As the United States Armed Forces continues its drawdown now, veterans are expected to continue to enroll in college in record numbers as they have been for the past few years. But, going to school after having been in the military can have its challenges; it can be like trading one battlefield for another if not prepared for the transition. Use these three tips to make it less painful.
1. Have an end-goal in mind.
Why are you going to school? Many veterans do so because they have one or two GI Bills, need a job and see it as a way to make money while they figure out what they want to do with their life.
But often, this is not the best way to use the GI Bill. The education benefits are generous, but finite. Even with two GI Bills, the maximum number of months one can go to school is 48; with one GI Bill that drops to 36 months, which is still enough to get a four-year degree at a public school without much out-of-pocket cash, but it does not allow one to waste any entitlement.
But for those that have done their homework before enrolling in school, they have a plan – an end-goal of the type of degree they want to get from using their GI Bill. Then it becomes a simple matter of executing that plan. However, those who flounder, and drift from one degree plan to another, soon find they have expended all of their GI Bill benefits and are left with nothing to show for it.
Statistics prove having a degree improves employment opportunities and increases life-long earnings. A college graduate earns on average twice as much as their high school counterpart over the course of a career.
2. Prepare for the road ahead financially.
Not understanding the GI Bill pay system can be a recipe for financial disaster. Yes, most veterans know the Post 9/11 GI Bill pays the student a book stipend per semester (up to the $1,000 yearly cap) and a monthly housing allowance, but may not realize the timing of these payments.
First, the book stipend comes toward the beginning of a semester, but usually much later than when books must be purchased in time to start that semester. Next, the VA pays the monthly housing allowance in arrears, so the amount you may need for this month’s rent will not show up until next month (or later).
In regard to tuition and fees, the VA pays the school directly at the beginning of the semester. However, some schools require GI Bill students to pay at the time of registration and then credit that money back to the student once payment from the VA is received. When searching out a school, ask them about their policy with regard to Post 9/11 GI Bill payments from the VA for tuition and fees.
Under the Montgomery GI Bill, the student pays tuition and fees for the whole semester at the time of registration; however, payments to the student from the VA are paid on a month-by-month basis, meaning a significant outlay of cash is required at the beginning of each semester.
The point is to be prepared financially. Otherwise, a student can get far behind the power curve even before starting school. Prepare by having at least enough money in reserve to get through the first semester. Having a nest egg, usually allows a student to weather through most money issues until the GI Bill payments start.
3. Seek out other veterans.
Most schools have a veteran center or at least an organization on campus, where veterans can go to be with and seek advice from other veterans going to school. Not only can they be a sounding board for your questions and concerns, but many times they may have tie-toed through the same minefield you are about to enter and can provide a easier path through it. One example is the “one-stop shopping” some schools offer veterans where they can enroll in school with a minimum of red-tape and frustration.
Transitioning out of the military and into college can be the first step to getting back into the civilian world, and many times makes the transition later into the civilian workplace easier … but only if one is prepared. Don’t let anything derail your education success by not being ready both mentally and financially.
