If any of you are like me, besides getting my personal shit together, I recognized the importance of taking advantage of my GI Educational Benefits and the value of furthering my educational pursuits. In my case it changed my life and I know it could change yours also.
It wasn’t always easy in my day; there weren’t the available resources in colleges and trade schools focused on veteran transition and success issues like there are today.
However, even today, all schools have not fully adapted their programs to becoming “Veteran Friendly.” I’m making it my business to identify who’s forward thinking and patriotic and who has done a great job of preparing themselves to meet the unique needs of our veteran brothers.
I’m Working with Some of the Best
Even better, I’ve been asked by some of these forward-thinkers to visit their campus and talk to them about the transition needs of returning veterans and even advise them of your specialized needs so they can make the required changes in their programs. I think of them as clients and make a point to stay in touch with them and make myself available to advise them on various issues as time goes by.
Here are a few of the colleges I’m currently working with and links to some key information about their veteran focused programs and points of contact:
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
NOTE: If you are an enrolled member of a Federally recognized Native American Tribe you can attend Fort Lewis College tuition free.
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- V.E.T.S. Veterans Education & Transition Services (V.E.T.S.)
- Student Veterans Association (Veterans Club) Contact – vetsofc@email.arizona.edu
- Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran (S.E.R.V.) Flyer
- S.E.R.V. Academic Success Program Description
How to Narrow Down Your Selection
Ultimately where to go to school comes down to the schools proximity to your home and family, your career objectives and individual needs. Also, what is “Veteran Friendly” to you may not the same for one of your buddies.
As you consider your college plans you might find it helpful to review the information below I’ve developed with some of my veterans issues advisers who went to school on the GI Bill themselves and are constantly staying on top of what programs work best for our returning troops.
To help you evaluate your educational choices we’ve put together a check list of some of the important criteria important to veterans today based upon current research. Click on the link below and print out a check list to use to evaluate each college or trade school you are considering.
“Veteran Friendly” College Evaluation Check List