Financial Mgmt MBA from Naval Postgraduate School

[Sabre170]

Has anyone on here received a MBA (Financial Mgmt) from NPS?

I am hoping for follow-on orders to NPS and looking for some good gouge on everything from where to live (with family) to classes/instructors. I know VERY little about Monterrey and NPS, only that I want a MBA on the Navy's dime.

 

[PenguinGal]

Ohh! Monterey is awesome! My husband just finished his first quarter here. He isn't in the FM program, but if you have any questions I'd be happy to do my best to answer them or ask PenguinGuy for answers. There is another spouse on here who recently moved to Monterey with her husband (also a member of AW). Even if we can't answer the program questions, there are other topics on which we are fully qualified to respond.

 

[helo_wifey]

We're here, well, I am. Helo_Husband doesn't come until August. He's finishing up his last month or so at the squadron and then will be doing a securities studies program in September. There's a hsm family that just moved in a house down that he's doing financial analysis or something similar.

We can get you in touch with people too but can personally give a POV on living here, though we've only been here since April. We have 2 kids under 4 and live out in town vs military housing.

 

[helo_wifey]

Are you on Guam? That's where we just came from (HSC-25).

 

[e6bflyer]

I did the EMBA via distance learning with one class in Monterey. The faculty and staff there is super helpful and will gladly get you in touch with someone who can answer all your questions. Give them a call...I don't know if she is still working there, but a good source to start getting you in touch with the right people is the administrative assistant there named Houda Tarabishi. If not, ask for any dean or professor. This isn't Harvard, you aren't wasting anyone's time. They all want to help students as much as possible because that place is always on the chopping block.

 

[Sabre170]

Thanks for the responses. Some of my non-program questions are:
How are the schools (Elementary and High) up there?
How is base housing compared to houses out in town?
What are the areas to NOT to live in.
Does Monterrey have a small town feel (like Coronado) or a city feel?
How far is base housing from NPS?

 

[Sabre170]

Are you on Guam? That's where we just came from (HSC-25).

No, not any longer. I left Guam back in Dec 2011. After being gone for a while, I realize I enjoyed Guam a lot more than I gave it credit for while I was there.

 

[helo_wifey]

Thanks for the responses. Some of my non-program questions are:
How are the schools (Elementary and High) up there?
How is base housing compared to houses out in town?
What are the areas to NOT to live in.
Does Monterrey have a small town feel (like Coronado) or a city feel?
How far is base housing from NPS?

My kids aren't school age but people recommend Pacific Grove/Carmel schools. Monterey city are not recommended, but there is a charter school that is supposed to be amazing. The elementary in La Mesa housing is supposed to be good as well. Not sure on the high schools but I'm guessing the PG/Carmel are better.

We live out in town, but we've lived in base housing twice and didn't like it. There are two communities, Ft Ord (about 15ish min from NPS in Seaside) and La Mesa (about 5ish min to NPS). Rentals can be smaller and potentially outdated as many of the homes are older but lots of character. People who live in PG say they love it, close to the ocean with the potential for good views. If you're wanting/needing a huge house (1800sqft +) here you're going to have to look hard and potentially pay more than BAH. Husband is hopefully promoting to O-4 next month, but as an O-3 we would have only gotten a duplex on La Mesa. It's hard to justify all the BAH for a duplex and shared utilities (they're averaged between residents if I understand correctly). We live 5 min from NPS in Monterey in an 1800sqft semi updated 3/2. We pay O-4 BAH but were fairly sure he would promote. Long time friends that were here for DLI are O-5 and have an amazing home with views. Off base housing you just have to be a little more patient, and ready to act quickly as good rentals go fast. You just don't want to live in Salinas, but Monterey, Carmel, Carmel Valley, PG, Pebble Beach, Seaside and Marina are all acceptable but as stated above for schools.

I've never lived on Coronado, we've only been in Jax otherwise our other 2 duty stations were overseas. To me, it feels like a city, but not like the general San Diego bigness (if that makes sense). But, I go to the farmers market every Friday and my regular vendors remember me now.

I also hated Guam, I'm not a beach goer and I hate hot weather. I love Monterey but I knew I would, I went to college in LA and took many trips up here. Guam was beautiful but I'll take pine trees over palm any day.

Hope that helps!

 

[Spekkio]

With school aged children, Carmel and PG are your off-base choices. Outside of that, the peninsula is not a very good area for families unless you are one of the rich doctors/lawyers that populate the million dollar homes tucked away in the mountains somewhere and send their children to private school. Professors have told me that they are nonplussed with the school system here in general. If you are still a LT, both areas are substantially higher than BAH for a decent rental, with Carmel running up to $3500-4000/mo. PG is $3000-3500/mo for a decent place with a lot of 'traps' going for $2750-2950 (2012's O-3 BAH, which has been lowered. Hopefully the rental market has adjusted by now, though). There's a thick fog that regularly rolls into PG because you're on top of a mountain. The houses tend to be built for year-round temperate climate complete with thin insulation and single-pane windows, so if you (or your wife) can't tolerate the inside of your house being mid 60's then the fog can drive up your heating bill substantially. Just something to be aware of. If you don't mind wearing a sweater indoors in July then go for it.

La Mesa offers 1200-1300 sq ft ranches/duplexes for O-3, if you can even snag one. The O-4 section has bigger units but many are still duplexes, if that matters to you. Base housing on La Mesa is smaller and more expensive per sq ft than some of the places in Monterey/PG/Seaside, but you know that the community is good, your utilities are included in the rent, and you have access to a fitness facility and CDC right there. With school aged children it's a much more sensible choice if a unit is available there since the better bargains aren't always in the areas with good schools.

La Mesa is first-come, first-serve and will reserve a place up to 14 days in advance before you have to start paying rent to keep it.

Seaside had 22 shootings in 2012, mostly gang related, and Salinas is worse. There is also practically a new guy being arrested for child molestation everyday Salinas. I don't recommend bringing school-aged children to either neighborhood.

 

[PenguinGal]

I just want to toss out that PenguinGuy and I are currently living in the older town homes of La Mesa. We had no problem choosing our unit as everyone wants the remodeled/new ones. All utilities are included (and not on the average consumption rate) and the total rent is LESS than BAH. If you don't mind an older unit it is a really good deal at $1980 for 1200sf, 3 bed/2 bath. It is also on the side closest to NPS so it is only a 15 minute walk to campus.

 

[villanelle]

I haven't live in Monterey but I've spent time there on several occasions. I'd say that Coronado is a fair comparison. There are lots os small local businesses and it feels small and accessible. I'm referring to the downtown area, though, and I don't know where many of the living areas are compared to that.

 

[Sabre170]

Thanks everyone for their replies. I am still hopeful for a MBA slot, but most recent conversation with detailer doesn' look good. I am being told to consider Aide vice MBA.