Unemployment for veterans is chronically high, and it is always higher for veterans than for the general population. With the GI Bill and amendments for recent service members, more veterans than ever are returning to school for retraining and certification, often building on their military careers. If you are a veteran, what benefits do you have? How should you pick a school? What should you do once you’re in? For many questions like this, you can follow standard procedures for new students, but being a veteran comes with some challenges.
Before you head to school, you’ve got to get your money in order. It is particularly important veterans and active duty service members know that Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits do not reduce their eligibility for other federal, state or institutional financial aid. Find out what housing, fees, tuition and other living expenses you will be responsible for and set a budget you can stick to.
With so many returning veterans, many schools have developed special student service facilities to ease the transition to college. Often called an Office of Veterans, these are staffed by veterans who understand what it takes to successfully transition to college. They can often help with negotiating things like financial aid, veterans’ benefits and enrollment as well as help individuals manage the transition from a military atmosphere to an academic one. They often provide built-in support groups, so check to see if your intended school has one and visit it before deciding where to enroll.
As a new student, you should get in touch with the advising department. Not every college requires you to register with an advisor, but they can help you find out exactly what classes you need to take and in what sequence in order to guarantee you’ll complete your degree or certificate on time. It can be difficult to get an appointment around registration time, so make your appointment early.
Every student needs an advisor, but colleges will often hire advisors with specialized knowledge. As you visit, see if there is an advisor who is familiar with veterans’ issues that can help you make that transition. If you don’t know what to study, your first task can be to take a skills or interest inventory. These tests are often administered by your advisor when you first arrive. They can help you translate your work experience in the military and your interest outside of work
Like any goal, attending and graduating from college takes planning and efficient use of resources, something that most veterans are very good at. Getting in touch with those resources early and often can help you achieve your academic success without stumbling on the roadblocks that can hinder veterans.
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