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You may not think about London Business School (LBS) after military service in the US, but this international school can be a great option for any veteran.
Tell us a bit about your military background.
I graduated from Worcester Polytech in 2012 and was commissioned in the Navy through the ROTC program. I spent the first four and half years of my career as a Submarine Officer on the USS La Jolla completing one deployment to Southeast Asia (a WESTPAC). After that, I spent and what felt like a lifetime at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
In Norfolk Naval Shipyard we prepped the La Jolla for a conversion to a training platform which would replace the Cold War era submarines in Charleston, SC. After completing my tour on the USS La Jolla, I taught ROTC at Southern University and A&M College for a year. Teaching ROTC was fun and rewarding, butI found it extremely slow-paced at such a small university and began applying for Flag Aide jobs.
A lot of officers will simultaneously work on an advanced degree while teaching ROTC. I, however, I had dreams of using my GI Bill for a top MBA . I served two years as Flag Aide in Navy Region Southeast and while I worked on my applications for Business School and studying for the GMAT.
Why did you leave the military?
While I enjoyed my experience on submarines the lifestyle is grinding and I had separate career ambitions. I will say that twice over the course of my last three years I contemplated signing a contract extending my service. I ultimately decided not to after talking to friends who had both stayed in and had gotten out.
How did you decide on pursuing an MBA at LBS after the military?
I knew I wanted a Master’s of some variety fairly early in my career, and had completed much of a Master’s in Engineering while in undergrad. What really tipped the scales in favor of pursuing an MBA was after one of my good friends, and former supply officer, began attending NYU Stern. The experience talking to people with Master’s of Engineering vs MBAs is completely different. I enjoyed hearing about the MBA experience and the jobs available afterwards.
What would you have done differently in the application process?
I think the only thing I would have done differently is take the GMAT a second time. In all honesty, most people spend so much time stressing over applications, essays, resumes, and letters of recommendation.
What attracted you to LBS after the military?
I was attracted by the international focus of the school and the prospect of living and working in London. It doesn’t hurt that in normal times most of Europe is a sub-$100 flight away even for last-minute trips.
The school has a great reputation and offers a ton of flexibility. I really appreciated the fact that after the first half of the year I could pick all of my classes. I could focus on what I wanted to vice be forced into a very traditional path like some US schools.
What challenges were there in applying to and starting school outside the US?
Well I would say visiting schools is a bit more complicated than just hopping on a flight to Boston. There is also the added complexity of applying for a visa, but the school makes the application process as easy as they can. And for an American applying for a UK visa, once you have proof of acceptance it’s just a matter of waiting for them to send back your passport with your visa.
The hardest part is the physical move itself. We coordinated two different flights (my wife arrived a week behind me) one of which involved taking a large dog through customs. All of the complexity of an overseas PCS but with no assistance. Many of my classmates only brought suitcases, but we ended up packing 4 large boxes.
What makes the LBS experience different from other schools?
The biggest difference is that the school is truly global and that your class will be extremely representative of the global community. I think the international touch is important in a modern business world where your clients or the opposing side of the deal may come from a completely different background. The school immerses you from the beginning and they place you in a study group with 5 of your classmates all of varied backgrounds and nationalities so you learn a lot of soft skills.
What’s the experience been like being an international student?
I think it’s important to know that everyone at LBS is international. There are probably more Americans in my class than UK citizens. The school achieves its goal of feeling global in such a way that everyone feels at home.
I want to dispel any myths that might exist over vets being unwelcome at a school outside the US. While your classmates will occasionally mistake your branch of service (I’m asked about my time in the Army all of the time) my classmates are always eager to hear about my experiences. My classmates value the work ethic developed through your military experience and are eager to help teach the business side that we have missed out on while we served.
You will find yourself with a substantial lead on many of your classmates in the development of soft skills. Many of them have paid for an MBA to learn exactly what you just spent your military career learning and they want to learn from people with practical experience. Conversely, there is something nice about getting taught the finer elements of PowerPoint by an MBB consultant.
What’s the plan for after school and how did you decide on that?
The current plan for after school is working in finance, the how is still coming together as the COVID-19 epidemic has put a damper on international recruiting. I’m lucky I can spend the time practicing the skills and taking the courses that will best prepare me for work. I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers and the study of economics in general. I enjoy the material and find it easy to pick-up and enjoy the challenge associated with it.
Looking back on your transition from the Navy, what would you have done differently?
Looking back the biggest change I would have made would be applying to different programs earlier. Many top banks, consulting companies, and tech companies (Blackstone, Bain, and Google to name a few) have awesome summer programs, just for vets. The catch is you will be applying for many of these programs just as you are wrapping up your time in the military so you can’t necessarily relax. Similarly, a lot of big NYC finance roles have their applications open June/July for the following year, so if finance is something you are interested in, start early.
Most importantly: Have you acquired the taste of warm beer living in the UK?
Gosh, warm beer or real ales, yeah I’ve definitely acquired a taste for them. Some are good, some are awful and they are definitely a fixture of British pubs. However, you won’t find them at any school event, they tend to have a lot more Peroni or Birra Moretti. What they don’t tell you is that Gin and Tonics are the most popular and they use a goblet style glass for them.
Special note from Dan:
I got a ton of help from vets and vets clubs at different schools. I’m always happy to review resumes and send my thoughts for vets still in the application process.
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