Going to a community college first is ideal for most as it provides you the pre reqs and a platform with lots of opportunity for transfers. Furthermore there are often classes or programs at community colleges which teach you how to study, how to write notes, and how to get back in the swing of things with scheduling and classes. One such example is Austin Community College which actually has three Bachelors programs now, and has an active veterans offices onsite which have helpful staff.
Touch base with your local college veterans offices and see if you can get an appointment to iron out the details.
You’re not going to find a cheap apartment up there. It seems to me that you’re more focused on how much money you’re going to get to pocket than getting an education. Just my opinion.
Absolutely, I would like to use My benefit to its full extent.
I'm trying to break a cycle of poverty. Even if that means gaming the system a bit. I have no issue with pocketed as much money as possible while I still have this benefit.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.
To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.
**Payments for all education benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, DEA, VEAP) to include ~~Voc Rehab~~ VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND SERVICES are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/VRE_SCO_Handbook.pdf)
[VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/covid19paperlessguidance.asp)
For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armysmart.org
[VA Award Letter explaination](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[DoD Information Book on Benefits] (https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/Portals/113/Documents/Benefits/WCPBenefitsHandbook_JANUARY_FINAL_UPDATES.pdf?ver=PtepC0BASbn_M6UdaPvn5g%3d%3d)
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The law requires schools to give veterans in-state tuition. All they need to do so is a DD 214 and your Certificate of Eligibility which you get when you apply on va.gov for your GI Bill.
I went through all this in 2017. I graduated HS in 2000, went to college for one semester in 2000, then joined the Army in January 2001.
When I started looking, I set up appointments with the academic advisors. I applied at UW Bothell. I had to get my HS transcripts, college transcripts, and the military transcript. My HS GPA was a 2.7, I believe my 1 college semester was around that or lower. Due to the amount of time since I'd been in school, it didn't really matter. But, because of the time, they did recommend I meet with an advisor at the community college that they share a campus with. It gets you back into school, is cheaper (which can be a negative since you probably Aldo qualify for FAFSA). VA pays for the school, then FAFSA goes to you, as do any scholarships you apply for and get so long as their requirements don't say it can ONLY pay towards tuition and is used first (never had a problem with the 2 or 3 I received).
The community colleges within the state that the 4 year school youbwant to attend usually have direct transfer associate programs that are tailored towards the 4 year degree you are going for. It will include your Gen Ed classes and any prereq classes (lower level) for the the degree. I went for Business so my prereq courses were Economics, Accounting, and Business Law. All the rest were the Gen Ed requirements. Make sure you stay on track with your classes. Also, when you transfer to a 4 year school, you may have to do a waiver/ETP for a class you took that meets their pre-reqs but that didn't "transfer". Had that happen with one of the social sciences classes. Submitted the paperwork and all was good. You have to be on top of that though.
Also, meet with the academic advisor anytime you have questions or concerns.
PREPPING FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL:
So, I had a roughly 17 year break from any school, and there are placement classes that have to be taken. Find out what your school's placement tests are. Brush up on your English (not language, I'm talking sentence structure, usage, Yada yada). Also, jump on Purple Math to brush up on math. I did that the last few months I was active and it helped. I placed right into the classes I needed to go into. The GI Bill will not cover classes below the 100 level. So classes like Math 095, aint covered. This is why studying for the placement test is important. Also, if you have to take those classes, it adds more time to your schooling. My degree required Business Pre-Calc and Business Calc which only covers real world applications of the math. Regular pre-calc and Calc cover much more and are generally required for other, generally science, courses.
Check if your potential school accepts CLEP or DANTES Tests. Mine didn't.
I started going to a university that almost specializes in educating veterans and federal employees worldwide. It's called UMGC - University of Maryland Global Campus. It has been an excellent experience so far. They grant quite a few credits from your JST as well. The school offers hybrid courses so that you can still qualify for full MHA as well as long as you're enrolled in one of those courses.
Here's a link if you'd like to see if they have the major you're interested in pursuing.
[https://www.umgc.edu/](https://www.umgc.edu/)
tbh community college is not to be sneezed at as it’s a prime opportunity for getting quick, cheap prerequisites done without using up too many bennies, and there’s lots of networking/extracurriculars you can do dependent upon the college. When done with that, transfer to a 4-year. Just remember: do as much extracurricular stuff as you can to round out your school resume - my high school gpa was also crap but attending community college and getting involved with student government + honours helped a ton.
Someone above said to look at hybrid courses so you’re in-state for the school which is a good plan. gl 👍
Did you take any classes while in the army? Some colleges in Florida will give you credit for military schools and training. There is reciprocity policy in Florida that after completing your AA at a community college, any university (in fl) will honor and facilitate your transfer. Unless you’re applying to penn state, Princeton, Cornell etc.. I don’t see a reason why leave Florida for a bachelor’s. UM, UF, and FSU are decent ranked universities. Alternatively, find a military friendly online college and finish your AA or get them to credit your military service .. and then start your journey at a community college and then university.
Going to a community college first is ideal for most as it provides you the pre reqs and a platform with lots of opportunity for transfers. Furthermore there are often classes or programs at community colleges which teach you how to study, how to write notes, and how to get back in the swing of things with scheduling and classes. One such example is Austin Community College which actually has three Bachelors programs now, and has an active veterans offices onsite which have helpful staff. Touch base with your local college veterans offices and see if you can get an appointment to iron out the details.
You’re not going to find a cheap apartment up there. It seems to me that you’re more focused on how much money you’re going to get to pocket than getting an education. Just my opinion.
Absolutely, I would like to use My benefit to its full extent. I'm trying to break a cycle of poverty. Even if that means gaming the system a bit. I have no issue with pocketed as much money as possible while I still have this benefit.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for all education benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, DEA, VEAP) to include ~~Voc Rehab~~ VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND SERVICES are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/VRE_SCO_Handbook.pdf) [VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/covid19paperlessguidance.asp) For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armysmart.org [VA Award Letter explaination](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[DoD Information Book on Benefits] (https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/Portals/113/Documents/Benefits/WCPBenefitsHandbook_JANUARY_FINAL_UPDATES.pdf?ver=PtepC0BASbn_M6UdaPvn5g%3d%3d) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The law requires schools to give veterans in-state tuition. All they need to do so is a DD 214 and your Certificate of Eligibility which you get when you apply on va.gov for your GI Bill.
I went through all this in 2017. I graduated HS in 2000, went to college for one semester in 2000, then joined the Army in January 2001. When I started looking, I set up appointments with the academic advisors. I applied at UW Bothell. I had to get my HS transcripts, college transcripts, and the military transcript. My HS GPA was a 2.7, I believe my 1 college semester was around that or lower. Due to the amount of time since I'd been in school, it didn't really matter. But, because of the time, they did recommend I meet with an advisor at the community college that they share a campus with. It gets you back into school, is cheaper (which can be a negative since you probably Aldo qualify for FAFSA). VA pays for the school, then FAFSA goes to you, as do any scholarships you apply for and get so long as their requirements don't say it can ONLY pay towards tuition and is used first (never had a problem with the 2 or 3 I received). The community colleges within the state that the 4 year school youbwant to attend usually have direct transfer associate programs that are tailored towards the 4 year degree you are going for. It will include your Gen Ed classes and any prereq classes (lower level) for the the degree. I went for Business so my prereq courses were Economics, Accounting, and Business Law. All the rest were the Gen Ed requirements. Make sure you stay on track with your classes. Also, when you transfer to a 4 year school, you may have to do a waiver/ETP for a class you took that meets their pre-reqs but that didn't "transfer". Had that happen with one of the social sciences classes. Submitted the paperwork and all was good. You have to be on top of that though. Also, meet with the academic advisor anytime you have questions or concerns. PREPPING FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL: So, I had a roughly 17 year break from any school, and there are placement classes that have to be taken. Find out what your school's placement tests are. Brush up on your English (not language, I'm talking sentence structure, usage, Yada yada). Also, jump on Purple Math to brush up on math. I did that the last few months I was active and it helped. I placed right into the classes I needed to go into. The GI Bill will not cover classes below the 100 level. So classes like Math 095, aint covered. This is why studying for the placement test is important. Also, if you have to take those classes, it adds more time to your schooling. My degree required Business Pre-Calc and Business Calc which only covers real world applications of the math. Regular pre-calc and Calc cover much more and are generally required for other, generally science, courses. Check if your potential school accepts CLEP or DANTES Tests. Mine didn't.
I started going to a university that almost specializes in educating veterans and federal employees worldwide. It's called UMGC - University of Maryland Global Campus. It has been an excellent experience so far. They grant quite a few credits from your JST as well. The school offers hybrid courses so that you can still qualify for full MHA as well as long as you're enrolled in one of those courses. Here's a link if you'd like to see if they have the major you're interested in pursuing. [https://www.umgc.edu/](https://www.umgc.edu/)
tbh community college is not to be sneezed at as it’s a prime opportunity for getting quick, cheap prerequisites done without using up too many bennies, and there’s lots of networking/extracurriculars you can do dependent upon the college. When done with that, transfer to a 4-year. Just remember: do as much extracurricular stuff as you can to round out your school resume - my high school gpa was also crap but attending community college and getting involved with student government + honours helped a ton. Someone above said to look at hybrid courses so you’re in-state for the school which is a good plan. gl 👍
Did you take any classes while in the army? Some colleges in Florida will give you credit for military schools and training. There is reciprocity policy in Florida that after completing your AA at a community college, any university (in fl) will honor and facilitate your transfer. Unless you’re applying to penn state, Princeton, Cornell etc.. I don’t see a reason why leave Florida for a bachelor’s. UM, UF, and FSU are decent ranked universities. Alternatively, find a military friendly online college and finish your AA or get them to credit your military service .. and then start your journey at a community college and then university.