by Willie Woolford
Did you join the military to get an education? Many recruits who join the military list education as the main reason they joined. Yet, before they know it, civilian life is upon them, and they still don’t have a degree.
It is challenging to make the choice to shift the status quo of your everyday life and do something different –— something that requires effort. But, everything worthwhile takes a bit of effort.
As someone who has served in the military and worked with hundreds of military students, I’ve discovered there are three main reasons people do not go to school: money, time and fear.
The military helps the member with tuition costs and the Student Loan process is available to anyone. These help overcome the “money” concern.
Some colleges and universities are very military-friendly and are designed to work with you to offer maximum flexibility. The helps eliminate the “time” barrier. You can complete your degree entirely online and do it when your schedule allows.
The remaining obstacle — “fear” — requires self-motivation to believe you can do it. By just taking the first step you’ll find out you’re not alone — everyone else in the class has the same fear.
A college education is the path to better jobs and lifelong career success. Here are some questions to ask every school you consider:
10 important considerations when selecting your college:
- Does the school have the major you want?
- Is the school accredited? (Regional accreditation is the highest)
- Will the school accept all of your military credits and other school credits?
- Does the school understand military needs? (TDYs, deployments, PCSes)
- Understanding costs. There is more to school than tuition (fees and books)
- Are scholarships and grants available?
- Do you want to go in-class or online? Do you know the difference?
- Does the school offer adult, flexible learning formats?
- Does the school offer credit for life experiences?
- How does the school prove it is military friendly?
—Willie Woolford is the Assistant Director of Military Programs at Bellevue University. He is retired from the U.S. Air Force. Visit www.bellevue.edu for more information
