Military Experience and a Darden MBA
.jpg?n=2490 "Jenifer Guimond, MBA 2010")
Students with military experience comprise between 7-9% of the incoming class at Darden each year. Darden military veterans represent a pool that is rich in diversity, both in experiences and backgrounds, and have made an impact as leaders both in and outside of the classroom. Their leadership and management skills are highly valued, and the team-oriented, case method style of learning at Darden is a perfect fit for their skills.
Read Dean Robert F. Bruner's blog post, Generosity and Veteran's Day, for his reflections on military leadership and why we "actively seek excellent students from the ranks of the military."
The Darden Military Association
The Darden Military Association (DMA) is an active and vibrant club. The mission of the DMA is “to assist members in leveraging former and current military experiences to enhance career opportunities within the private sector, build esprit de corps and camaraderie within the Darden community, and host lively leisure events.” The DMA hosts a monthly speaker series, numerous social events, and opportunities for networking with alumni. They also serve as mentors to incoming students.
Message to Prospective Students
A Darden School of Business MBA coupled with military experience provides a competitive advantage in the business world—an advantage like no other. Darden is dedicated to the education of the whole person with the goal of enhancing and sharpening the wide range of transferable skills already finely honed in the military: leadership, discipline, decision-making, teamwork, and ethical behavior. In today’s business world, an individual who possesses these traits is often viewed as rare and special. For those who have served in the military, these traits are the norm. Darden recognizes the experiences and character of military leaders and the myriad ways they enhance the classroom experiences for everyone.
Military Consortium
Darden is associated with the Military Consortium, an organization under the umbrella of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Learn more.
Contact Military Students & Alumni
Visit the following links to learn about the experiences of Darden's military students and alumni. Please feel free to email them with your questions:
Military Blogger
Learn more about life at Darden by reading Fairways and Greens, a blog by Brian Crum (MBA '11). Brian is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former submarine officer. He is joined in Charlottesville by his wife and their son, Hudson, who was born the day before classes began.
Military Leadership Electives
The Darden School of Business recently created two new courses, specifically designed for students with a military background:
- 8500E Military Leadership Laboratory (limited to active reservists)
- 8500F Military Leadership Laboratory (limited to former military)
These courses, developed through the initiative of members of the Darden Military Association and a Darden professor, were created to provide seminars where veterans can share their leadership insights and develop ways to utilize them in a civilian career. The reservist course will be a real time survey of challenges faced by leading soldiers as reserve officers.
Military Scholarships & Application Fee Waivers
Darden's success as a premier MBA program of choice for transitioning military veterans has continued to grow, and scholarships play a major role in attracting the best students. This past spring Darden added a new scholarship for incoming Marine Corps veterans. Darden also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and continues to waive the application fee for U.S. veterans with active duty service within the last three years. Please contact the Admissions Office at darden@virginia.edu to request an application fee waiver. We will respond to your request within 2 days.
Military Admissions Contact
If you have any questions about the military community at Darden, feel free to contact Kathleen Grant, Assistant Director of Admissions, at the e-mail address below.
Kathleen Grant
Assistant Director of Admissions
GrantK@darden.virginia.edu
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