While many veterans may find transitioning to college after military daunting, particularly because of the massive differences in the life experiences they have compared to their future classmates, there is still a lot to look forward to when you decide to pursue higher education. In fact, there are many aspects of your service in the military that will be an advantage to you as you tackle this new academic challenge. And with the many opportunities that the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides, it has become easier to embark on this journey.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, implemented in August 1, 2009, is an expansion of The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act enacted in 1944, and is commonly referred to as the GI Bill of Rights. Included in this expansion are more educational benefits to servicemen and veterans, living allowance, and money for books. Another highly useful benefit is the ability to transfer a servicemember or military veteran’s unused educational benefits to spouses and children.
Additionally, to make further encourage veterans to go back to school, there are internal programs in each branch of the military that are made available to veterans. So whether you are part of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or National Guard, you may be able to find further information and support specific to your military branch. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the appropriate agency to better understand what kind of assistance you are entitled to and what other aids you can expect.
Getting started:
Get your papers in order
The most basic requirements for the application process include a valid civilian ID, your discharge papers, and any and all documentation, certificates, transcripts, and test scores related to courses and degrees you have earned (or were pursuing while on active duty) while enlisted.
Apply earnestly
In truth, applying for college takes time. You’ll want to take a tour of the campus and research the programs and courses they offer. You’ll need to fill out an application, find out the school requirements and deadlines, and submit the necessary paperwork to get your application rolling.
Visit the VA office
They will be uniquely positioned to give you the rundown of what you need to do to get enrolled. They can explain to you the mechanics of the application process and guide you on how you can fully maximize your GI Bill Education Benefits and other educational aids provided by law such as the Montgomery GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Veterans Vocational Rehab.
Apply for financial aid or scholarships
Finding a way to finance your studies, especially for degrees that require at least four years of study can be discouraging and difficult but not unattainable. An affordable college tuition is achievable through the right financial avenues. Look for schools that are part of the Yellow Ribbon Program as servicemembers can receive additional financial aid separate from their GI Bill Entitlement. There are about 1,770 universities and colleges that part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA can also assist you financially through various ways such as grants, loans, and/or work-study programs. The same can be said about scholarships; there are many types available that can be based on merit, academics, athletic, or private and some are even offered specifically for veterans.
There is a specific academic program for both active and retired service members that you should keep in mind whilst you are undertaking this education process. This program was developed by the Department of Defense and is called DANTES or the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support program. Through testing, this program allows for students to obtain college and career training credits. The purpose of this is to measure and give credit for the knowledge and training acquired through military experience.
Tedious as it sounds, this application and enrollment process is part of college life. Once it’s out of the way, you’ve already overcome the first major hurdle.
How can you capitalize on your military service and experience to propel you to succeed in college?
Discipline
You have this in abundance. You can apply this to many aspects of college life and it’s an integral element of success. College life is less structured and you will need to apply discipline to be able manage a myriad of new responsibilities and opportunities. Choosing to invest the necessary time to focus on classes, homework, collect effective notes, and listening attentively to lectures over video game marathons and late night partying is a reward onto itself as you will reap the benefits of a disciplined approach not just in college but also in life.
Adaptability
As veterans, you have the training to survive in the worst possible scenarios. A classroom filled with college students may feel alienating but you can draw on your adaptability skills to overcome the stress of a new atmosphere and the challenges of college life in general.
Perseverance
You can incorporate your personal values and military ethics into every facet of your time in college. Your ability to persevere through the most difficult and challenging of circumstances is also a solid foundation for your personal and scholastic growth.
Respect for rules
As with the military and with every community, college campuses also have rules and policies in place to foster safety and a sense of communal respect for all students, teachers, staff, the surroundings, and the environment. While you can capitalize on the above mentioned traits to achieve higher educational success, you will also encounter specific challenges that you need to be able to address when they do come up. Here are some suggestions on how to overcome these challenges:
Stress Management
Regular exercise, good nutrition, sufficient rest and other self-care habits are a great way to manage stress. You can also look for athletic or creative hobbies to engage your mind to relax and allow for some me-time.
Seek Assistance
A huge part of self care is knowing when to ask for help. Life as a college student is vastly different from your military life. You are learning new information and life skills and adjusting to new ways to relate to classmates, teachers, family, and friends. Seeking help is a sign of strength and integrity and you should actively find ways to not just coe, but to thrive.
Connect with other veterans
Find other veterans in your school or within your community. A lot of campuses have veteran centers that offer a place for veterans to meet, network, socialize, or simply just hang out together. If they don’t, congregate at any place you like and make it a point to routinely meet or just regularly keep in touch so that you can support each other.
As you prepare yourself to dive back into civilian life and enter college, remember that there are a gamut of veteran resource centers, government initiatives, and scholastic programs that you can utilize to achieve your dream of higher education. Do your homework and find what best suits your needs and budget. College after military service is not an insurmountable obstacle if you arm yourself with comprehensive research and a passion to get that degree.