<p>Im new to this discussion and anew member. I served three tours, practically back to back, two in Iraq, the final in Afghan. My commission was reactivated and this unfortunately interrupted my civilian life, to the point that I discovered when I returned a earlier last year from my third deployment, I was unemployable. In a vain attempt to re-spark my accounting career, I took the GMAT and applied to four schools for a Masters Degree in Accounting. My undergrad GPA in Accounting was 4.01/4.0 from an accredited College and I was above the 95th percentile in the quantitative and verbal sections for the GMAT.
I had a very good progressive experience as a CPA, esp, in tax, before being called back in.
As the letters for acceptance have begun to mailed, I have been rejected by three of the schools (out of four) that I applied to. I am waiting for the last letter, which I assume will, too be a rejection. The final school is UNLV. </p>
<p>I thought I had a decent graduate package, test scores, GPA, civilian work experience, and letters of reco, two from current and former bosses, and a letter of recommendation from my CO. </p>
<p>I am perplexed and assumed that I had a fighting chance with my package. What did I do wrong and what can I improve for next years rounds of applications?</p>
<p>Second, should I re-apply to the schools I had previously applied to? </p>
<p>Third, should I forget about applying? Am I no longer in the target demographic when it comes to applicants?</p>
<p>I have no particular experience in this, but this sounds cray to me. What else are you supposed to do? Where did you apply? I can only understand if you were applying to only very very top schools, where everyone is probably at your level. If you don’t get into UNLV I’ll be astonished.</p>
<p>I applied to the University of Utah, UNR (University of Nevada, Reno), and Colorado State University, as well as UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas).
I was rejected from UNR, University of Utah and Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. I’m waiting for UNLV. </p>
<p>I thought I had a fighting chance. And, they’re average schools.</p>
<p>UNLV is arguably the worst public university in the U.S. It ranks near the bottom in all academic subjects except the hotel school. </p>
<p>I believe I am no longer in the target demographic for pursuing a degree. I should forget about the whole idea and move on.</p>
<p>Unbelievable. I’m also shocked you’re having difficulty finding employment (if I understand you correctly). You seem like the perfect employee to me. I wish I could offer you a job, but it appears I’m lucky to be employed myself. Things must be tough out there, I wish I could convince my kid of that fact.</p>
<p>Are there any services available to you as a vet to assist you in your applications? A college counselor who is experienced in getting those who have served into grad programs? Best of luck.</p>
<p>I keep plugging away. I went on welfare late last year and on food stamps. Interviews have stopped for the most part. It’s completely dry, no jobs. So, it’s poverty for me. I’ve sold everything I worked for and lost my house, etc. in this whole process of unemployment.</p>
<p>Really no services for entrance, services occur after acceptance. </p>
<p>I’ve been told that military experience is a minus in the application process. But, again, don’t think it’s that. I believe I am not part of the target demographic schools are looking for. I’m too old, I can;t contribute anything, aI have had no volunteer experience mor community service that schools look for for teh admission process. I was too busy abrouad in duty. Military duty seems to be a handicap when it comes to the application process.</p>
<p>I also have no recent professional experience, any more.</p>
<p>I think you need to broaden out your applications regionally. Grad admissions is a tricky thing. Also you should consider other areas. I do wonder about your letters of rec. Were they from trusted sources. I have seen the best applications doomed by one bad letter. </p>
<p>One other thing to consider is your line of work. With all of your language capabilities, many departments/programs would love to have you. I bet you might get a full 4-5 yr fellowship. Of course, this might be a change in career path, but in these times, its something to think about. </p>
<p>But FOR SURE broaden your applications regionally if you can.</p>
<p>One more thing, I get the sense that you are out west from the schools you applied to. Check out that link for reduced OOS rates. You should consider a Cal State.</p>
<p>But, what do you do with languages. Sure, I can get by in foreign countries, but businesses do not hire Americans with language abilities and rather hire those in-country, natives to the country, in other words. I speak Levantine Arabic and could converse with the Iraqis, but we were always assigned a native translator. Languages are a useless skill. </p>
<p>I would consider the only language that has marketability, it’s Mandarin. And, the jobs generally go to those who are native speakers.</p>
<p>As to the CSU system in California, I live in Nevada. The system is impacted and I rejected this option because the chances of getting in are slim to none because of the demands on the system. </p>
<p>What the he double hockey sticks does one do with languages. I need to respark the career. </p>
<p>The letters of rec were glowing, one from my CO, my direct commander, A Light Colonel. </p>