Start college by fall p1 - Military - Education Strategies and Tips - Military Times EDGE

Whether you’re eyeing the Ivy League or considering community college, start now and you’ll have plenty of time to enroll in a great college by the time new GI Bill benefits kick in Aug. 1. Leroy Chavez, director of the Veterans Upward Bound project at Metropolitan State College of Denver and vice president of the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Project Personnel, recommends starting the college application process six months out.

Decide what to study, where

Chavez recommends researching programs online, visiting colleges and talking to academic advisers to help identify programs of study that interest you or that build on the experience you already have. Active-duty, Guard and reserve folks can receive education and career aptitude counseling at their education center, Navy College Office or Marine Corps Lifelong Learning Center. Qualified veterans can get information through programs such as the Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program or the Education Department’s Veterans Upward Bound program. Narrow your choices to two or three colleges, Chavez said. Before committing, consider taking a vocational or career aptitude test and study the employment outlook for your intended career.

Take your entrance exam

Check the admission requirements for your contender schools. If you need to take a college entrance exam, try to do so while you still are in uniform. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support pays for eligible service members to take either the ACT or SAT one time for free at a DANTES Test Center. Eligible veterans also can use GI Bill benefits to cover testing costs. Deadlines to sign up for upcoming exams are Feb. 10 for the SAT and Feb. 27 for the ACT.

Gather application materials

Most schools require official transcripts from all institutions you’ve previously attended, including, in some cases, high school. To receive credit for military education and experience, you’ll need a copy of your military transcript, Chavez said. Some schools will accept your DD Form 214 as proof of any experience that is applicable to a degree program, he added. Military forms you may need:

• DD Form 2648: Pre-separation Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members (DD Form 2648-1 for Reserve).

• DD Form 2586: Verification of Military Experience and Training.

• DD Form 214: Military discharge.

• VA Form 22-1990: Application for VA Education Benefits.

Apply — on time

It’s smart to apply to more than one school so that if your first choice doesn’t work out, you don’t have to start the process all over again. Deadlines vary, so pay close attention to the dates on each application. In most cases, applications may be filled out on paper or online. The Common Application and the Universal College Application let students complete a single application form and submit it to numerous participating institutions. Once accepted, you can expect to receive a lot of information from your school about next steps to take with regard to orientation, academic advising, enrollment and payment deadlines. “It is important to read it,” Chavez said.

Enroll for education benefits

If you haven’t already, brush up on which education benefits, financial aid programs and scholarship opportunities may be available. As a current service member, you may be eligible for military tuition assistance. Veterans may qualify for assistance through the Montgomery GI Bill or new Post-9/11 GI Bill that takes effect this year. You also may qualify for scholarships and federal student aid. For scholarships, Chavez recommends FastWeb, a free online scholarship search service.

Just because a college goes out of its way to recruit military students doesn’t mean it’s automatically your best choice, said Leroy Chavez, vice president of the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Project Personnel. Your best bet for receiving college credit for military service could be choosing a school from the Servicemembers Opportunity College Consortium. Ensuring your college truly is military friendly not only weeds out the occasional unscrupulous institution, but also ensures that the school you select is prepared for the challenges that come with being both student and service member.

Before you choose a school, ask these 6 questions:

6 key questions to ask:

1. Can you start and stop the programs as needed, based on your circumstances?

2. Is the program approved for Veterans Affairs Department benefits?

3. What is the school’s policy on accepting transfer credits from other institutions?

4. What is its policy for awarding credits by examination, such as College Level Examination Program tests and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Standardized Tests?

5. Does the school award college credit for military experience?

6. Is the school accredited by a recognized U.S. accrediting organization?