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MS before MBA

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MS before MBA

by MMiller3973 » Tue Nov 29, 2016 3:10 pm
Hello,

I am currently in the Navy and I have 27 more months left on my contract. I finished my undergrad from an online college (WGU) which uses an unorthodox GPA system in which all passing grades are equivalent to a 3.0 or higher. I was wondering if completing an MS from a more notable school (preferably Indiana) would be advantageous when it comes to applying for a full time program when I separate from the Navy. Or, would it hold me back in some way? It is worth noting the MS would be free and the program would be approximately 15 months.

If I went the MS route what tier MBA program should I expect to be accepted into provided a 700 GMAT and strong essays, interviews, etc.?

Thank you in advance for any help provided!
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by MargaretStrother » Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:01 am
This is an interesting question, but leads me to more questions: what would the MS be in? Would the degree bear any relationship to the industry you are seeking to enter post-MBA/post-Military? Would the degree program be full-time? I feel that the MS grades would definitely help you target stronger MBA programs, because it would add some heft to your academic background -- online colleges don't carry as much weight as we might like.

A 700 GMAT plus the grades in your Indiana transcripts will certainly help get you on the MBA dartboard, but I'm not prepared to guess what level of schools you'd be able to target. Some deep research (hint: linked-in) might help you identify which of the schools on your MBA wish-list have accepted graduates of your undergrad or MS programs before; look for existing pathways, and if necessary, you can even call the admissions office of these schools and discuss your situation. They won't tell you not to apply, of course, but you'll be able to get a sense of what they need from you in order to consider you as an applicant.

Good luck!

Margaret Strother
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by MMiller3973 » Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:18 am
Thank you for the reply, Margaret.

The MS would be in Marketing which is the industry I hope to enter post-military. Due to my military obligations, I will be limited to taking courses online with a week long residency on campus in the beginning.
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by MargaretStrother » Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:43 am
I hesitate to speculate about how top MBA schools will respond to your academic background, but they will certainly understand the constraints of your situation. Probably best to revisit the question of school choices after you have a GMAT score, because admissions is such a holistic process: age, GMAT, GPA, undergraduate institution, and most importantly, leadership (which will be your strength, as a military applicant), are all components that will impact your competitive profile for target schools.

Nonetheless, this might be an ideal time for you to get a deeper level of feedback by taking advantage of Stacy Blackman Consulting's offer of free consultation with one of our all-star advisors. We can answer questions, provide advice and help you figure out how to create a set of targeted next-steps. You can sign up for that consultation at: https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact

Good luck!
Margaret Strother
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