“Back to School Back to School”
- mostoriginal1
- Jun 8, 2016
- 2 min read
Everyone experiences the military differently. From my own point of view, going back to school after I left the military was something I knew I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been back in school for over a year now and I can say that for veterans transitioning into a college atmosphere, the experience is what you make of it.
What you want/need/care about can be totally different but here’s my list of what mattered to me about schools I considered:
The school’s views: Do they choose NOT to fly an American flag on campus (those schools exist)
The location of the school and the atmosphere of the area
Is there a veteran presence on campus?
Does the school offer a “Veteran’s Center” (basically like an office/rec. center where vets can get together, work on homework and get information on their GI Bill and other things they need. The one’s I have seen are independent of the VA)
What is the school’s policy on accepting any courses or certifications you earned from the military (very important that this is very clear before you make your choice)
This is what I looked for and admittedly you may not find a school that offers everything you’re looking for, but it’s good to have an idea of what you’re going to get out of your experience on campus before you make your choice. Here’s the good news: I never came across flag-burning/stomping protestors on my campus (obvious because I’m not writing this from prison). No one trashed the memorial displays set up by the veteran’s office on campus. On top of that, being around professors and students has been a great experience. Everyone is different and brings something unique to the table. It’s inspiring to see that there are some professors and students out there who—while they may never have served in the armed forces—are working hard and having a positive impact on our country and way of life. So if you make the choice to go to college, I recommend it, ignore the few loud mouths and obnoxious ones and seek out the other veterans and students who are locked on. They’ve taught me a great deal. Best of luck.
Comentarios