Alec Emmert: The Wharton School (Class of 2020)

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

Age is Just a Number: How a 35-Year-Old Vet with Mediocre Grades Beat the Odds and Got into Wharton

A few years ago, no one would have given me much of a chance at getting into Wharton. I was in my mid-30’s, had been working in the private sector for a few years, and had a less than spectacular undergraduate academic record. I was hardly the prototypical veteran MBA applicant. However, through focus, hard work, and perseverance, I was able to beat the odds and earn a place at my top choice school. I am sharing my story to highlight that there is no set age when someone, especially a veteran, has to get an MBA. Rather, the degree is a step in your journey that you must take when you are ready. Also, mediocre grades are something you can overcome by getting a high score on your GMAT or GRE and crafting a thoughtful, introspective application.

My story

I graduated from the Naval Academy in 2005 with a degree in English and a mediocre GPA. Looking back at my time at Annapolis, I realize that I did not focus on excelling academically but mainly aimed to stay "sat" (off academic probation). I cared more about leadership and my extracurricular activities, which included sports and community service. I underperformed without question. However, I was lucky enough to be offered an interview for a commission as a nuclear submarine officer, which I passed, earning a spot at Nuclear Power School. I worked hard, made it through the battery of exams, and went on to complete a tour as a division officer on a fast-attack submarine. I had follow-on assignments in the Middle East and Europe. I enjoyed my time in the military, but, after seven-and-a-half years on Active Duty, I decided it was time to see what the civilian world had to hold.

I did not see the value in getting a full-time MBA and wanted to get into the private sector as soon as possible. I went to several placement firms but had my best success with the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC), where I secured a public sector consulting job through a contact I made. So, I moved to D.C. and started my career inside the beltway. After several years in D.C. which, included a Navy Reserve Mobilization to the Middle East, I was offered an opportunity to work as a defense consultant in the Middle East. The opportunity seemed exciting, so I jumped on it.

After a year of this work, I asked myself: "Is this the direction I want my life to go?" I had either served in the military or worked in the defense industry for almost all of my adult life. I wanted a change, but my background and experience were so specific, it made pivoting difficult. The best solution was simple: hit the reset button by getting an MBA from a top program. However, I was over thirty, had thirteen years of work experience, and had a low Naval Academy GPA. I was hardly an ideal candidate. So, how did I beat the odds and get into Wharton?

1. I got a strong score on my GMAT.

If you have a weak undergraduate GPA, you can make up for it by crushing the GMAT. People often target 700, which is fine if you have a good (3.5+) undergraduate GPA. But, if you are in the low 3.0/2.0 range, you should shoot to score close to 730 to compensate for your GPA. Getting this score takes a serious commitment. In my case, I spent about 200 hours over four months of studying. I did over 1,000 practice problems from the Official GMAT Guide and completed eight practice tests before taking the exam. My hard work paid off, and I scored well enough to compete for a place at a top business school. My score went a long way to removing doubts adcoms had about my academic capabilities, given my subpar GPA. To be clear, the GMAT is only one part of your application. Many people have gotten into top programs with lower scores. A higher score only improves your admission chances.

2. I developed clear answers to the questions, "Why an MBA? Why now? What am I going to do with the degree?"

If you are older and have significant work experience, as I did, adcoms are bound to wonder what you hope to gain from a full-time MBA. In my case, I hoped to use the lessons I learned serving and working overseas to methods to use business to improve a wide variety of global issues. I sought to leverage my experience and combine it with a top MBA program's resources to pivot to the next phase of my career by joining a consulting firm that does social impact and sustainability work.

Before you start your applications, I advise you to sit down and write a concise one to two-sentence answer to the questions: "Why an MBA? Why now? What am I going to do with the degree?" These answers will provide the structure you can use in writing your essays and during your admissions interviews.

3. I narrowed my focus and leveraged my connections.

I chose Wharton as my top school because I had several friends who had graduated from it, each of whom had an incredible experience. The school has a well-deserved reputation for being very vet friendly. Furthermore, I knew its name would open doors for me professionally. Therefore, I contacted my Wharton friends to get their advice on my application essays and resume. The best part about working with your friends is that they will give you brutal, honest feedback. One of them tore my resume apart and said it was one of the poorest written he had seen. Although that feedback was tough to swallow, it made all the difference as I revised my resume and essays over a dozen times until each was polished to perfection. By narrowing my focus, I ensured that I devoted considerable time to get my application right. If you do not have friends at particular schools, reach out to their veterans’ clubs and get a Service to School MBA Ambassador. These people have been through the process you are starting and will share their insights into how you can best translate your experiences into a compelling application narrative.

My hard work and focus paid off when Wharton accepted me. I went on to have an incredible time during my two years at the school. The maturity and perspective my age brought, coupled with my years working in the private sector, served me well. I definitely do not think I would have gotten as much from my experience had I pursued an MBA at the “normal” time.

Conclusion

You should not go to business school just because you think it is the right thing to do at a particular time. Rather, you should apply to MBA programs when you have a clear focus and reason for wanting the degree. My example should also show you that you should never sell yourself short because you do not think you have a strong enough background for a particular program. A strong GMAT score and thoughtful application will go a long way to compensating for an unimpressive undergraduate transcript. Do not sell yourself short, and do not deselect yourself from a program you want to attend.