Patrick Hoffinger - From Aviation Officer to Wharton
Tell us about yourself, Patrick!
Hometown: Moraga, CA
What is your anticipated school and intended major? Finance at The Wharton School, Class of 2025
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have flown to every public airport in Washington State!
What did you do in the military? I was an Army Aviation officer. Besides flying the aircraft, I also led a company of 44 soldiers and a maintenance platoon of 36.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? My proudest accomplishment in the Army was when I was given the opportunity to lead my company of 44 pilots and mechanics. In this role, I was able to grow personally as a leader and help my subordinates achieve their goals, both in and out of the cockpit.
What was the biggest benefit to using Service to School throughout the application process? Service to School didn't just provide me a personalized ambassador; it also provided me access to second-year students that were farther along in their post-military journey. I could ask them anything and everything. Service to School built a team of individuals around me that wanted to see me succeed. I was blown away by the support I received.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting school? From the events I've attended already, I am most excited to meet my classmates. Wharton seems to really value diversity of experience. No matter what my future classmates have done, it is evident already that they all excel. I'm ready to learn so much from them!
What are your goals post-graduation? Following graduation, I hope to work in NYC in strategy consulting, specifically in a firm's PE-adjacent group.
Patrick’s advice for veterans who are applying to college:
Don't self-select out! If your stats are in your desired school's middle-80% range, then just apply. Let the school tell you no.
How has peer-to-peer mentorship helped you on your journey to higher education? Would you recommend peer-to-peer mentorship to other veteran students? Absolutely. Only in those sorts of peer-to-peer environments can you see a path forward for yourself. These ambassadors have followed the same path you are embarking on- therefore they uniquely understand the transition like no one else.
Congrats again Patrick on your acceptance to The Wharton School!
