Posted on Aug 12, 2014
Have you started pursuing a college degree and stopped?
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I work in Higher Education and the retention/persistence rates for military students are slightly lower than for civilian students. There are some obvious, overarching reasons, but I am looking for more specific challenges that have prevented you from pursuing a degree. Why did you go to school after getting out of the military? Did you enjoy it? Why or why not?
Education
College
Transition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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Yes, I got 1/2 way through my masters and what do you know, kids came along. Still in a holding pattern.
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1LT Nick Kidwell
GI Bill and Distance Ed is your friend. I get my MS next month. :)
I'm gonna have to go to a brick-and-mortar school to do anything else, though. I'm a hard-sciences guy and it's tough to do science lab procedures over a computer....
I'm gonna have to go to a brick-and-mortar school to do anything else, though. I'm a hard-sciences guy and it's tough to do science lab procedures over a computer....
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I was almost finished with my BA degree in Business Information Systems and had to drop out during my last year in the military (2011/2012). My brain tumor came back and I spent that last year going through radiation treatments and puking - joy, joy.
I retired in September of 2012 and lucked into a great position as a Director of Human Resources.
I resigned in January of 2014 to go back to college full time. I wanted to get my BA degree and just could not pass up the great benefits.
SIUC does not get it accreditation from the same people as the University of the Incarnate Word so they would not take my 300 or higher level classes. So instead of retaking the same classes, I changed my major to marketing to pick up additional skill sets.
I am having a blast and I enjoy marketing a lot. I have taken 8 courses so far and have all A's.
I will complete my degree after the 2015 summer semester and I plan to go on for my MBA specializing in Marketing & International Business.
I retired in September of 2012 and lucked into a great position as a Director of Human Resources.
I resigned in January of 2014 to go back to college full time. I wanted to get my BA degree and just could not pass up the great benefits.
SIUC does not get it accreditation from the same people as the University of the Incarnate Word so they would not take my 300 or higher level classes. So instead of retaking the same classes, I changed my major to marketing to pick up additional skill sets.
I am having a blast and I enjoy marketing a lot. I have taken 8 courses so far and have all A's.
I will complete my degree after the 2015 summer semester and I plan to go on for my MBA specializing in Marketing & International Business.
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SFC Dennis Aalid
Keep at it it's well worth the time and effort. I finished my BS after retirement from the Army in 1991. It took until 1995 as I was still working full time! I tried to finish my BS on AD, but found it to difficult with my long hours and high stress job as a Human Resource Supervisor along with other military duties and Field Training Exercises. Also, 8 of my last 11 years was as a single parent!
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The SVA conducted a survey of their members and found the #1 reason for veterans dropping out is financial. It is much easier to enroll in school than to find employment. Many try to live off the monthly Post 9/11 stipend and realize it is impossible, then drop-out. As far as active duty, it took me six years of on and off school before I finished my Bachelor's. When I retired I finished my MBA in 18 months, but I had a good job and a wonderful wife and family that supported those long hours. I am about to finish another Master's Degree, this one in Project Management. I took all classes in about 12 months and never completed the Capstone. Now I am finishing the Capstone about 2 years later. I also work with veterans and their employment and my main focus are veterans in post-secondary education. I work with them to keep them in school by assisting with employment searches and placement.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I continued to work part time 21 hours and over when i was a full time student, on school vacations I volunteered to pick up overtime for other employees who needed time off, to build up My school money. I did have educational assistance from the VA but I lived in the dorm at college and needed money to pay for room and board and have pocket money and keep My car functioning. I remained an active member also of the Civil Air Patrol where I was an Officer. (I spent over 40 years in CAP) I became to Co-Captain of the colleges first Cross Country team, set up the years running schedule and found a coach for the team. Worked on the school's yearbook staff where one of the things I did was all the sports section. I wrote sports article for the college newspaper. I never missed any college events, I enjoyed it there. There first two years of college I had put on during My active duty time prior to becoming a full time student. While in the service I had completed two years of college and finished as a full time student afterwards. When i graduated I didn't owe anyone a cent, anything VA didn't cover I did. I had borrowed $500.00 from My Dad once but paid it back within 5 days. I have trouble sitting around doing nothing and still keep busy.
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