subject: Montgomery GI Bill Benefits | Soldier to College Student in 4 Steps [print this page] Montgomery GI Bill Benefits | Soldier to College Student in 4 Steps
Montgomery GI Bill Benefits
So you are finally eligible to use your GI Bill Benefits and you are now ready to earn your college degree or certification.
The future looks bright!
So what's the problem?
Finding the right college can be difficult.
What's more difficult is finding one that lets you fully utilize the Montgomery GI Bill (mgib), or those colleges that actively seek to attract veterans.
Not everyone has the time to visit school after school or dig through college websites, - or worse, spend hours talking to admissions counselors!
Here are 4 steps to help you make the transition from soldier to college student. These ensure that you land the right college, choose the right degree program - and use your military benefits!
Step 1: Make Sure you Qualify
Did you give $100 a month for your first year of active duty?
Do you have a high school degree or a GED certificate?
Do you have 2 years of active duty service under your belt?
If you answered "yes" to all three questions then congrats - you qualify (oorah!).
Step 2: Apply and Plan to Use your G I Bill Benefits!
Military personnel and veterans have a huge advantage over civilians - over $49,000 in financial aid available to use for tuition, books, housing, food!
But there is a catch - your benefits expire in 10 years.
"Gee, 10 years is plenty of time- right?" Wrong!
You will be amazed to find that according to a 2007 Census Study on Military Education Completion, only 33% of veterans finished some college. What happened to the other 67%? Wasn't part of your plan in joining the armed forces to not only gain confidence and discipline, but to also get a leg-up to paying for college?
You didn't give some of your service - you gave it your all! So get all you can from Uncle Sam - you deserve it! Don't waste any time - fill out your GI Bill application online at the Veteran's Administration's official website - GI Bill VA gov.
Alternatively, you can always call 1-888-GIBILL-1 if you need someone to talk to.
Step 3: Find Your College
Where should I go to college? How do I found one that lets me use my GI Bill Benefits? What if I end up surrounded by poindexters?
These are very common concerns for members of the military looking to transition to college students (ok - maybe not the last one).
You need to find a military friendly colleges, one that accepts your G I Bill Benefits and is also in good standing with the VA.
For starters, the top 5 military-friendly schools to consider are as follows:
American Military University
Central Texas College
Coastline Community College
Colorado Technical University
Excelsior College
There are many, many more military-friendly schools, and even more that are not!
To save time, try out this college-finder for GI Bill Benefits. This site will find you the best college based on what benefits you are eligible for, what type of degree you want to get, where you live, and your service affiliation.
They can even help you find colleges that accept G I Benefits for your spouse!
Tip: If you plan to still live on base, you have a huge advantage! That is why, it is important to find a college that offers either distance learning for military, classes on base, or has a campus near your base.
Step 4: Decide what to Study and Major in
When deciding what to major in, consider what you enjoyed doing both during your military service and in your past-civilian life.
With that said, the below majors (in no particular order) are not only in-demand and growing, but will likely overlap with your military experience.
1. Healthcare:
Healthcare careers are slated to grow by over 3.2 million new jobs in the coming years (according to bls.gov)!
Nursing and medical assisting experience or raining gives most veterans a leg up over the civilian competition.
If you were in a leadership role in the military, consider specializing in hospital management.
2. Criminal Justice:
You learned some very advanced tactics and these translate well into law enforcement - conflict resolution, security strategies, armed training. Consider studying criminal justice with an emphasis on law, criminology, or homeland security.
Prefer to fight the bad guys through advanced data analysis and evidence gathering? You might want to think about joining the growing field of Forensics - especially since it is projected to grow by 30% (bls.gov).
3. IT, Computers and Engineering:
You used some of the most sophisticated gear in the world! Multi-million dollar radar technology in the navy? Guidance systems in the airforce or army? Maybe you not only used this technology, but were the one tasked to fix them as well? If you have the techi-knack then why not earn a degree in Information Technology or Engineering?
And yes, like the other two majors, IT and Engineering is a great choice because they are growing fields - about 17% (bls.gov).
There you have it - now it is time to move onto to the next phase of your life. Get going soldier!
