've taken the GRE twice and the second time was the 321 with a 160V and 161Q. The first was only a 316.

I went to a top 50 public undergraduate university and majored in accounting. While in college I was very involved in my College's ROTC program where I competed in several team based military skills and fitness competitions. As a team we won our Midwest division twice and competed at West Point's revered "Sandhurst" competition. I also ran for my colleges 10 Miler team. I also worked in college in the service industry and for the art department.

My EC's are not very strong right now. I've been very busy with work, but I do enjoy staying fit, fishing, mushroom hunting, and renovating my house. I want to get into some charity work or mentoring but I don't want to seem like I'm simply doing it for the application. Any advice on that?

My military career has been in Explosive Ordnance Disposal or more well know as the bomb squad. I've managed three bomb tech teams covering explosive hazards in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona. Additionally a deployment as an Executive Officer to Afghanistan where we conducted missions with Special Forces, NATO allies, and conventional forces. The scope of my career has also been heavily involved in missions with Secret Service and consulting for them stateside and internationally. However, the most rewarding and possibly the most impactful was spending four months teaching explosive mitigation techniques to allied partners in Africa. That opportunity directly resulted in the increased survivability of that countries Bomb techs. I will end my time in service prior to matriculation, therefore I will have no work experience outside the military.

I would love some feedback on any other schools I should target, or if I should remove some schools from my list. I plan on narrowing the list down to 5 when it comes time to apply. I would also like some feedback on what else I can do from now until the application process in 2021.

P.s. I love the podcast and listen to one on the way to work each day and sometimes on the way home. Thanks for the excellent advice. I would be thrilled to make it on a podcast.

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Show Comments (6) Last: October 27, 2020

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1584 If you genuinely want to start volunteering, I’d just do it. It won’t hurt your candidacy. Your military experience sounds fascinating, generally programs like veterans, and veterans do generally come straight from their service. I’d reach out to the veterans’ clubs at the programs you’re considering. I think you have a good target list of programs. Do you think you have maxed your GRE score? Because you have time, if you think that with extra prep you can increase 2-3 points, that may have impact. (1)

seanwd8 Likes Earned: 22 Thanks Alex! I really appreciate the comment.. (No wonder you have more “likes” than Graham) I think I might have maxed it out. My practice test were only scoring 317 at best before my actual 321. I might be able to add a point or two but I think I’m equally as likely to get the same score or lower. I think instead of spending 60-80 hours studying, it may be more beneficial to go full tilt on the volunteering and leverage my military influence and gain support at work to really make a difference in the community. I really do want to make an impact in the community. Plus, after spending countless months abroad and away from my fiancé, it would be nice to volunteer with her and spend some quality time together doing some good as opposed to diving head first into the books again. Do you think the volunteering and some strong ECs could make up for the lower GRE? (1)

seanwd8 Likes Earned: 22 P.s. I’m just kidding Graham, you give some incredible insights on the pod. (1)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1155 Thanks for your post (and for your service!). While Alex is indeed racking up the 'likes' here, I'll try my best to offer some insights too :) So first off, I think the adcom is going to really like the work you have done in Afghanistan and Africa; it's international, it's interesting, and it's helping in some far-reaching ways. It also shows that you've seen the world and had a chance to work in teams, to lead, etc. Beyond that, your overall role - as a part of the 'bomb squad' will add some interesting color to your candidacy. For some candidates, 'failure' at work might mean losing a client. In your case, it sounds like there is a bit more on the line... I'm highlighting all of this because I think that your academic profile is going to be a slightly tougher sell - especially at the top end of your target list. In an ideal world you'd have a 325+ GRE score and waltz on into any number of top programs. Given that you think that may be out of reach despite your extended timeline, my advice would be to focus on getting everything else perfectly in line: rec letters, connections with veterans clubs at your target schools, essays, resume, ECs. I'd still say go for it if you have even the slightest feeling you might be able to eek out another few points on the GRE with a tutor, etc. As to your question, ECs aren't usually going to counter lower numbers on the academic side of a candidacy - these areas are fairly siloed. But strong ECs certainly add to one's overall profile. Best of luck to you and thanks for the kind words about the podcast!
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seanwd8 Likes Earned: 22 Thanks for the advice Graham. It’s much appreciated and I look forward to the next podcast! (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1584 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2020/10/episode-127-wire-taps/ (0)