Every year, roughly 200,000 active-duty military personnel transition back to life as a civilian. This can be challenging for a number of reasons. For many veterans, returning to school can quickly become one of them.
Therefore, preparation is essential in laying the foundation for a positive educational experience. Below are three key points that veterans returning to school should consider as they choose to further their education.
Know which veteran’s benefits you qualify for
The military offers many benefits. Some of the most valuable are in regard to higher education. While are a number of education benefits are available to active-duty military members, such as Tuition Assistance, we will focus on those designated for veterans.
- Montgomery GI Bill® – Veterans who are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill® may be able to receive up to 36 months in educational benefits. The monthly benefits paid out vary depending on your academic program or training, length of your service, and other factors. You can view the current monthly payout rates here. (GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)
- Post 9/11 GI Bill® – The Post 9/11 GI Bill® allows eligible veterans to have the full cost of their institution’s tuition and fees paid for up to 36 months. Additionally, while attending school, veterans will receive a monthly housing allowance (rate calculated based on school zip code) and an annual book stipend. For more information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. (GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)
- Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) – Veterans who elected to make contributions to this program while on active duty may be eligible to receive between one and 36 months of benefits for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence Learn more about eligibility here.
- National Testing Program – Veterans are eligible for reimbursement when required to pay a fee for national admission tests, national tests for college credit, and national tests that evaluate prior learning and knowledge and provide an opportunity for credit at an institution of higher learning. Learn more about this program here.
- Veteran tuition rates – Some institutions may offer special tuition rates specifically for veterans of the armed forces. At The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, we offer this benefit to both eligible veterans and their dependents.
Is your school a Yellow Ribbon Program participant?
Upon separation from active-duty service, veterans may need to establish residency in the state where they choose to live—resulting in added costs when attending a local school as an out-of-state resident. Other veterans may be hoping to attend a private institution, which may exceed the tuition limit of their benefits. The Yellow Ribbon Program seeks to address these issues.
Specific to veterans eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, institutions that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program will partially or fully fund any tuition and fee expenses that exceed the established limits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. The Chicago School is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant.
Prepare to deal with culture shock
The transition from military to civilian life is not easy. Going back to school can sometimes exacerbate this for veterans.
One study from the University of Oklahoma found that “despite veterans being the same age as other college students, military service instilled them with vastly different cultural values, which meant they experienced ‘cultural shock’ when going from a military environment to a college campus.”
While you may be eager to begin this chapter of your life, don’t rush into it. It is important for veterans to have a strong support system in place before deciding to put themselves through a potentially stressful experience. For example, veterans should consider joining various support groups, on-campus clubs, or reaching out to the student Veteran’s Affairs center at their institution if they are not finding the support they need from friends and/or family.
Keep an open mind about career options
Many veterans choose to transition into civilian careers that reflect their job responsibilities on active duty.
For example, a Master-At-Arms in the U.S. Navy may choose the path of law enforcement in the civilian sector; a service member in the U.S. Air Force who works on aircraft electrical systems may choose to pursue a career in aviation mechanics. While programs that offer college credit for military experience incentivize this type of transition, it’s not required.
It’s important to keep an open mind about how your skills may transfer to other rewarding careers. This will allow you to diversify the academic programs that are available for you to pursue with your benefits. At The Chicago School, we offer more than 30 academic programs that cross a variety of professional fields. You can learn more about each of our offerings and decide if any relate to your skills or interests here.
Learn more about The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
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