5 Success Tips for Active Duty Military Personnel Pursuing College Degrees

5 Success Tips for Active Duty Military Personnel Pursuing College Degrees

Useful Tips for Military College Students

  • Choose the Right School and Program
  • Set Goals
  • Get Help
  • Find Similar Students
  • Use Financial Aid

Success tips for active duty military personnel pursuing college degrees include getting help from others and choosing the right school. Though many prospective students on active duty status assume that they need to finish their terms of enlistment before enrolling in a college program, many schools now offer resources and programs designed for those still in the military. Students can use some simple tips to ensure success while in college.

1. Choose the Right School and Program

Choosing the right school and program is the most useful tip that military students can use. It’s important that the college or university have accreditation and that it offers resources for students in the military. The top colleges offer online programs that allow military students to continue taking classes while stationed on any base and anywhere they go that has an internet connection. Students may want to look into programs that allow them to take classes on satellite campuses located on military bases too.

2. Set Goals

One common reason why students have problems juggling their school and military commitments is that they try to do too much. They think that they can take multiple classes and still handle their daily duties. It’s important that military students set realistic goals each semester. They may find that they can only take one class at a time or that they need to take a semester off to focus on their other commitments.

3. Get Help

No college student should ever be afraid to ask for and get help when needed. Colleges of all types have academic counselors who can help students when it comes to applying to a program and seeking financial aid or when deciding what major to select and how many courses to take. Military students will find that they can connect with those counselors both over the phone and through email. Some schools also offer live chat options that let military students speak to their advisors and counselors in real time over an internet connection.

4. Find Similar Students

Katy Hopkins of U.S. News and World Report recommends that veterans look for other veterans when in college and that they also spend time with more traditional students. Students on active duty status should do the same thing. They can contact their colleges and find out if there are any special resources or programs for military students such as online forums where they can post questions and talk with others in the military. These students should also check on their bases to see if their branches have any resources for college students too.

5. Use Financial Aid

The GI Bill offers educational benefits for anyone who served in the military. They can get funds that help them pay for college classes and any other expenses they have. Students on active duty status cannot use the GI Bill, but they can look for other types of financial aid. Dozens of organizations offer scholarships for military students and their dependents. Both the spouses and children of enlisted personnel and veterans qualify for some of these scholarships. Many schools also offer their own scholarships and grants for active duty students to reduce what they need to pay out of pocket.

Both online colleges and universities with online courses offer programs designed for military students today. Some of the success tips for active duty military personnel pursuing college degrees include setting realistic goals while in school and looking for financial aid programs.

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