Four Tips For Balancing Military Life With Your College Studies
As a member of the Armed Forces, you've served your country and proven yourself many times over
. Already, you know a personal and professional satisfaction few find in life.
But now it's time for a new challenge. To advance your military career or earn your ticket to a civilian career, you need to enroll in college. Whether you enter an associate's, bachelor's, or a master's program, learning to excel as both a service member and a student will take some practice.
You're up to the task. And below you'll find four tips to help you balance school and military life.
1. Choose the Right Program for You
Where will you find the time and energy for school? With all the responsibility you already carry, how can you approach your academic life with the same standard of excellence with which you approach your professional life?
Here's the secret: when you study a subject that excites your mind, your schoolwork will give you energy, not exhaust you.
During your career, you've learned that, when you love your work, performing with excellence is easier. When you're invested in what you're doing, pushing yourself to work harder and achieve more isn't a burden "" it's invigorating. The same can be said of school. If you're learning about a subject that intrigues you, spending your free time in the books can be a joy, not a chore.
So when considering your degree options, along with questions of career development and earning power, ask yourself: "Which course of study truly matches my interests and aptitude?" At a military friendly school like Regent, with staff personnel devoted to serving military students, you will learn how best to translate your military skills into a private sector career.
2. Make It a Team Effort
Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, and guardsman fights first for the person standing next to them. Unit cohesion "" the respect and confidence service people hold for the women and men with whom they work "" is one of our military's most powerful weapons. So just as in the field, when you enroll in college, remember to lean on your team.
Your commander and your comrades want to see you succeed, as does your family. Choose a university with special support for service men and women, and you'll find your professors and the administration will go to great lengths to help you.
Communicate with the people in your life. Let them know about assignments, deadlines, and conflicts. As often as they can, they'll come to your aid, helping you achieve your goals. Just as you would for them.
3. Leverage Online Resources
At a moment's notice, you could find yourself transferred to a new base or deployed overseas. When the call of duty takes you away from campus, how can a service member hope to finish any degree program?
Choosing a college with a robust online course catalog is simply a must for military personnel seeking higher education. So long as you have access to a computer and an Internet connection, you can stay connected to your educational goals through online study programs. Be sure you select a university where you can pair on-campus instruction with online coursework, or even pursue a degree entirely online.
4. Set Realistic Goals
Normally, you might consider a bachelor's degree a four-year program, or a master's degree a two-year program. If life should align to let you focus on nothing but school, these traditional timeframes make sense. But for those in uniform, setting yourself up for success means setting goals that accommodate your obligations to the service and at home.
Work with a college counselor who understands military life and who's helped other service personnel pursue college coursework. The right university will teach your chosen subject matter as well as how to honor your commitments while bettering yourself.
Today, it's easier than ever for military personnel to pursue degrees while serving our country. Using the same discipline, strategic thinking, and integrity learned in the service, men and women in uniform can find career development through higher education a rewarding and sensible mission.
Regent University in Virginia Beach, the nation's top-ranked
online Christian college, maintains a proud tradition of seeking and recruiting active duty, reserve, and retired military to learn in our on-campus and online degree programs.
by: Leigh Anne Giblin
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