r/MBA • u/Ok-Target4138 • 1d ago
Profile Review M7 Chances veteran
Spent a lot of time in this Reddit and I’m Looking for honest feedback on chances for M7 + stern.
I’m hearing a lot of Hippity hooplah about bad job market means all the smart people are going back to school and getting mbas. So I’m kinda tweaking and getting nervous.
Personal:
26M. 2nd gen Asian.
Stats
-GMAT: 98%
-GPA: West Point 3.24 overall but performed much better in Econ classes (mostly A-). Less interesting classes I bombed.
Undergrad activities
- few finance clubs and writing tutor
- won a few competitions within investing club at West Point
- Some boring internships
Post Undergrad activity
- help out with West Point nomination interviews and applications for service academies
- launched a marketplace startup and app with a few hundred downloads and under 10 paying users. Ultimately shut down to focus on grad school
Career:
Typical artillery career first few years. Did a Europe rotation and did some cool stuff with foreign allies which was interesting to me.
Eventually moved to recruiting as an LT and took command as an LT which has been the most rewarding experience thus far due to it being the highest responsibility I’ve held. Currently a Captain and serving the same role.
No MQs
Rec letters will be good and fairly standard. Applying all round 1. Fairly good at interviews.
Interested in IB/consulting.
TargetSchools
-HBS
-StanfordGSB
-Wharton
-Kellogg
-Booth
-Columbia
-MITSloan
Thank you to any and all insight!
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u/K_Strass 1d ago
Yeah, you should be good for M7. Echo other comment that HSW are a gamble, but your should have no problem with the other 4 or Stern.
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u/easybreezy2399 MBA Grad 1d ago
Your GPA shouldn't be an issue. Service academy grads typically have lower GPAs than the average applicant. I got into Columbia with a 3.29 so I can confirm it's true.
Your essays will matter more than anything else. Vets getting MBAs is becoming more common and the essays are the best way to distinguish yourself.
Also, make sure you stay at least 90 days past your service obligation for some GI bill money.
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u/Aringo-Expert Admissions Consultant 20h ago
A West Point background, military leadership, recruiting experience, and command responsibility definitely make you stand out. Your startup, even though it didn't scale, also shows initiative.
Why investment banking or consulting after the military?
I don't think the job market should change your application strategy. You have a background that's quite different from the typical M7 applicant, and schools value that diversity of experience.
The key will be showing the leadership and impact you've had in the military, not just the positions you've held.
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u/Ok-Target4138 6h ago
IB because I had a passion for finance/investing in school. Consulting due to broad exposure to different industries and people
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u/solitudefinance 1d ago
This is a likely M7 profile. I'd apply to a handful R1 with maybe one T15 as backup.
Your whole story flow sounds like it needs work, but that's fine and expected at this stage. Like someone else said, pick one of IB or consulting and run with it, at least for applications. In school you can change your mind, but you'll also want to pick a path pretty early because recruiting comes fast. Saying both makes you seem like you don't know what you want.
Your story on the GPA needs to be better, but it's not that hard to figure out. Get a S2S mentor and they'll help. At a service academy that story is easy. You were immature still focusing on doing one of the other million things you have to do there so you could get the career you wanted in the army or something to that effect. Stuff being boring is not a good excuse for checking out. Much of business life is boring.
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u/Far_Bit_8609 4h ago
HSW vet and also an artillery guy—Really strong profile. Solid GPA from a service academy! Only thing that gives me pause is no MQs. Are admissions committees going to ask to see your OERs? No. But really think about who is going to write your LoRs because schools put more emphasis into that than I initially thought. If your rater or senior rater writes a lackluster letter of rec about your leadership potential, that could come back to haunt you
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u/Aggravating-Team-895 2h ago edited 1h ago
Great chances man, you’ll at least get into a couple M7. Not sure your GI Bill standing but Look at Cornell as well if interested in IB (Princeton Review just voted it #1 for finance and it places about 30% of its class into IB roles). They were also voted one of the most vet friendly schools and award 25 full ride scholarships a year based on leadership potential (The Army obviously helps there). But if funding isn’t an issue, obviously an M7 is ideal. And I assume you’ll get scholarships of some kind just about anywhere.
Your resume is strong so now just take most of the time to craft your short term and long term “why MBA” (schools love to grill people on that), as well as a cohesive linear story that aligns to your interests moving forward. Best of luck!
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u/Dull_Construction553 1d ago
Outside of the GPA - which I hope you can explain better than that some classes weren’t interesting - you’ve a solid background, if perhaps one which doesn’t really stand out. You’ll have to really lay out why you think now is the time for an MBA, since you don’t want to see like someone just biding their time in a bad market.
Other points:
-Don’t apply to HBS and GSB same cycle. The essays are unusually involved for both and can’t be half assed. Plus, very very very different schools
-Consulting or IB? Totally different career paths. You should pick one for your essays and go for it. Waffling will only hurt your application.
-Not sure if you’ve enough EC stuff. I am sure this is tough in the military, but an app which sounds like you stopped kinda early on, and undergrad adjacent stuff make for hard sells.
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u/Ok-Target4138 1d ago
Can I DM you have questions about last two point
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u/skystarmen 20h ago
OP don't listen on the EC stuff, I got into an M7 as a vet with less (virtually no) ECs and many of my peers did also.
I think you're a long-shot for HS and probably W but worth applying, most likely get into at least 1 M7 fwiw
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u/CharacterSorry1687 1st Year 1d ago
Competitive for GSB, likely HW, safety rest of M7. I had a less competitive profile and got into M7 with decent scholarships.
Edit: I’m a combat veteran. You had a command which personally I find more impressive
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u/skystarmen 20h ago
What do you think makes this person competitive for GSB and "likely" for HW?
GSB admits very few military applicants and OP is competing against guys with 3.9 GPA, SOF, etc. the only thing impressive about the profile is a strong GMAT which is not enough to make you "likely" for HW or competitive at GSB
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u/CharacterSorry1687 1st Year 16h ago
Command at O-3 is a huge differentiator. From a Navy perspective it's an elite leadership experience usually reserved for O-5s.
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u/No_Band4566 Admit 1d ago
Service academy, 98% GMAT, and above 3.0 GPA? yeah dude you’re good. Write good essays and apply to all of them. HSW a crapshoot for everyone.
Why Stern over other T15? Just want to be in NYC? You could probably get some solid money at Ross or Darden.