Applying as a Military Veteran

[RLw/lowgpa]

As someone who recently left the military I felt as if I was behind the power curve when beginning the application process for grad school.  It seems to me that most people in these forums have followed a pretty direct route in choosing and being accepted to a graduate program. 

 

Throughout my application I felt the need to explain or compensate for the 8 year gap since undergrad or my lack of civilian work experience by emphasizing a common strength which I'm sure all veterans emphasis.  In my opinion, that strength is a veteran's experiences in the military and their ability to bring a unique and valuable POV to the student body and classroom discussions. 

 

I guess now, as I anxiously await an email from admissions departments, I am wondering if the unique perspective I can offer will be enough to compensate for the gap in education and my lack of civilian work experience.   

[thunderchunky]

Hi! I don't think your military experience would be detrimental at all. In fact it might be a big asset, depending on how you present it in your applications. I don't think you have anything to "explain or compensate" for. I hope that's not the tone you took in your SOP, because that could actually do you more harm than good.

 

I'm not sure if you have any specific questions, but you might get more responses if you post over on the Government Affairs board: http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/11-government-affairs/

 

In the "Am I Competitive?" thread, people discuss their various backgrounds. You'll see they're quite varied. Some posters mention having military experience: 

Edited March 6, 2013 by thunderchunky

[thunderchunky]

Here's another thread you might find useful. It's about transitioning to grad studies from the military: 

[Danbeals]

In the same position here. I am waiting to hear back froma bunch of schools. The thing that made me feel good was the fact that many asked if You are a veteran on the application itself.

[Rugger]

Don't sell your military experience short.  You'll have a lot of leadership experience, been responsible for thousands or millions of dollars of equipment, and if you deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (or Japan, Korea, Europe, a Marine Expeditionary Unit, etc) you may have experience working with host nation forces or locals or other coalition allies.  Your decision making and public speaking skills may have been regularly tested.  

 

Obviously it varies by MOS or specialization, but 8 years probably gave you a lot of opportunities a civilian or would not have.  

[Kadisha]

Don't sell your military experience short.  You'll have a lot of leadership experience, been responsible for thousands or millions of dollars of equipment, and if you deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (or Japan, Korea, Europe, a Marine Expeditionary Unit, etc) you may have experience working with host nation forces or locals or other coalition allies.  Your decision making and public speaking skills may have been regularly tested.  

 

Obviously it varies by MOS or specialization, but 8 years probably gave you a lot of opportunities a civilian or would not have.  

 

Exactly. Why are you selling yourself short?

 

I've applied to MPP and MIA/MIR programs, and I highlighted my experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what I would be able to bring to the table from my experiences overseas. The practical experience that we have as veterans is incredibly valuable when it comes to policy making. 

 

How many members of congress have military experience? And of those that do how many have actually been deployed and served in combat. I don't know the answer of the top of my head, but I know it's a very small percentage of those. WE know what works and what doesn't work on the ground. We've seen the successes and failures of the State and Defense Department's policies.

 

We've also literally felt them. When a member of the taliban blows up an IED 100m from my compound something is wrong. When a taliban member has the balls to RPG my convoy, it shows that something's not working. And when the town loves us and hands us intelligence it shows that we're doing something right. 

 

These are only a few examples and apply to you regardless of MOS/Branch.

[MammaD]

17-year Veteran here, and trying to go into a completely different field! Good luck to all.

[RLw/lowgpa]

Exactly. Why are you selling yourself short?

 

Thanks for the posts.  Definitely not selling myself short.  I know I learned a great deal during my time in.  I just felt that during the application process my case, or my overall package, was maybe not as focused or streamlined as some of my fellow applicants who knew Sophomore year of undergrad where they wanted to attend Grad School, and worked within their chosen field for a few years following graduation.  Many people I spoke to knew exactly what they hoped to achieve upon completing their graduate degree or the type of role they saw themselves in.  Again, very focused.  I felt my SOPs and overall package could be summed up in a few sentences....I spent 8 years in the military helping people and feeling like I was making a difference.  Now I am pursuing an MPA/MPP and hope to once again feel that same sense of accomplishment.

 

I realize that Vets have a lot to offer but I sometimes feel we suffer from a lack of exposure to the real (civilian) world and I felt this was reflected in my package. 

[ProfessorChaos]

I know what you mean. Granted, I'm only coming off a 4 year ROTC commitment, but it still feels like you're competing against students coming right out of UG who have better access to application resources. I honestly think I was able to frame my experience in a relevant manner for grad study. At the very least, I think the work experience helps you stand out a bit. I heard nothing but positive things during interviews.