David Renza - Military Education Benefits for College: A Comprehensive Guide for Military Members, Veterans, and Their Dependents

We have utilized our education benefits to help shape our own careers inside and outside of the military. Our hope now, since you are holding this book in your hands, is that we can help you do the same.

Military Education Benefits for College will assist you each step of the way by helping to remove some of the confusion surrounding education benefits and the college experience as a whole for service connected students (SCS). Some people approach school with apprehension, while others are simply paraylized by indecision with the thought of preparing for higher education. Obtaining a college education for some service connected students is about as scary as a new recruit going through basic training (yes, we have been told that!). It should not be, and doesnt have to be this way, however. The college experienceregardless of whether you are in the military, a veteran, or are a dependent of someone who isshould be and can be a rewarding and engaging experience. Like anything worthwhile, it will be difficult and challenging at times, and perhaps downright frustrating at others, but ultimately it will help you achieve your personal and professional goals. And for many of you, it will change your lives in ways you never thought imaginable.

A words about this book. First, it will offer you reassurance that you have made the right decision by choosing to beginor for some of you, completeyour education. The dynamics of the changing industries and technology mean that earning your degree is now a requirement . You can not longer afford to leave your time in service or let your education benefits run out without an education to show for it.

Next, we will help you get started with the entire process. We will walk you through the admissions process and make certain that you are armed with all of the paperwork you will need to complete your college admission as quickly and painlessly as possible. We will also help you choose a school and a degree program thats right for you. Choosing a solid program will help ensure you that you can utilize your certificate or degree with the best possibility for positive results, whether you are looking for promotion in your current career or within your branch of the service, or a new opportunity altogether. Choosing the right school will ensure that pursuing that degree or certificate is as rewarding an experience as it can be, and makes it more likely that you, the service connected student, have the support you need to be successful.

We will also help you through the payment process. The majority of people who join the military do so with the intent of using their education benefits, but few know exactly whats out there for them or where to find access to them. This book sheds light on that thorny subject.

Finally, we will walk you through the college experience. What does it take to be a successful student? How do you get acclimated to the college experience? Our advice contained in this book is based upon our combined experiences from real case scenarios we have dealt with in miltitary-related admissions. We realized that acadamia is an entirely new world for many of you; trust us, it is completely different from anything you may have encountered in the service. Finally, we will help you consider some decisions you may come across when you are finished with your education. So whether you have never been to college before, have gone and dropped or transferred out, or just want to explore your options, there is something in this book for everyone with a military-related background.

Although there are other books available, most are out of date and only touch lightly on too many important areas. Other information can be found on the Internet, but can you trust it? Is it up to date? And do you have the time and energy to search and find quality material from literally dozens of websites, and then integrate it for your own personal use?

We wrote Military Education Benefits for College with these thoughts in mind and for two key reasons. First, our job experience is the college admissions process because both of us are admissions counselors. We deal daily with the educational-related challenges that military students face. Not only do we both work with military, veteran, and dependent student populations, but we also worked with recruiting and retention during our active-duty military careers and have usedand are still usingour own military education benefits.

Second, we believed it was important that we write this book because we feel very strongly about one important theme you will hear over and over: If you are able to pursue your education now, get it done!

Dont wait, dont pause, dont deviate from the goal you have set for yourself, whether its a training license to drive a truck or a bachelors degree in psychology, a certificate in human resources management, or a doctorate in psychology. Dont hesitate in getting started and see it through all the way, if only for this one simple reason: If not now, when?

Especially if you are young or still in your early years in the military, putting off starting college often seems an attractive choice. After all, you are learning your military occupation and getting used to your duty station. You wont be retired for perhaps two or more decades. After that, you tell yourself, you can find the time to use your GI Bill benefits. By that time (or before) you will have a family to worry about and many other things that come along with age and experience. If you have ten reasons now why it is not a good time to go to school, the odds are that you will have 100 good reasons why it wont be a good time in the future.