Kevin White

US Army
President, Darden Military Association
WhiteK13@darden.virginia.edu

"After getting a BS in Marine Science and spending four years in the Army my biggest concern coming into school was being able to keep up with my classmates who'd studied finance and worked for several years in a bank. I couldn't have picked a better place than Darden to get me quickly up to speed. The work hasn't been easy but the community and structure of the school are extremely supportive. The faculty continually bends over backwards not only to make sure I understand the material but also to make sure I can apply it and in doing so I've made lots of personal connections with members of the faculty that I'm sure will continue on well past graduation. Using the case method I've found that I learn more from my classmates than my professors thanks to the diversity of thought and experiences that my peers bring into class. I've had a blast here as I look back over the past year and a half. I've stressed over cases, pulled all-nighters while competing in case competitions, partied with my classmates, taken random last minute trips, and gone through the process of finding a job. In every sense I feel part of a very close knit Darden community and by graduation I'll be 100% prepared to be successful in my career."

Jay Macri

US Army
Vice President of Admissions, Darden Military Association
MacriJ13@darden.virginia.edu

"Choosing to leave the military is often much harder than the decision to join. Applying to business school adds another layer of complexity, with each school surprisingly different. Simplify the process by listing your most important traits. 

For me, I knew that I wanted to attend a program that was comprehensive, challenging, and most importantly, engaging. As 85 minute classes fly by, it becomes increasingly clear that Darden's cases are a very effective approach to solving real-world business problems. 

Another important factor was the dedication of the alumni network. While this is obviously difficult to judge as a prospective student, I viewed the willingness of current students to help and answer my questions as a useful proxy, under the assumption that current students will show the same level support of support that alumni have showed them. As a current Darden student, I cannot say enough about the willingness of Darden alums to put time aside for current students. 

Lastly, I looked for a collaborative student body. Charlottesville is large enough to host a robust set of extracurricular activities, provide easy access to New York City and Washington, D.C., and remain small enough where you will truly get to know and appreciate the Darden community.

After over a year in the program, I still believe that Darden's ability to combine a demanding curriculum taught by dedicated faculty and an outstanding student and alumni body is unmatched by any other MBA program, and serves as an extraordinary transition for veterans as they look to further their careers."