Military to Wharton MBA - Why Making the Leap is Worth It!

Late in the fighting season of 2009, I came across the MilitaryToBusiness blog. I posted an email to the author, asking him what compelled him to jump careers at the top of his game. I was intrigued by the path he had taken from Army Special Forces to HBS. He came across as a trailblazer – the first wave of veterans shedding their uniforms to carve a new path in the business world. That single discussion led me to a seat at the 2014 MBA Graduation Ceremony at the Wharton School.

Looking back, my decision to jump careers was almost entirely devoid of risk. I did not realize that at the time. Let me answer in advance some questions I know you have about starting an MBA: Yes, you will incur opportunity costs. Yes, you will give up your cherished spot on the military ladder.  Yes, you will miss it sometimes. And yes, you will start a new and exciting life with almost unlimited possibilities.

It is not often you get a chance to be reborn. Business school is one of those rare opportunities. For those of you coming off the opiate high of adventures in very dangerous lands, it is a chance to take stock. The time and space you gain will give you a chance to process all you have been through.

In the initial stages, you will be like a fish out of water. That is a good thing – the unfamiliar environment means you have a new culture and discipline to adjust to, your brain will probably hurt – mine sure did.

The work you did in large groups for a greater cause required mental agility, leadership, and a bias for action. These key traits will form your new arsenal. They are formidable, and less common that you realize. Failure will look a lot less scary now compared to your time in the military, where the consequences could be very severe. The freedom you will have as a beginner, coupled with a relative lack of fear, will allow you to test new boundaries.

For a chance to start again, this time with a little more wisdom, a little more skill, and a lot less fear – go apply to a top business school. It’s impossible to regret it.

Most of all, its an incredible amount of fun. Being happy and having a lot of fun is never a bad thing in life.

To those of you who still serving: you could’ve chosen any path in life – but you chose that one. It’s a good path, and a very noble one too. We are all rooting for you, and we will be waiting for you on the business side, whenever you hang up your uniform.

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Written by a Wharton '14 grad who left the military after 10 years of service