Michael left the Marines as a captain. He fought in Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom. As a forward observer he called in artillery and air strikes on enemy positions while his unit was taking direct fire. He also managed a platoon of 50 Marines.

At NYU, Michael is active as the president and founder of the Military Veterans Club. This student-run organization has reached beyond NYU to include other business schools.

I honed my leadership skills in the military, but I didn’t have the subject matter expertise I felt I needed to get into investment banking.

Also, business school has a formalized recruiting model that brings MBAs and employers together. I wanted to take advantage of that. This process starts a few weeks into the first semester. This is why it really helps to know what you want to do before going to business school. If someone is torn between consulting and investment banking, that can make things difficult. Recruiting events for different fields are often on the same night, and you need to attend these events to secure an internship.

Put as much effort as you can into studying for the GMAT® exam; do not take it lightly. It is important to be aggressive and disciplined about it. I used a private tutor because I didn’t feel that a classroom environment would help me get the highest score. I wanted to get the highest GMAT® score I possibly could and get into the best school that would accept me. To be a viable applicant in the job market, you need to attend a certain type of school. Your score on the GMAT® exam reflects your aptitude as a student and your ability to handle the tasks that will be thrown your way. If you really want to be part of the game and get the most out of your MBA, you need to go to a school that requires the GMAT® exam.