3 First Steps to Using the Post 9-11 GI Bill

Question:

My name is Zack and I am completing my Marine service in six months . College under the Post 9-11 GI Bill appeals to me but I don’t even know where to start. Going on line to websites like this provides tons of information but is there a guide on where to start and how to go about it?

Answer:

Zack, you are asking the right question and your timing is excellent. Your goal over the next few months should be to concentrate on three basic steps. These steps are not in any particular order and you may find yourself performing all three steps together at times. Once you complete these steps, a ‘checklist’ should become apparent.

Post 9-11 GI Bill First Steps

1. Contact the Veterans Administration to confirm your eligibility and estimate your GI Bill benefits. If you are fully 100 percent qualified, then virtually all colleges, public or private, are open to you including Yellow Ribbon Schools.

2. Assemble all your college transcripts and military training that may be eligible for college credit.
Navy and Marine educational information and transcripts may be obtained through the Navy College website.

3. Determine which school you want to attend. As you point out, the information is overwhelming but as you narrow your selection it will become less so.

Veterans Administration

The Veterans Administration (VA) is your partner and the key to paying for college. Your Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits may help to satisfy one question many educational institutions ask– can this potential student pay for college. Whether attending a Yellow Ribbon School or a state school at home, GI Bill benefits may transform the military veteran into the “perfect admission candidate,” a student entering the school with funding already in place and proof of previous college level work.

Education Experience

Your college transcripts and military training allow you to maximize your college experience under the Post 9-11 GI Bill while making yourself more credible to the schools that you are considering. The transcripts and training records may help to satisfy the first question of many educational institutions – can this potential student perform college level work. The same documents may also meet the requirements for some courses, allowing you to concentrate on taking courses that meet graduation requirements more quickly. Often veterans with long service and much schooling possess so many credits that they are able to pick and chose their courses to concentrate on their main career interests. This is a decided advantage both in completing degree requirements and in marketing yourself to prospective employers.

School Selection

To my mind, the is the most difficult part of leaving military life to attend college under the Post 9-11 GI Bill is to determine which college. The choices are mind boggling. Assume all colleges are affordable and base your decision on the very best college that meets your needs and desires. What do you want to study? Where do you want to go to school? What other lifestyle needs do you have such as being close to family and friends or wanting to live in the mountains or near an ocean? Begin broadly and narrow your choices down. Use paper or computer to actually write down the attributes of your dream college. Then search for schools offering just those traits. Sounds difficult? Yes, it is, but it can also be fun to explore your educational options and prepare for your future.

Tags: admission, asking the right question, college transcripts, education experience, educational information, educational institutions, Gi Bill, GI Bill benefits, GI Bill Schools, military service, military training, military veteran, military veterans, navy college, Post 9-11 GI Bill, previous college, three steps, veterans administration, yellow ribbon, yellow ribbon program

Filled Under: G.I. - Hal Donahue @ August 31st, 2010 Comments (2) You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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