CC to non-target

I'm very interested in a career in finance, I would like to work in the upper echelons of the finance community but as of right now I know that I am shooting for the stars.

mini bio-
Did ok in High school. Went to a community college for a year then I was accepted to one of the Military academies. The academy thing did not work out so I went back to the CC.

present situation-
Finished up my studies at my CC with a 2.7. When I went back to the CC I didn't give two shits about school. Did the bare minimum to get by heck I did well below the minimum to get by. School wasn't a priority for me. I only went back because I wanted to finish what I started. I will be going to a top public university (nontarget) to do rotc. I know that I have to go to work @ my new college. I plan on double majoring in econ and polisci (don't know if I will be able to do it with my rotc obligations but I shall see. If I cant I will simply pursue econ) The classes @ my new school are not that bad. I can easily see my self getting a 3.5 and above if I take care of business lock shit down.

Questions-
1.How much will my old GPA hurt me? I know that it will follow me forever.

2.After active duty how hard will it be for me to get into a top business school from my current nontarget (assuming I kick ass at my new school and get a 720+ on the GMAT)? Do Harvard/Wharton types favor vets? Do they even take vets into consideration? Will they even bother to look at my application because of my future alma mater?

3.I know that I don't have a shot at interning for some of the BB's and other wall street titans as of now. How can I gain some experience and have something to put on my resume for b-school besides army officer?After I commission I wont have a chance to get any real financial experience (Unless I branch Finance which I do not intend to do) and during the summers in college I have military field training exercises to conduct. I also plan on going to airborne-school so my summers will be very busy

- I really do appreciate any advice/info offered. Any advice from former Military officers who have successfully transitioned from active duty to a top b-school is immensely appreciated.

 

All top public universities (UNC, UVA, Cal, UT, UMich, etc.) are all targets. As someone who went to a nontarget and is now doing an MSF, I would highly suggest transferring to a target. It will make your life 100 times easier come recruiting time.

 
Best Response

1) Forgot the past; your GPA is what it is and will not change unless you start hustling and make a difference. Also, don’t target a 3.5 GPA going forward. Instead, get your hustle on, overload on credits, and get a 4.0 so that upon graduation your GPA is roughly a 3.5.

2) You are now worrying about something that is 5 years away; this in and of itself is not a bad thing, but you are worrying about things that you cannot change. Wharton’s views on veterans are their views. Whether they even look at your application is up to them. Whether a 720 GMAT will be adequate in 5 years is yet to be determined (further, get the 720 first).

3) You are right that you won’t get an internship given this attitude. If you “know” that you can’t get an internship and thus don’t belong on wall street, the successful banker/trader/PM on the other end of the phone or sitting across from you in an interview will also realize this.

I am not trying to bust your balls, but you should stop worrying about what other people think (it’s largely irrelevant and often wrong) and start working on things that will help you on your journey. Also, don’t ask questions about your past, but ask questions that can potentially help your future (i.e., steps to take now, firms that are receptive to people with your background, etc.).

 

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