Five MBA Myths

The following has been adapted, with permission from the author, from the upcoming book: Breaking Business School: A Military Veteran's Ten Step Guide to MBA Success

30 is Too Old For an MBA

This one is near and dear to my heart because it almost kept me from applying to Wharton. People repeat this over and over again, and they are wrong. I started considering an MBA when I was 33. I thought I was too old but, luckily, I got some good advice from my Naval Academy roommate, who graduated from Wharton. He told me that there were numerous people over 30 in his class, especially veterans. I listened to him, applied to Wharton when I was 34, started my MBA when I was 35, and graduated at 37. I was not the oldest person in my class, but I was one of them. There is no specific age cutoff for MBA admissions, but you may want to look into EMBA programs if you are in your late 30s or older as they may be more in line with your career goals and progression.

Another age-related myth I heard was that top consulting firms and banks do not want to hire Associates in their 30s. Again, I am living proof that this rumor is completely false. I was hired by McKinsey when I was 36. My intern class had multiple people over 30. Age is certainly not a disqualifier for a full-time MBA or a job in consulting or banking.

Although schools and companies will not discriminate against you for your age, you will have to provide a compelling answer to why now is the right time for you to go back to school to change your career if you are older. The average age at most MBA programs is about 27. if you are like me and apply when you are in your mid-30s, you will be significantly older than your peers and on a different social wavelength. Furthermore, even though you can definitely still get a job in consulting or banking in your 30s, your boss will most likely be your age or even younger. If you are ready to accept this reality, you should not let your age get in the way of your goals.

You Need a Stellar Undergraduate GPA to Get into a Top MBA Program

I got into Wharton with an unspectacular GPA as a Naval Academy English major. This fact alone should give you hope. I know many veterans whose GPAs were even lower than mine and still got into elite programs. My mediocre grades as an undergraduate did not hold me back, but I did have to make-up for them in other ways. For your reference, in most veterans’ cases, I would consider a sub-3.0 undergraduate GPA low, one between 3.0 and 3.5 average, and one over 3.5 strong. However, these are general guidelines as several other factors come into play, such as your major and undergraduate institution's strength.

The easiest way to compensate for a low GPA is to crush your GMAT, which means getting about 20 points above your target school’s average. Also, taking post-graduate, quantitative courses, or even getting a Masters’ Degree are good ways to show MBA admissions committees that you have what it takes to succeed in their program. In my case, I earned a Masters’ in Finance from Georgetown University. If a Masters’ Degree is too much of a commitment, completing Harvard Business School’s online Credential of Readiness (CORe) program is an excellent way to strengthen your academic profile. You will need to address your poor undergraduate academic performance in your application by explaining it and then detailing ways you have grown since your undergraduate days. My story shows that you can definitely overcome a low undergraduate GPA and get into a top program.

Only Officers Get into Elite MBA Programs

Yes, the vast majority of veterans in MBA programs are former officers. However, this reality is not because admissions committees discriminate against enlisted veterans; it is more because the path to business school is more well-trodden for officers who complete their initial tour of duty following commissioning and then go to graduate school. There is a contingent of enlisted veterans in every class at Wharton, and I have known several in other top programs. Admissions committees are more interested in what you did in the military, your academic credentials, your long-term career vision, and how you will benefit your community at school than your military rank.

You Need to Have Gone to a Prestigious Undergraduate Institution to Get Into a Top Business School

You do not need to have attended an “elite” college for an MBA admissions committee to take you seriously. Although many of my veteran-classmates at Wharton were Service Academy or Ivy League graduates, quite a few went to state schools and smaller colleges. Admissions committees want leaders who will benefit their communities. So, they care less about where you went to school or how you got your commission and more about what you actually did while you were in the military.

Admissions Committees at Top Schools are Only Interested in Special Forces, Combat Arms, and Aviation

Some military jobs such as serving in special forces or as a fighter pilot will get admissions committees' attention. Since these roles are typically reserved for high-caliber individuals, it is only natural that veterans who selected for them should have strong grades and test scores. Even if they do not, having served in an elite capacity may get an admissions committee member to forgive a lower GPA or GMAT. However, the ability to skillfully fly a jet or lead a raid does not mean that someone will succeed in business school. Admissions committees look for high-quality people who will add value to their programs and want veterans who excelled at their military role, whatever that was. The most important aspect of your military service was your impact on your unit, not your specific job. While there was a heavy contingent of pilots and operators in my class at Wharton, we had numerous veterans who served in roles including Human Relations, Logistics, Acquisitions, and IT. These veterans were often some of our top performers as they leveraged their specialized skill sets to succeed in the business world.