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Graduate school and my career...
- Thread starter LetsFly
- Start date
A few short points from the TPS perspective:
That's not entirely true, TPS frequently takes guys with masters' degrees, including Hornet guys- it helps make a candidate competitive, since academics are a significant portion of what's reviewed by the board. The above is somewhat true in that you will have to fight somewhat of a timing battle though, and a 1 year program is infinitely better than a 2 year program in that regard. However, the exact effects on O4/DH/etc are nearly impossible to predict 8-10 years before the fact. Of note, almost every VFA O4 eligible for
There are few COs with TPS patches in the fleet, leading to the perception that TPS grads are "grade B" material when it comes to CO selection. However, two things affect that: 1, the size of the applicant pool compared to FRS/SFTI (as IKE stated), and the fact that TPS grads have additional career paths open to them, such as AEDO and non-operational command tours (i.e. command of one of the test squadrons.) So a thinner field of eligible officers is stretched over more potential paths, leading to dilution of the TPS patches in fleet commands.
I would think long and hard about whether you want to go to flight school now, and what the possibility is of going later if you delay. It really comes down to how much you want to go to academic school vs. flight school, and we can't answer that for you. I wouldn't worry so much about O4, DH, and especially not about CO right now. Just know that grad school will have effects on your timing, but not necessarily insurmountable ones. Then, focus on kicking ass in whatever school you choose, and becoming a kick ass JO, possibly the greatest job ever.
Good luck!
That's not entirely true, TPS frequently takes guys with masters' degrees, including Hornet guys- it helps make a candidate competitive, since academics are a significant portion of what's reviewed by the board. The above is somewhat true in that you will have to fight somewhat of a timing battle though, and a 1 year program is infinitely better than a 2 year program in that regard. However, the exact effects on O4/DH/etc are nearly impossible to predict 8-10 years before the fact. Of note, almost every VFA O4 eligible for
There are few COs with TPS patches in the fleet, leading to the perception that TPS grads are "grade B" material when it comes to CO selection. However, two things affect that: 1, the size of the applicant pool compared to FRS/SFTI (as IKE stated), and the fact that TPS grads have additional career paths open to them, such as AEDO and non-operational command tours (i.e. command of one of the test squadrons.) So a thinner field of eligible officers is stretched over more potential paths, leading to dilution of the TPS patches in fleet commands.
I would think long and hard about whether you want to go to flight school now, and what the possibility is of going later if you delay. It really comes down to how much you want to go to academic school vs. flight school, and we can't answer that for you. I wouldn't worry so much about O4, DH, and especially not about CO right now. Just know that grad school will have effects on your timing, but not necessarily insurmountable ones. Then, focus on kicking ass in whatever school you choose, and becoming a kick ass JO, possibly the greatest job ever.
Good luck!
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On paragraph one (since you typed faster than me
), I was only talking to the "did masters as a new ENS, went VFA, and now have a career timing problem". We both know the person I am thinking of, and timing aside, IMO they would make a great CAG/Admiral one day if the Navy lets them. But the time spent in grad school killed the TPS dream, and threw a wrench into the O-4 board. Paragraph two, completely in agreement. I'd bet #2 is the bigger factor when compared to #1. If the grass is greener, I'd go there.
On paragraph one (since you typed faster than me
Paragraph two, completely in agreement. I'd bet #2 is the bigger factor when compared to #1. If the grass is greener, I'd go there.
Yes, I definitely see where you're coming from with that individual and very unfortunate situation. However, there were some rules in play there which can and do change over time with the needs of the Navy. I still think he was getting a bum steer from the Navy. It happens. Either way, what's true now won't be in 8-10 years. Those rule changes were the only reason I was personally able to go to TPS- at one point, the Navy had basically told me "no chance, paddles".
For more data there are LOTS of people wearing TPS patches and stars, birds, and oak leaves at NAVAIR locations like Pax, the Lake, and Mugu and others like COTF.
If you earned great grades at USNA and think you are a viable candidate for MIT/Stanford, then you will still be a viable candidate for MIT/Stanford after serving in the Navy for a few years. By then, you might have a better idea if you want to stay in the cockpit on a trajectory for DH/CO or get that top-tier masters degree come what may. Now or later, my best advice to you is to stick with your top-tier masters ambitions.
LetsFly
New Member
Thanks! This is getting a bit off topic, but from your experience do you think that undergrad success gets less relevant as you get older/more job experience when it comes to applying for a master's?
I wouldn't say undergrad success becomes less relevant, however non-success can as you gain experience. I still had to dig up my college transcripts when I applied for grad school and when I met with the program director he asked what my undergrad degree was and my gpa and my current job. I told him, and he basically said if I meet the minimum GMAT I'm in. Your undergrad success is a marker to those who don't know you that you were able to hack it before, so you should be at least the same, and most likely better now.
I can speak from my experience getting into and graduating from a top-tier grad school. Undergrad success stays with you and puts you on par with other highly qualified applicants. Work experience, quality recommendations, and a kick ass interview set you apart from other highly qualified applicants. Military applicants (with experience) are doing well in legit graduate programs and the schools appreciate the paid tuition thanks to the Post 9-11 GI Bill. So for certain schools, having years of military experience on top of the academic credentials tips the odds in your favor for admission.
Able Dog
New Member
But, our young poster should not be influenced by this kind of an example. This was all about timing, this person was being groomed and instead of being offered a stash job at the Wing for a year, like some VP XO/CO's, he was rewarded by a trip to Harvard.
To the OP, there is a certain order to the way the Navy does business. It used to be that if you accepted a commission you were guaranteed two things, (1) a 20 year career and (2) promotion the O-4. In my 30+ years in Naval Aviation, on both sides of the fence, I never met a good Officer who spent all his time worrying about his career and some of them actually made it to retirement.
