LIST OF MILITARY FRIENDLY COLLEGES
Choosing a College that is right for you
As an eligible Servicemember, Veteran, dependent, Guard member or Reservist planning to use the GI Bill, you are a consumer about to make one of the most important decisions of your life. Where you begin your post-secondary education is critical. Making informed decisions about how to make the most of your benefits and how a school can best meet your needs means doing a little homework before classes start. This guide presents eight important factors you should consider towards becoming an informed consumer first and a GI Bill user second.
Can I Really Do This?
Going back to school after the military can be a challenge. Break down some of your nagging questions about the future with some answers!
• While many students may be younger than you, there are bound to be other Veterans or already in the workforce returning to school. Younger definitely doesn’t make you smarter and you have a wealth of life experience to draw on to get you through. You’ll find it will serve you well in class. It’s likely you have many things competing for your attention – work, family, home, health, and financial issues. A few suggestions help you through: Pace yourself. It’s ok to start off with a course or two to get the feel of being in school. Feeling overwhelmed will make it tougher to focus, so ease into it if you can. You can pick up the pace later. If your school has a Veterans Center (you can check that here), take advantage of those resources. Centers vary, but they can offer a dedicated place to study, assistance with benefits, and the support network you may be missing from your time on active duty. If your school doesn’t have one, you can help start one. Student Veterans of America has chapters nationwide and can help out. Find a suitable place to study. If noise or other people distract you, choose the library over a coffee shop or home as a study spot
• Find or start a study group…maybe with other Veterans…to help you stay focused and motivated.
• Take breaks. At least once per hour stand up, move around, get something to drink or get a few minutes of fresh air
• If you have a health issue that may be affecting your learning, colleges and universities may have accommodations to help you learn. If the issue is service related, take advantage of the VA’s Vet Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation services. They are there to help!
Keep in mind skills that made you a good Servicemember will make you a good student. Being able to stick to a schedule, listening, problem-solving, maintaining discipline, being responsible and keeping commitments gives you a leg up on the fresh from high school bunch. It’s likely you have more responsibility than they do, but you have experience on your side, so feel free to wield it!