What to Consider When Going to Graduate School

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Tepper ranked #5 for Veteran MBA program

Transitioning from military service to civilian life can be a bit intimidating. It can also be extremely rewarding, as discovered by United States Army Captain Ronnie Bush.

Ronnie Bush, a West Point graduate who served his country honorably, was at a decision point in his career. After serving a tour in Iraq from 2010 – 2011, bouncing between Fort Stewart, Fort Hood then a tour in Afghanistan, Captain Bush and his wife discussed next steps: re-enlist or re-assign to civilian life and leave military service.

The decision, especially when one loves the comradery and the focus on something greater than oneself, is not always an easy one; and a flood of uncertainty can begin to cloud what is typically clear judgement.  So Ronnie paused and did what most seasoned leaders do – he evaluated his options by creating a list of pros and cons.

The list led him to choose civilian life and explore graduate schools. And at the top of his list, due to his interest in finance and a desire for close community, was the Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, PA.

Located on Carnegie Mellon University’s 140-acre campus in Pittsburgh, PA, The Tepper School of Business is ranked #5 Best for Online MBA Program for Veterans, according to U.S. News and World Report (2015). It’s overall school rankings place it in the top 20 list from various sources.

Founded in 1949 by William Larimer Mellon, one of the founders of Gulf Oil, the school offers degrees from undergraduate through doctoral levels, as well as executive education programs. Over the years, a number of Nobel Prize winning economists have been associated with the school and the school’s focus on economics and finance is world-renowned.

The decision to attend for Ronnie Bush, especially after visiting the campus and learning its history as well as the ease of taking courses both online and having on campus support, became an easy one.


Ronnie is now a full-time MBA student at Tepper, as well as the president of the Tepper School of Business Veterans Club. Aside from a top-level education, the business connections are vast. He and another veteran/MBA colleague are preparing for their summer internships at Deutsche Bank together in NYC.

When I asked Ronnie what Veterans need to consider and know when going to graduate school as a next step after service, he offered these suggestions:

  1. Consider your field of interest, identify the skill sets you want to hone and then find a school that aligns with those areas.
  2. Consider whether or not you need to balance work and school or if you are just going to attend full-time. Part-time and full-time programs, even with the same school, can be vastly different experiences.
  3. If selecting an on-line program, determine if there will be on campus support.
  4. Visit the campus and visit the Veterans Center. The feel of a campus and the support of the Veterans Center can make a difference. Comradery is important.
  5. Know that what you learned in the military applies and does prepare you for your college experience.
  6. Even if you haven’t been in a classroom in a while (for Ronnie it had been close to 8 years since he saw the inside of a classroom), you’ll not be out-of-place. Your soft skills and ability to adapt will likely give you a leg up on the traditional student.
  7. Don’t be shocked if you don’t share the same stresses as the traditional student. You already know that a grade on your test is not the end or beginning of your world.

While there are a number of great graduate schools in the country, the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University offers not only great schooling but a close knit community for its Veterans. So if you or someone you know is considering education as a next mission, add Tepper to the list.

 

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