Posted on May 12, 2017
To vets who went back to college, is (was) there a particular vet service or activity that you especially like or find useful?
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Just curious to know. I'm sure many have felt like a strange breed among conventional college goers.
Currently, I am fond of the vet's break room with free coffee. The vets chill and verbally spar just like in the field/office. They organize free lunch events and form their own team for an end-of-semester pub crawl. I'll join in as the semesters go by, but for now, it's coffee and camaraderie.
Currently, I am fond of the vet's break room with free coffee. The vets chill and verbally spar just like in the field/office. They organize free lunch events and form their own team for an end-of-semester pub crawl. I'll join in as the semesters go by, but for now, it's coffee and camaraderie.
Fun
Socializing
Trying New Things
Resiliency
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
Good question. SrA Andrew McCarty works with the veterans at Northeastern and might have some collective perspective based on their experiences.
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SrA Andrew McCarty
Thanks SSG Carlos Madden! Our vets certainly enjoy their private lounge on campus. It's small and gets crowded quickly, but that's "they're space." Some have even called it their sanctuary, though there's nothing sacred about the language used in that lounge, I assure you. ;-) I run our Center for the Advancement of Veterans and Servicemembers (CAVS). We're focused on two missions: 1) We're a 360 degree portal to the university for prospective/current students and alumni, 2) We work with our employer partners to create co-op and career opportunities for our student veterans. CAVS hosts monthly networking receptions that brings our vets together with any vet/servicemember in the Greater Boston area as well as employers, VSOs, etc. Anyone that has great information, opportunities, services, or positions to offer is welcome to come. My hope in all of this is to connect my students with as many resources and individuals as possible. The day will come when they aren't my students anymore. I want them to always have people they can reach out to for anything they need. That requires a strong network, and we help them form that as soon as they arrive.
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SSG (Join to see) I was discharged in 1972 and started work and college. There was no love of the military or veterans, and no veteran activities. Working full time and going to school full time helped, because it kept me very busy and focused. I was four years older than most of the students and did feel like an outsider to begin with.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
i had already put on two years of college while on active duty and after 8 years service entered full time college in my junior year. I was 8 years older than most the students except some others that were also Veterans. I did get involved in campus activities including be Co Captain on their first Cross Country team, I also set up the schedule for the years, found a coach, was sports editor on the college year book, wrote sports article for the College newspaper. I didn't miss any of the social activities on campus. I lived in the dorm but also worked a part time job off campus. I did enjoy the experience and got along well with both students and faculty. I was focused by then and knew what I wanted and managed to stay on the Deans list each semester.
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It's a good thing I got my bachelors years ago; before the Army. Being a vet and being much older than the average undergrad would really suck these days. That said, I am in a masters program; however, that means I am with students who are a bit older--who (sadly for me) still average younger than me--are professionals, have families, and have spent some time outside of academia (some would call that the "real world", because academia damn sure isn't).
My program has a veteran liaison that work with vets in the school, and a veterans student group for the full-timers. Both of which are nice, but outside of this--especially for us part-time or executive students--there isn't much other than informal networking among vets and the occasional invite from the full-timers to their events.
My program has a veteran liaison that work with vets in the school, and a veterans student group for the full-timers. Both of which are nice, but outside of this--especially for us part-time or executive students--there isn't much other than informal networking among vets and the occasional invite from the full-timers to their events.
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