Prospects of VMI Graduates Finding Jobs?

chukahleong

5-Year Member
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Oct 4, 2011
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Hi all, sorry for barging in again with seemingly random questions, but I really do need to get this one resolved, or else I won't be able to sleep at night. :D

My parents are still somehow reserved with me doing my undergraduate studies in a military institute in the USA. Not that they doubt the credibility of VMI itself, but they are apprehensive of my chances of finding employment in the outside world once I graduate from VMI. I'm also curious about this; besides spawning army officers, I am aware that VMI produces quite a number of lawyers, engineers and business leaders. But based on the current situation in USA and the world, do you think VMI graduates can adequately seek jobs in their respective fields? I understand that when it comes to finding employment, your achievements in college and your own personality are important traits, but for a school like VMI which is different from a typical four-year college, I am curious about the ability of VMI graduates to find employment not just in the USA, but throughout the world.

If anyone here knows someone from VMI who has been rather successful in any field in the USA or overseas, please post it here. Doesn't have to be someone famous/super-successful, just to let readers get an idea of where VMI graduates have landed so far.

I'm truly sorry on posting this long question. But I really need it answered and I need someone knowledgeable about VMI to answer it for me.

Thanks!
 
There is a saying about the American Senior Military Colleges (of which there are seven): "It's a bad place to be, but a great place to be from." I have most experience with The Citadel and VMI. The best thing about both schools once you graduate is the alumni network. You have tens of thousands of people who basically already trust you, who work in every field imaginable, and who already like you. That's extremely valuable. It's a club, and they're much more likely to hire from within their club. The economy stuff is affecting everywhere, to be sure, but most SMI graduates with degrees of any worth and decent GPAs ought not to have too hard of a time finding jobs.

If I were you, I'd get in contact with the department head of the major I'm wanting to pursue at VMI, and have a nice chat with him about job placement statistics for those graduating with that major.
 
Hi all, sorry for barging in again with seemingly random questions, but I really do need to get this one resolved, or else I won't be able to sleep at night. :D

My parents are still somehow reserved with me doing my undergraduate studies in a military institute in the USA. Not that they doubt the credibility of VMI itself, but they are apprehensive of my chances of finding employment in the outside world once I graduate from VMI. I'm also curious about this; besides spawning army officers, I am aware that VMI produces quite a number of lawyers, engineers and business leaders. But based on the current situation in USA and the world, do you think VMI graduates can adequately seek jobs in their respective fields? I understand that when it comes to finding employment, your achievements in college and your own personality are important traits, but for a school like VMI which is different from a typical four-year college, I am curious about the ability of VMI graduates to find employment not just in the USA, but throughout the world.

If anyone here knows someone from VMI who has been rather successful in any field in the USA or overseas, please post it here. Doesn't have to be someone famous/super-successful, just to let readers get an idea of where VMI graduates have landed so far.

I'm truly sorry on posting this long question. But I really need it answered and I need someone knowledgeable about VMI to answer it for me.

Thanks!

Chukahleong: I don't have a list of alumni and positions that they currently occupy, and short of going thru the "Register of Former Cadets" not sure how I would get one. Anecdotally- the current "Chief of Engineers" of the US Army Corps of Engineers is a VMI grad- as is 3 of his predecessors in the last dozen years. 3 of my classmates (class of about 225) are currently flag officers in the Army, AF and Navy. Several of my classmates are entrepreneurs who own their own businesses. Our class president is a missionary in Peru. A number are lawyers including the President of the Virginia Bar and several others are MD's. At least two are Head Masters of private Prep Schools, several more are teachers and a fairly significant number are University professors. Still others are executives for multinationals in manufacturing or financial services, a number of whom are currently either living overseas or have been at some point in their career. One company mate is an energy trader in Moscow, a number are engineers in major Aerospace and Energy firms. Yet another is the chief engineer for a large international Oil exploration firm and we have a number of Civil Engineers around the world for firms large and small. Several others are airline pilots. We have a division chief in the major intelligence agency, a now retired Captain from the NYPD, and the Chief of Military History for the US Army is a classmate (and Dad of one of my son's Brother Rats as well).

The Chief Engineer for Virginia Department of Transportation is an alum. At least two generals in the Thai Army are alums and a number of grads are officers in the Taiwanese or Thai Army. In short- they are everywhere and I wouldn't know how to categorize them, other than to say that they generally are pretty well established and successful in positions raging from the Military to ministers, historians, playwrite's and engineers and everything in between. If you have a particular major in mind you could probably get a list of recent graduate job placements from the Department head.

What do all of them have in common? Well- they all have their shared VMI experience, they know how to persevere under pressure and they all learned to live and succeed while retaining their honor and integrity- and they all stay in contact with their brother rats and fellow alums.
Rah Virginia Mil!
 
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Dear Bruno, thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I'm even more sure that VMI is a school that brings out the best in every individual. And from what I see, VMI also brings an international perspective in its cadets, which is a good thing and is what I'm looking for in universities.

One more random question that sounds foolish: Does VMI have the 2-month long summer break? The reason I'm asking this is because the official VMI website doesn't specify anything about summer breaks, and Google didn't prove to be much of a help either.

Thank you!
 
Does VMI have the 2-month long summer break? The reason I'm asking this is because the official VMI website doesn't specify anything about summer breaks, and Google didn't prove to be much of a help either.

Thank you!

You bet it does! Summer breaks usually last between 2-3 months. This past summer I left for home on Graduation Day, which was May 16, and I moved back into my barracks room on August 24, several days earlier than when the rest of the Old Corps was scheduled to return for Rat Challenge Cadre training. The Old Corps returns a week after the Rats matriculate, and the regular Cadre members return a week before the Rats matriculate.
 
There is a saying about the American Senior Military Colleges (of which there are seven): .

A nit: Only six SMCs are recognized by law. See 10 usc 2111a(f):

(f) Senior military colleges.--The senior military colleges are the following:
(1) Texas A & M University.
(2) Norwich University.
(3) The Virginia Military Institute.
(4) The Citadel.
(5) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
(6) North Georgia College and State University..
 
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