University of Maryland: Paul Rodriguez

Paul graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor of science in marine and environmental science. He then sailed the Arctic Ocean for two years aboard the Coast Guard Cutter POLAR SEA as an engineer officer in training, conducting research and providing logistics support.

He served another two years aboard the sister ship Coast Guard Cutter POLAR STAR, this time as a diver. One of his best memories is of diving under the ice in Antarctica, where he shared the underwater scene with seals, penguins, walruses, whales, and other native marine life.

Paul, who also managed ship repair projects while on active duty, is a full-time sponsored student. He will return to the military after completing his MBA to work in financial management for the Coast Guard.

If your heart’s in it, Paul says, graduate business school pays lots of dividends. He adds that the key to promotion in the military is making the most of the job you’re given—and that the MBA gives you the edge you need to help you do just that.

I wanted to sit at the table where decisions about the allocation of funds are made.

When you spend time on ships you learn there’s always some mechanical problem, and I thought the best way to use my time in the military was to work in the maintenance arena and handle big projects. But I was surprised to find out that the main driver behind what projects actually got funded wasn’t the kind of project or the worthiness of the project. It was how well you could argue for funding.

So understanding how the business world looks at spending money helps you become an asset to the service; it makes you really promotable. In my experience, the military values the ability to handle a wide range of financial responsibilities. Typically you learn these skills slowly throughout your career. Business school accelerates the process—and having an MBA allows you to work with senior leadership early on.

If you’re returning to military service after school and want to establish a broader range of contacts, going to graduate business school is a perfect way to do so. Apart from my diploma, the next most valuable asset I’ll receive from my education is networking with my classmates.

That you should start the process early! Getting good references, writing essays, preparing for the GMAT—it all takes a good amount of time to be done correctly. I really think you should start at least a year and a half in advance of attending school.

I’m a big proponent of the GMAT. It sets the stage for what you should expect in an MBA program. And it’s a good lesson for someone who’s been out of school for a while...a good indication of the academic pace you should expect.

I took the GMAT twice. I had been out of school for quite a while. The GMAT tests you on very specific skill sets, and if you haven’t used those skills on a regular basis, you’re at a disadvantage. I prepared on my own at first, and I didn’t think I prepared adequately based on my initial score. So I did end up taking a course. I felt it was a necessary step. 

Because I want my education to speak volumes about my abilities and because I think you get more for your educational experience. It seems to me that only a serious student is willing to go through the process to prepare for and take the test. So attending a school that requires the GMAT means that I’m surrounding myself with a higher-caliber student body—and half of what you learn really is from your peers, not the instructors.

Sometimes in the military, everything seems to come to you from one aspect, from the same set of beliefs or the same orientation. Graduate business school is my first experience working with civilians, and there’s a broad—a different—mindset. The part that’s fascinating and valuable is that there are so many different opinions or views at school. It takes time to get used to it, but I enjoy it.       

For one thing—you really do understand time management when you’re in the military. That’s a great advantage in school.

And in the military we’re given roles in teams very early, so teamwork is almost second nature. It’s the same skill set whether you’re wearing a uniform or a suit. 

Also, you’re forced to deal with change in the military, and having that ability really does help in a school setting...you go through one semester, you take exams, then you have new classes to study. It’s really fast paced, but military people understand what it takes to study—what it takes to get the job done.

Anybody in the military who truly wants to get the most out of an education can do so.

I know from the Coast Guard what the military values in its promotion process—teamwork, being able to handle responsibility, and leadership. You learn these skills in the military, but business school allows you to hone them in a different way—and your peers at school will bring entirely new viewpoints to the table.

So in school, you really do get a unique perspective on how the business world treats and acts on information. Business school is not about just replicating...it’s about having—about developing—a business-oriented mindset that will set you apart within the military and provide you with more chances for promotion.