Full-Time M.B.A., Finance, Corporate Accounting

Scot Nicol relishes a challenge. More than a decade ago, as a 21-year-old with an interest in serving his country, he applied to join the Navy SEALs, the Sea-Air-Land teams that complete the most demanding special operations training in the world, then conduct missions behind enemy lines. If he could pass the training program, Scott thought, “I would set the pace for the rest of my life.”

He achieved his goal and embraced a new “life pace.” As a Navy SEAL, he served as an instructor and range safety officer for multinational exercises in Jordan, Korea and Madagascar, earned three Navy achievement medals and a meritorious unit commendation, and was tapped to be a SEAL instructor.

He moved from his team’s base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Panama City, Fla., and quickly climbed the teaching ranks, eventually managing both the trainers who taught piloting and navigation of a mini-submarine known as the SEAL Delivery Vehicle, and $3 million worth of related equipment. In addition, he achieved Chief Petty Officer in four fewer years than it typically takes, while using his leisure time to return to school. At age 31, Scot received, from Florida State University, the undergraduate accounting degree he considered critical to achieving his post-military career goal.

When he left Navy service in 2003, Scot turned immediately to earning an M.B.A., so he could tie his extensive military leadership experience to the business world, and achieve his dream of “having a shot at Wall Street.” He chose Simon because of its reputation in finance, its small size, and the opportunity for “an intimate education.” The skills he learned at Simon helped him land a Merrill Lynch summer internship in New York City, and a full-time offer to pursue equity trading on Wall Street.