USMC to Finance

Hello Monkeys,

I signed up for WSO a year ago in pursuit of learning more about finance and the industry that captivates and angers so many. A few years ago, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to attain a degree of confidence and honor that I was unable to find during high school. I went on to become an operational planning specialist (Marine Air-Ground Task-Force Planning Specialist, MOS 0511) at which I deal with plans behind overseas deployments, U.S. exercises, and training for the few thousand Marines in my subordinate command. To accompany each exercise, I provide advisory services to squadron commanders (O-3 to O-5) on how they conduct the Force Deployment Planning and Execution Process of the Marine Corps. Ultimately, I am a middleman that is responsible for the plans behind these exercises and the sourcing of millions of dollars of airlift and land cargo movements on an annualized basis.

The more due diligence I conduct to figure out my path in the financial landscape, I have been led to the idea of becoming an IB analyst. This position seems to somewhat correlate with my current position in the military. Unfortunately, the military does not offer any occupational specialties that deal with equity or debt markets, and for that reason, I am pleased to go to school to attain the proper education to fulfill my aspirations.

Now, here is my current situation: I have completed some college while enlisted and have assumed a 3.9 GPA and will finish up Calculus before I discharge. I am in the process of submitting my transfer applications next month to multiple schools in the North East, partly because of the financial powerhouse of this geographical location. I'm looking to transfer in as a sophomore during the Fall semester. My mentor and multiple professors are confident I will get into many of the below schools. My dilemma is one that many others share. Which school is best for an IB position?

Tufts University (Econ)
Boston University (Questrom, Finance)
Brown University (Econ)
Cornell University (SC, Econ)
Northwestern University (Econ)
New York University (Stern, Finance)

Thank you for your help Monkeys. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate your inputs.

 
Most Helpful

Not as many people could understand you I bet. I'm sorry but you need to apply to more schools and taylor your application for each school. 3.9 GPA is a common thing for veterans applying to the schools you've mentioned. If you have a combat experience you can talk about then HYP and S like this type. You need a cool story. Add Columbia. It might be the easiest one to get into for vets. Plus its right in the NYC. Don't limit yourself to big schools though. Amherst, Williams, etc can get you where you wanna be too. Are you in reserves? Just to add a little more. I was rejected by Northwestern and waitlisted by Vanderbilt but was accepted into Chicago and Stanford. Its a lottery sometimes.

 

I was under the impression that vets had to apply to their School of General Studies, and that it doesn't hold as much merit as a traditional undergraduate degree from the school. Do Amherst and Williams have a lot of networking events?

I'm currently on active duty until this summer, when I will discharge honorably.

In the lottery, all you can do is hope for the best.

 

Lol General Studies students have the same OCR opportunities and attend classes with the general population. Do not listen to naysayers!!

 

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