William A.
Tell us about yourself, Williams!
What is your anticipated school and intended major? Healthcare at Vanderbilt University: Owen
What did you do in the military? I was a Logistics Officer in the USMC
What’s a fun fact about yourself? I enjoy cooking smash burgers on my Blackstone. Hibachi is next!
Tell us about your experience applying to grad school. It was daunting even thinking about going back to school. I thought about applying four years ago but decided on staying in solely because I did not want to go through the application process. Service to School helped give me the nudge and provided the support I needed to actually follow through and make it happen.
What was the biggest benefit to using Service to School throughout the application process? Service to School was invaluable. Whether it be through help with my essays, interview prep, or the expanding my network, S2S helped set me up for success.
How was peer-to-peer mentorship helped you in your journey to higher education? Meeting with my mentor was like looking at me 10 years in the future. It gave me the confidence I needed in order to successfully complete the application and succeed in my interviews. Mr. Duncan worked quickly to introduce me to others who are on the same career field that I would like to enter, and even introduced me to individuals who played a key role in the admissions process.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting school? What’s your favorite part about the school you chose to matriculate at? I’m excited to finally focus on developing myself. As a leader in the military, you are constantly focused on developing others, and it is rare for one to be able to attend schools that are focused on developing yourself. Owen is giving me the opportunity to transform my life and my family’s lives.
What are your goals post-graduation? I want to go into a healthcare administrator role at a local hospital or healthcare system.
I’m most excited about being in Nashville, which not only has great music, but it also has the fastest growing healthcare ecosystem in the country.
William’s advice for veterans who are applying to grad school:
You are absolutely capable of doing this, and you are not alone. There is a whole network of veterans who have gotten out and are eager to support you and your transition. Do not feel like you are stuck and cannot go anywhere because you had a boring or not so boring job in the military. If you are thinking about applying to school, do it.
Congrats again William on your acceptance to Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management!
