Top 5 questions the military community has about higher education

When it comes to earning your degree as a servicemember or veteran, the amount of options available to you can be overwhelming. One of the greatest benefits we receive is the opportunity to get our education paid for, but there are many questions we still have as veterans. I remember using Tuition Assistance on active duty and cramming for exams whenever I could. Never thought a loud C-17 cargo bay could become a temporary study hall, but somehow it worked when it had to. Fast-forward to 2012 when I began working with the RallyPoint co-founders on launching this platform, I never thought we’d see so many conversations focusing on higher education. Of the 5M discussions on RP, here are some of the top questions that focus on higher education:

1. How many college credits is your military experience worth?

This might be one of the most asked questions we see from post-9/11 vets. Step one is getting your Joint Services Transcript (JST) from the DoD and submitting it to the school you plan to attend. In many cases, a veteran’s service will save countless hours in the classroom and thousands of dollars in tuition. I’ve seen more schools in the last year start to publish the ‘percent complete’ you’ll be towards a degree program depending on your military specialty.

2. How do you manage to take classes while deployed?

Some won’t ever get the option to take courses on deployments, but many of us will still explore the opportunity. The community always speaks highly of universities who understand the constraints of servicemembers who are deployed and offer flexible programs. Options to file extensions for classes are important. Many of us have run into issues when universities offer rigid course timelines that don’t allow for the unforeseen issues that come up on deployments. The pace of your unit can greatly enhance your chances of catching up during slow periods and also delay you when operations get hot. Having an online school that understands this is extremely helpful.

3. How do you transition into college life after the military?

Moving from your military life into college can be a huge cultural shift. Thankfully, there are organizations like Student Veterans of America (SVA) that can help veterans connect in local chapters and mentor each other through the college experience. Once you find a group of people that share similar experiences and goals for the future, this brings on a level of support that can really propel vets through the most challenging years of college life. I also highly recommend looking into Columbia University’s Center for Transition & Integration (CVTI). They excel in stepping veterans through the college admission process, financial aid, and preparing to be a student again.

4. What college course has been most helpful for your career?

The importance of this question can’t be overstated. With the acceleration of technology and the changing landscape of today’s workforce, there has never been a more critical time for veterans to assess how they will build out their knowledge base and skill sets. The most helpful universities can assist veterans with navigating this challenge of figuring out how to align their skills and experience with a degree that will get them into an industry that is hiring people like them.

5. What are the pros and cons of getting an online degree?

This debate still continues, but the flexibility of an online degree is clearly a strong advantage for members in the RallyPoint community. Veterans who have families and work full-time need the flexibility of online learning. Other veterans have discussed their desire to get the full college experience as this offers networking benefits as well as supporting the overall transition back to civilian life. Whatever path is chosen, it’s important to do your research on the school’s accreditation and track record serving the military community. I highly recommend using the VA’s GI Bill comparison tool during your research: https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool

If you’re a servicemember, veteran, or someone working in higher ed, let’s hear your advice on these top questions.

If you’re part of a university looking to reach & engage more veterans, feel free to reach out to RallyPoint here: [login to see] .