What to do with my life? - Senior at SEC school

Just some quick background information:

I'm a senior at a large SEC school and I will be graduating in July with a degree in accounting. My school is ranked in the top 15 for accounting but I failed to understand the importance of networking so I did not get any big 4 offers (and my gpa is slightly low, a 3.4). I did an internship at a fortune 100 food producer in accounting, which is the extent of my work experience.

I've been cold-emailing investment banks and I'm getting nothing. Even accounting firms are saying no to me? I don't get it.

My new plan is to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS) for either the Navy or the Army and then serve my 3 years. Subsequent to this, I am planning on taking the GMAT (I should get around a 700-730 as I test very well) and then applying to business schools for an MBA in hopes that my MBA will allow me to break into IB.

Is this my best bet at this point in my life? I feel like entering the military is kind of a waste of my intelligence (no offense to any of those in the service), but I seem to have no other options at this point.

Thanks for any replies.

 

So why are you going to the military? It's not apparent from your post, other than passing the time for the next 3 years.

Without a solid reason, it's hard to say whether it's your best bet. You may not be able to break into IB at this point, but I'm sure there are regional accounting firms that would be open. Not sure if that's the way you'd want to go.

While you may not be crunching numbers, hopefully there are other ways the military could help you exercise "critical thinking." The military is also a good way to learn discipline and perhaps management if you do become an officer. B-schools are definitely open to military vets. In fact, one of my classmates was in the Navy on the bomb squad, while the other flew Apache helicopters. Both turned out to be pretty intelligent and good leaders.

 

The military will provide my resume with the leadership (which it currently lacks) that it takes to get into a top MBA program. I don't feel like 3 years as an auditor at a public accounting firm will be enough "solid" work experience to get me into a top 15 business school.

 

Does military count as work experience for MBA's though? As in wouldn't they expect military as well as another job function?

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I did 3-4 years at a Big 4, got into a top 15-20 school and got a ton of cash to go.

Military does count. Many of my classmates had done nothing but military prior to going back to school.

 
ideating:
You got a 3.4 in Accounting at a big SEC school. The issue isn't your "leadership".

You try going to a massive SEC school and being surrounded by Slampiece and pulling off a 3.4 in accounting. Definitely one of the reasons why I'm not going to a state school...

If you really want to get into IBanking (which really, there's easier money out there than 100 hrs a week during some of the best years of your life) I couldn't tell you the best route because everyone has a different story. If you're cold calling people, call up some regional boutiques in places like Memphis, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Nashville, etc. Talk to alumni from your frat (if you were in one). If those don't work, find a different line of business. I would not risk getting my ass shot off to be an investment banker.

 
Dr Barnaby Fulton:
ideating:
You got a 3.4 in Accounting at a big SEC school. The issue isn't your "leadership".

You try going to a massive SEC school and being surrounded by Slampiece and pulling off a 3.4 in accounting. Definitely one of the reasons why I'm not going to a state school...

If you really want to get into IBanking (which really, there's easier money out there than 100 hrs a week during some of the best years of your life) I couldn't tell you the best route because everyone has a different story. If you're cold calling people, call up some regional boutiques in places like Memphis, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Nashville, etc. Talk to alumni from your frat (if you were in one). If those don't work, find a different line of business. I would not risk getting my ass shot off to be an investment banker.

+2 for using slampiece. Brobible baby!

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southernstunna:
I feel like entering the military is kind of a waste of my intelligence (no offense to any of those in the service)

You are such an ignorant ass. You think being an accounting monkey is so much more intellectually challenging than being a military officer, someone who has to make life and death decisions at the snap of a finger with imperfect information and then convince his soldiers to risk their lives for him?

Do everyone a favor and stay out of the military...you wouldn't cut it anyway.

 
Easy E:
southernstunna:
I feel like entering the military is kind of a waste of my intelligence (no offense to any of those in the service)

You are such an ignorant ass. You think being an accounting monkey is so much more intellectually challenging than being a military officer, someone who has to make life and death decisions at the snap of a finger with imperfect information and then convince his soldiers to risk their lives for him?

Do everyone a favor and stay out of the military...you wouldn't cut it anyway.

Easy E: either relax or go sit on a fist. You know exactly what the OP is trying to say. Granted, it could be more tactfully stated, especially as a 3.4 student from the SEC, but when I think of a military career I too think of it as an alternative to college, not something that most college grads back into. I don't think the OP will ever be in a position to be an officer in his three years of military service so your rant is irrelevant. I love your last quote too. I disagree, do everyone a favor and join the military because our recruiting numbers have been waning the past few years.

 
cheese86:
Easy E: either relax or go sit on a fist. You know exactly what the OP is trying to say. Granted, it could be more tactfully stated, especially as a 3.4 student from the SEC, but when I think of a military career I too think of it as an alternative to college, not something that most college grads back into. I don't think the OP will ever be in a position to be an officer in his three years of military service so your rant is irrelevant. I love your last quote too. I disagree, do everyone a favor and join the military because our recruiting numbers have been waning the past few years.

You obviously have no idea how the military and its rank structure work. All Officers have college degrees, so the military is not an alternative to college for officers. He also was talking about going to Officer Candidate School. So he, in fact, would be in a position to be an officer.

OP - If you go to OCS, serve your required 3 years, and then apply to top b-schools, you will be competing against Academy grads who have 5 years of service and ROTC guys with 4 years of service (that is their minimum obligation). So how competitive is your application really going to be if you just do the 3 years? You would have to serve 4-5 years just to be on par with the other military applicants (that's is who the schools will be comparing you to).

 

I had a similar mindset when graduating college with no good jobs lined up (minus the wasting my intelligence thing, plenty of intelligent people in the military). When I realized all I was doing it for was to boost my resume I decided it wasn't the right choice. Granted now I'm working a dead end job (less than stellar work experience, glorified data entry) with no shot at a top 25 B-School...

 

Your real issue is that you need think thoroughly what is that you want to do in life - your core - your path (and maybe what is that you are good at, as not everyone has the critical skills to quickly recreate, grow and learn).

Lemmings dont get jobs anywhere, period. Some professions are overly glamorized, while others are not. you need to live your life that is your own, not live the life that others have told you to live.

Not everyone is cut for IB, military, or any profession that deviates from "average.

 
southernstunna:
Actually I would go into "Officer Candidate School" and after 12 weeks I would be an officer in the US Army/Navy.

First off, you line about the military being a waste of your intelligence, IS an insult to the military guys. I'm very certain that there are plenty of us military guys who are better educated that you are, but I'll chalk your insult up to ignorance and youth.

Personally, I did go to Army OCS after college. Not because I couldn't get a job, but because I actually wanted to serve my country as an officer. You are taking several things for granted in your military decision.

1) You have to APPLY for OCS. You're assuming that you'd even be accepted to the program. The application process includes being interviewed by three officers. Given how you've presented yourself thus far, I don't think that I would recommend you to be a leader of American troops.

2) You've got your timeline wrong. First you go to basic training, then OCS (at least in the Army). There would be a few more schools after OCS. Also, success is not guaranteed. I had plenty of college option guys with me who didn't graduate. They spent the next 3 years in the Army as an enlisted Soldiers.

3) If you join the Army, you WILL deploy. There is no "maybe" in there. Everyone is going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Possibly a couple times in three years. Ask any of the vets on this board that have seen combat. It's scary, it sucks, and, oh yeah, you might get killed. If you were motivated to serve your country and leader Solders, that would be one thing, but it's a long way to go just to get an IB interview.

Military veterans do enjoy a certain status in b-school and BB recruiting. That's because they've earned it. I hoped you learn to think twice before you cavalierly insult such a time honored profession such as the military. Better men than you have fought and died in the service of our country... and they didn't do it just to get into IB.

 
Xango:
southernstunna:
Actually I would go into "Officer Candidate School" and after 12 weeks I would be an officer in the US Army/Navy.

First off, you line about the military being a waste of your intelligence, IS an insult to the military guys. I'm very certain that there are plenty of us military guys who are better educated that you are, but I'll chalk your insult up to ignorance and youth.

Personally, I did go to Army OCS after college. Not because I couldn't get a job, but because I actually wanted to serve my country as an officer. You are taking several things for granted in your military decision.

1) You have to APPLY for OCS. You're assuming that you'd even be accepted to the program. The application process includes being interviewed by three officers. Given how you've presented yourself thus far, I don't think that I would recommend you to be a leader of American troops.

2) You've got your timeline wrong. First you go to basic training, then OCS (at least in the Army). There would be a few more schools after OCS. Also, success is not guaranteed. I had plenty of college option guys with me who didn't graduate. They spent the next 3 years in the Army as an enlisted Soldiers.

3) If you join the Army, you WILL deploy. There is no "maybe" in there. Everyone is going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Possibly a couple times in three years. Ask any of the vets on this board that have seen combat. It's scary, it sucks, and, oh yeah, you might get killed. If you were motivated to serve your country and leader Solders, that would be one thing, but it's a long way to go just to get an IB interview.

Military veterans do enjoy a certain status in b-school and BB recruiting. That's because they've earned it. I hoped you learn to think twice before you cavalierly insult such a time honored profession such as the military. Better men than you have fought and died in the service of our country... and they didn't do it just to get into IB.

Do you want some salsa with that chip on your shoulder, geez. Honestly, get off your horse chief & give the kid a break. The IBanking bug hits just as hard even if you are late to the dance. This kids reaching to see what options will give him the best chance to be successful, military being one of them. Lighten up.

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Xango:
southernstunna:
Actually I would go into "Officer Candidate School" and after 12 weeks I would be an officer in the US Army/Navy.

First off, you line about the military being a waste of your intelligence, IS an insult to the military guys. I'm very certain that there are plenty of us military guys who are better educated that you are, but I'll chalk your insult up to ignorance and youth.

Personally, I did go to Army OCS after college. Not because I couldn't get a job, but because I actually wanted to serve my country as an officer. You are taking several things for granted in your military decision.

1) You have to APPLY for OCS. You're assuming that you'd even be accepted to the program. The application process includes being interviewed by three officers. Given how you've presented yourself thus far, I don't think that I would recommend you to be a leader of American troops.

2) You've got your timeline wrong. First you go to basic training, then OCS (at least in the Army). There would be a few more schools after OCS. Also, success is not guaranteed. I had plenty of college option guys with me who didn't graduate. They spent the next 3 years in the Army as an enlisted Soldiers.

3) If you join the Army, you WILL deploy. There is no "maybe" in there. Everyone is going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Possibly a couple times in three years. Ask any of the vets on this board that have seen combat. It's scary, it sucks, and, oh yeah, you might get killed. If you were motivated to serve your country and leader Solders, that would be one thing, but it's a long way to go just to get an IB interview.

Military veterans do enjoy a certain status in b-school and BB recruiting. That's because they've earned it. I hoped you learn to think twice before you cavalierly insult such a time honored profession such as the military. Better men than you have fought and died in the service of our country... and they didn't do it just to get into IB.

Spot on. My brother graduated from Naval OCS and then went into Naval Special Warfare. He said that OCS is absolutely miserable. The sheer mental pressure put on him throughout the program was worse than any of the physical torture he ever endured in BUDs. Keep that in mind.

There are 50 other posts on this thread saying the same thing but, you'd be an idiot to join the military just to "break" into IB.

 

Go to grad school. Do not join the military. You will regret it doing it for the reasons you listed.

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southernstunna:
Just some quick background information:

I'm a senior at a large SEC school and I will be graduating in July with a degree in accounting. My school is ranked in the top 15 for accounting but I failed to understand the importance of networking so I did not get any big 4 offers (and my gpa is slightly low, a 3.4). I did an internship at a fortune 100 food producer in accounting, which is the extent of my work experience.

I've been cold-emailing investment banks and I'm getting nothing. Even accounting firms are saying no to me? I don't get it.

My new plan is to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS) for either the Navy or the Army and then serve my 3 years. Subsequent to this, I am planning on taking the GMAT (I should get around a 700-730 as I test very well) and then applying to business schools for an MBA in hopes that my MBA will allow me to break into IB.

Is this my best bet at this point in my life? I feel like entering the military is kind of a waste of my intelligence (no offense to any of those in the service), but I seem to have no other options at this point.

Thanks for any replies.

Roll Tide

go to a masters in accounting program, become an accountant in Birmingham, work your way up to partner. you'll have a comfortable lifestyle and you'll be able to attend all of the Tide's home games down in T-town.

 
Best Response

This has to be the WORST reason I have ever heard of wanting to join the military. The worst.

The military is something you join because you are passionate about it, not because you think it might help you into bschool. There is nothing wrong with joining the military, in fact its probably a great career path if you are in it for the right reasons. You clearly are not. In fact you don't even seem all that interested in the military just the potential results.

Do yourself a favor don't do the military you will regret it. There are plenty of ways to get into a top bschool that do not include the military. Not to mention that you priorities and/or interests in life may change over the next few years anyway.

Follow your passions and play the cards as they fall. You will be significantly more happy and successful if you live your live this way.

 

Do the office cadet school, it's better than getting a crappy job at a no-name company. While in the military prep for business school or network with current military officers. End-all-be-all you'll end up back in the south working for an energy company, optimal you'll end up at a top 15 business school.

Accounting + military officer = pretty good

Do it, it's not like every person at West Point intends to be in the Army their whole lives, most get out after a few years of service.

Remember though : don't quit training no matter how hard it gets

 

In all seriousness, did you even attempt to apply to top 15 grad schools? or just any grad schools?

Also, you think you're going to get a 700 on the GMAT after finishing serving in military? Why don't you take the GMAT now and make sure to get the score you want before signing the contract? You know the GMAT score can last for 5 years and your military experience is only half a ticket to go even if it can show your "leadership" skills or counted as work experience

 

I don't understand why everyone who posts on this board talks like their whole life is "to get into IBD." There are many more ways than one to 1. make a good living 2. be respected 3. work with smart people

Your life isn't over if you have to plan B finance. As all the other people said, using a job that could potentially get you killed as a gap-filler to wall street is a terrible idea.

 

Yeah seriously, don't go joining the forces just for a chance at BB. That's ridiculous... Can you go back to the Fortune 100 Co? If you're good, network within, offer to take on extra projects w/ the corp dev/in-house strategy team, and work your way into that job.

Also take on more extracurric/outside activities to help build that profile for the MBA. Join some charities, get heavily involved (get the on mngt/board/some sort of exec role if possible) and etc.

One thing that didn't seem apparent from your post... why exactly do you want to be in IB? Is it because of interest? Or is it because of money? Everyone here that's interested in IB is because of money obviously, but they've also got some interest in the field as well. You may also want to dig a bit deeper and determine whether this is a field for you before you set your sights for wall street.

 

Do you Gmat now, get a job that you can use to spin your qualifications, study for the CFA.

The Military can definitivelly get you into a top bschool but not only for itself, if you get a god GMAT, and a great application you can definitivelly get accepted.

Just a minor detail, you can get killed while on the army...

absolutearbitrageur.blogspot.com
 

I think the millitary takes you down a different career path. If you don't hit the big 4, then aim lower and work up. Cold emailing will never work - despite what you saw in 'the pursuit of happyness', the real world doesn't work that way - so don't let that knock you. Your best bet is to either get some further education or work experience, broaden the CV and retry No sweat

 

Join the military if you have an urge to serve your country, not as a resume filler. As others have said, thinking you are now going to be more attractive to Goldman, isn't going to help when your ass is under fire.

 

Man don't join the military if there is no drive to serve your country. I do not think this institution should be used ptimarily as a stepping stone to the world of finance.

People die doing this job and not because they are expecting to be paid millions in return, but because they have a firm believe in the ideals they fight to protect.

Why don't you take some time off and think things through? Go travel, meet with people working in the finance industry, get a job that also allows you to dedicate time to learn about the game on the markets.

I just play to win...
 

Lets say you go to officer candidacy school and after three years in the military you leave. Get the 700+ you claim you will get (easier said than done. why not take it now) and go to B-school. You do well for 2 years and then land a BB associate position. So far you are at least ~5 years invested in this job. Three years were dangerous as shit and you could be permanently injured. And after 3-4 months you realize investment banking isn't for you. What then? Re-enlist?

 

Excellent question, and one I do not have the answer to. My main thing is that a lower tier finance position or an auditor at a smaller public accounting firm (my only realistic job prospects as of right now) will not be enough to get me into a top business school as they want diversity and I have zero.

 

I will just tell you this, it takes a unique kind of personality to handle military life. Not that you can't handle it physically, not that you're not tough enough mentally, I'm sure you are. It's just that the complete loss of freedom isn't for everybody, and can be quite depressing even for officers. It sounds good in theory, but there will come a day when you actually have to do it, day by day minute by minute and it will be your only life.

What I'm trying to say is, if this is your best reason for wanting to serve your country...then DON'T do it. You will regret it, you will hate yourself for it and you will never be able to justify it in your head as you are going through it. I am trying to do you a favor here.

I forget what the minimum time of service is for an officer, but there are a lot of things you can do in 2 - 6 years time to add 3 impressive lines to your resume. And you don't want to find that out the hard way. People in the military have seen this situation a million times.

Now if you happen to have other legitimate reasons for wanting to serve and you feel that it would bring the added bonus of beefing up your resume. Then by all means, do it. The military can be equally rewarding and wonderful provided you have the right mindset.

 

What kind of format are you using for your emails? Are you requesting to have a brief phone chat etc? If your only work experience is the accounting internship, you will probably not be able to get a FT analyst position even at boutiques. It all comes down to how badly you want this. If investment banking is what you want to do, try to get an unpaid internship at an investment bank (hopefully the obama administration is not going too crazy over the new enforcement rules). Stay an extra year or get a masters, and on the side keep networking. That will probably give you a better shot at securing FT position at a boutique. I think boutiques will like the fact that you are an accounting major and thus have a strong foundation for many of the technical aspects of the job. Perhaps your resume sucks as well, so post that here. There are hundreds of investment banks, and even more investment bankers, start emailing/calling them. I personally secured a position by cold emailing, so it can work.

 

I apologize for my previous statement regarding "wasting my intelligence". I did not intend for people to get worked up over the statement.

Going to OCS has been something I have actually thinking about for the past several years (my mother's brothers include an admiral and a captain, and my grandfather was enlisted navy) and I was simply asking as to whether or not it would give me a significant leg up on the competition when applying to business schools? Also, I wouldn't be doing any banking in the Navy, so would investment banks actually consider hiring me for an associate position even though I have zero experience?

And yes, I am aware of how difficult it will be. The physical part should be easy for me, as I am extremely active and work out every single day. Mentally it will be difficult, but this would be one of the greatest (the greatest, in fact) accomplishment of my life, and I am willing to work for it.

 
southernstunna:
I was simply asking as to whether or not it would give me a significant leg up on the competition when applying to business schools?

B-schools love military experience but your application will be compared to other military applicants. These folks are your competition...not someone who is a consultant, analyst, or whatever.

 

I am a former Naval Officer and would like to clarify a few points.

First off, Navy OCS requires at least a 4 year commitment and the process of getting into Navy OCS is quite lengthy. Think 6 - 9 months before you actually go to OCS. Add another 3 months for OCS and you are looking at potentially a year from now before that actual 4 year obligation commences.

The general tone on this board seems to think it is a cinch to get into OCS. Given the recent economic downturn, many people have turned to the military as a career option. The recruiting numbers for the Navy are at historical highs. The average GPA for recent incoming OCS classes is right around a 3.3. Not far away from the OP's 3.4. Most people on this board probably blow that average away. What the Navy also looks for is prior leadership experience and an active lifestyle. The Navy has a lot of applicants to choose from and the applicants are much more competitive than most people think.

Will joining the military give you a leg up on getting into business school? Yes it definitely can, assuming you are successful and gain excellent recommendations.

What about IB? It helps, but it all depends on how you tell your "story". If you can effectively articulate the value you bring from your military experience to the IB desk, then you have a competitive advantage. There are a lot of parallels between the two: working in small teams, attention to detail, structure, leading other people that have vast more experience...

That being said, my buddies with non-military backgrounds were very effective in spinning their backgrounds to show how they would excel as an associate. Of course, they emphasized different traits.

The main problem I have with your post (I just ignored the "lack of intelligence" comment), is your motivation to join the military. There are many reasons to serve but getting into "insert job" after your commitment should not be the driving factor. Personally, I relied on the reasons I joined to get me through the tough times. If getting into IB was my main reason, I would have found it difficult to continue as an effective Officer.

Is getting into IB is so meaningful that you are willing to wait 7 years (1 year wait + 4 year service + 2 year BS) while risking your life far away from home? There must be some better alternative career path to break into IB for someone with that type of motivation.

On a side note I was successful in making the switch from military->BS->IB and I am happy to help out fellow vets in similar situations. Just PM me. Sorry for the long post.

 

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