Andy graduated in 2002 with a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was commissioned that same year from the ROTC program at the University of Minnesota. He has completed two tours in Iraq—one as a company fire support officer and another as a platoon leader—and has also been stationed in Germany. He held the post of battalion fire support officer when he left the military to pursue the MBA so he could make a strong transition to a civilian career.

He had one concern when he first entered his MBA program, though. He thought that he wouldn’t build the same relationships in school that he had with his friends in the service. “But the group work and tight-knit atmosphere at school has helped me build some strong friendships in the academic setting. I really appreciate that.”

What advice can you give about getting the information you need to decide where to apply?

Study the curriculum, and ask current students questions about course offerings and about how difficult it might be to get the electives you want—especially if those aren’t popular courses. Personally, I wish I had asked more questions about accessibility to good summer internships.

What was your experience with the GMAT exam like?

I took the GMAT twice, with several months between the two exams. I had limited time to prepare for my first exam because I had just returned from a deployment, and I was disappointed with the score that I received.

But, after a few months, I decided to take the exam again…and I’m glad I did, because I scored dramatically higher than I did on the first test. I was able to study more, and I spent more of my free time reading and building my mental endurance for the test. I got accepted into the program that I wanted and was offered a substantial scholarship by a different school—all because of my improved score.

How did you prepare for the exam?

I used The Official Guide for GMAT Review and another guide that had a practice GMAT test. And I took a few practice tests, just to build my endurance for sitting for a long test like the GMAT.

Why did you choose to attend a GMAT-requiring school?

Just through my own research I felt that schools that required the GMAT probably screened applicants well enough to add good value to their programs. And I felt that since the school I chose required the GMAT, the students it accepted would have to meet a certain standard.

How was your transition from the military into the school environment?

I didn’t find it very difficult. I really appreciate school much more now than I did when completing my undergraduate degree. Although, academic stress does seem unique in many ways—there is always something looming, and studying requires a lot of self discipline. But the military provides you with good tools.

So, how did your military background help you handle the rigors of school?

Lots of ways. The military gave me the good discipline to get tasks done. Working with many different soldiers gave me a solid understanding of how to interact with lots of different personalities. And training in the military decision-making process served as a great tool when evaluating alternatives and analyzing business situations that were presented in classes.

Also, I could cope with the academic stress much better than I did prior to joining the military—when I was an undergraduate—because I had a much different perspective going into my classes.

How would you describe the value-added of your military background combined with the MBA?

My experience sets me apart from many other students with an MBA. The military taught me how to break down situations and analyze them, to keep an open mind, and to look at situations from many perspectives. On top of that, the MBA will be a sign of my business competence and show that I have demonstrated the technical and communications skills necessary to succeed in management. All of this will help me in a job search.