Veterans Guide To Online College Success

Helping Veterans Reach Their Academic Goals with Resources, Tips & Expert Advice

Two million World War II veterans took advantage of the newly established GI Bill® in the aftermath of battle, gaining degrees and moving into meaningful professional roles after service. Yet today's student veterans are dropping out at alarming rates – a 2012 study found that 88 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans left school after their freshman year. This guide is for student veterans looking for extra support and resources to gain a college degree.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA). More information about educational benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

• As of 2013, there were approximately one million student veterans using their GI Bill benefits for education, with this number expected to grow by 20 percent in the coming years.
• 62 percent of student veterans are the first in their families to attend college.
• Student veterans account for approximately 4 percent of all undergraduates.
• 61 percent of student veterans take class online, during the weekend, or at night.
• Of the 89 percent of student veterans who applied for financial aid, 85 percent received funding – the average amount being $9,900.

Sources: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; American Council on Education

Life in College as a Veteran: Challenges and Tips

Understanding educational benefits available under the GI Bill

Since 1944, the GI bill has provided a range of benefits to veterans – including educational support. Benefits vary by type of school, but those who attend public schools may receive enough funding to pay for their entire education. Veteran students are also eligible to receive a monthly housing stipend and up to $1,000 per academic year for books and supplies.

• Veteran benefits administration

  Aside from seeking information from the Veterans' Administration, schools such as Vassar College have an entire portion of their website dedicated to understanding educational benefits for veterans and also have a veterans' benefits administrator on staff to help students walk through this process.

• Returning from a war zone

  Military veteran students who experienced active fighting in a war zone may need extra counseling and support services to understand those experiences and be fully engaged in the classroom.

• Online student mental health services

  In addition to traditional campus-based counseling services, more colleges are ensuring online students have access to the same quality mental health resources. Drexel University's online arm of the Office of Counseling and Health Services gives students a sense of what to look for in prospective schools.

• Making friends as a nontraditional student

  Veteran students are older than traditional, first-time freshmen, and oftentimes they elect to live off campus or in different types of housing. Making friends can be tricky at first, but plenty of schools offer social, cultural and academic groups that provide community.

• Managing time and being in charge of each day

  Student veterans are used to being told exactly what they will and won't be doing each day, and acclimating to the independent mindset of college can be difficult. In addition to picking classes, managing schedules and being responsible for showing up at a specific time, students must also learn how to plan in advance and juggle assignment deadlines and testing times.

• Online and paper-based planners.

  Tools like iCal and GoogleCalendar are great, free solutions for student veterans who need to instill some discipline and order in their days. Aside from running on desktops and laptops, both are available as apps via iTunes and GooglePlay.

• Finding a community of shared experiences

  Making civilian friends is important to student veterans, but perhaps even more important – especially during the transition phase – is finding other student veterans who have had similar experiences.

• Military-connected organizations

  Colleges like Georgetown University and American University understand that student veterans need avenues for connecting with others who had similar experiences in the military and are facing similar experiences adjusting to college. Both provide intentional services to help student veterans meet learners with similar experiences.

• Female student veterans can face unique obstacles

  Women service members make up approximately 15 percent of the military, yet services are often still man-centric. Issues surrounding sexual harassment and/or assault can be carried over after leaving the military, and female veterans need specific support mechanisms when transitioning from soldier to student.

• Women's Veteran Alliance

  WVA offers myriad services to active and veteran female service members, including a full complement of educational and training resources to help them transition to and thrive in college.

• Finding a career path can feel overwhelming

  While serving their country, members of the military gain valuable knowledge and skills that can translate to civilian careers – if they are harnessed correctly. Student veterans sometimes need help assessing their skills, finding a career that interests them and deciding how previous experiences can benefit them during college.

• Military-to-civilian translators

  Military.com offers a free military skills translator and a free resume translator to help student veterans understand how to use their existing skills and knowledge when deciding on a major and pursuing a career.

Help for Veterans Choosing a School

Looking for the perfect school involves ensuring the college chosen is military-friendly, while also finding majors and degree paths that cater to current interests and future career goals. Tips for students just starting the process include:

• Look for a properly-accredited school.

  Finding a school with proper and current accreditation is the first critical step, as attending an institution that hasn't successfully completed this process can cause severe trouble for students and alumni later. Examples include trouble being hired, difficulties transferring, or rejection from advanced degree programs. The U.S. Department of Education maintains an up-to-date list of accredited schools in America.

• Look at the VA's list of approved schools.

  Before committing to a particular college or program, prospective student veterans need to use the VA's WEAMS Institution Search tool to ensure that schools they're considering are approved for GI Bill funding.

• Compare benefits available at different schools.

  The Veterans' Administration offers a GI Bill comparison tool to see how attending public versus private, or campus versus online can affect the disbursement of GI Bill funding.

• Find out if credit is available for prior military training.

  Colleges and universities following the American Council on Education Military Guide frequently offer credits for courses taken or occupations held while in the military. Depending on their years of service, some student veterans may be able to gain credits and graduate early.

• Review the VA's list of considerations before selecting a school.

  The VA makes available a comprehensive online guide discussing factors to consider when choosing a college and how to use the GI bill most effectively.

Special Programs for Vets

In addition to traditional GI Bill benefits, lots of other governmental and private institution programs offer support systems to student veterans. The key to accessing these services is doing research, speaking to knowledgeable administrators, and starting early.

DANTES

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support, or DANTES, is a program that funds subject standardized tests at military bases and college campuses throughout the United States. Based off the belief that active and veteran college students possess knowledge and skills from their time in the military, DANTES operates similar to CLEP programs that allow students to gain college credits for existing knowledge. Rather than taking a full class, eligible students can pass a subject examination and gain credit. Examinations are available for 150 different subject areas at present time, with most allowing three credits per test passed. Examples include:

• College Algebra
• Business
• Management Information Systems
• Personal Finance
• Statistics
• Technical Writing
• Cybersecurity
• World Religions
• Organizational Behavior
• Public Speaking
• Supervision
• Human Resource Management

Aside from DSST opportunities, DANTES provides numerous other college-related benefits for individuals transitioning out of the military and into higher education, including:

• Distance Learning Readiness

  DANTES Distance Learning Readiness Self-Assessment (DLRSA) helps student veterans ascertain whether they are prepared for the rigors of online education.

• Joint Services Transcript

  In partnership with the American Council on Education, DANTES provides college credit recommendations based on previous military experience, training, and education.

• Kuder Journey

  This service is available to service members transitioning to civilian life who need specific career planning and guidance in taking their next steps.

• MyVolEdPath

  This app, available via iTunes and GooglePlay, provides easy access to a wealth of resources related to taking advantage of military education benefits.

• Servicemembers Opportunity College

  Some servicemembers may elect to begin work on their college education while still active, but it can be difficult given mobility issues. DANTES' SOC program works to ensure that educational policies and practices work to make it easier for servicemembers to gain college credits.

• SOC Career and Technical Education

  Through this program, DANTES maintains an active list of certificate programs that accentuate existing skills gained in the military and have bright outlooks for job growth and stability in the coming years.

Troops to Teachers

Established in 1994 as a Department of Defense initiative, the program is now run by DANTES and the National Defense Authorization Act. The purpose of Troops to Teachers is three-fold: to help student veterans become teachers, to provide role models in schools and to help schools address teacher shortages in critical subjects. All current and former members of the Armed Forces are eligible to participate in this program, provided their last period of service was characterized as honorable and they have an interest in pre-K through high school education employment.

Once approved for the program, participants are eligible to receive a range of counseling services, including assistance in understanding certification requirements, finding appropriate programs and identifying opportunities that best fit individual needs. Participants also receive help in preparing for interviews and finding a teaching job upon graduation.

Schools available to graduates of TTT include public, charter and Bureau of Indian Affairs school centers. To be eligible, TTT applicants must plan to teach one of the critical subjects. These currently include math, science, foreign language, career-technical or special education.

Resources for Student Veterans

On-Campus

The resources listed below are examples of the help available to student veterans on college campuses. When researching schools, be sure to ask if there are similar accommodations and programs available to veterans.

In the Community

Community services for veterans abound, and student veterans are well-served to look beyond the college environment to have their needs met. Below are some examples of community resources for student veterans.

Online

These online resources are merely the tip of the iceberg for student veterans needing support and assistance.

Financing Your Education

Paying for higher education is a hurdle that countless learners must pass each year, and student veterans are no exception. While the GI Bill has the potential to cover a large share of the cost of college, other financial aid may be needed.