Carla graduated from Duke University in 2000 and entered the United States Marine Corps the same year. During her service, she was an Aviation Supply and Logistics Officer. While in the Marine Corps she held numerous leadership positions, including a challenging role in logistics and supply procurement during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Upon her return from Iraq and Kuwait a year later, she was presented with a Navy Achievement Medal for her service. She utilized her downtime during the deployment to study for the GMAT® exam.

Why did you choose to get an MBA?

Although the Marine Corps taught me how to manage and lead people, I lacked familiarity with basic business concepts like accounting and finance. I chose to get an MBA to merge my leadership experience with basic business knowledge. I felt that this would make me more marketable to employers.

Why does the type of school you attend matter?

The type of school you attend matters in terms of the number and variety of employers that recruit there. All things being equal, schools with a stronger reputation attract a larger number and a greater variety of employers. Before applying, I wish I would have known more about the strong correlation between a school’s geography and the geography of the employers the school attracts. A school in the Southeast, for example, will tend to place students in southeastern cities. There is less of a correlation for schools with a national reputation.

How was your experience with the GMAT® exam?

My experience with the GMAT was better than I expected. I was able to register for the test online while serving in Kuwait. I pushed my date back as far as possible because I knew that deployment schedules often change—especially once in theater. To prepare for the exam, I asked my family to send me some preparation materials. I found The Official Guide for GMAT Review to be extremely helpful. Unlike military tests taken during training, the GMAT is designed to screen applicants—it’s a harder test. But like any test, you can improve your score through preparation and practice. I choose to attend a GMAT requiring school because the schools that require it generally have stronger reputations than schools that do not.

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

My transition from the military to the school environment took some getting used to. In the Marine Corps, there are few women and even fewer women officers. I was pleasantly surprised to have a higher number of female classmates. But working in teams was difficult at times because I was accustomed to working within a military chain of command, whereas the "chain of command" in business school teams has to be established with each new assignment.

My military background made going to class and studying seem rather easy. After working in Kuwait and Iraq for about a year, going to school was a welcome change. I treated my coursework like a job and I did not return home until my assignments were complete for the day. This also helped with expectations at home. My husband, also a former Marine Officer, attends law school. We both established a routine so we could enjoy our evenings and weekends as much as possible.

How did you leverage your military background in your job search?

My military background was probably my greatest asset in my job search. The diversity and number of challenging experiences I had in the military were great fodder for interviews. I was never at a loss for words when an interviewer asked me about a time when I led a team to solve a problem. The key is to not oversell your military experience. I always say that you should take what you do seriously, but not take yourself seriously. If you approach employers with this attitude, then your military experience will sell itself.