[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][three_fifth last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”5px” bottom_margin=”25px” sep_color=”#ffffff” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][fusion_text] Applying to college after the military can be daunting, and I wish I had known about the GIJobs.com School Matchmaker Tool when I first started my search for the perfect school.
Instead, I began with the most logical thing I could think of: combing university websites and requesting information. I should have avoided this, because I, like most people I know, do not appreciate a full inbox all the time. I was bombarded and continue to be bombarded with emails, brochures and webinar invites.
It’s nice to be wanted, at least.
What the process did teach me is that universities want veterans. Veterans bring a unique perspective to the table and broaden the greater student body experience.
Universities also know veterans are well-funded candidates (thank you GI Bill) and have a high likelihood of sticking out an entire degree program because veterans are trained to see things through to the finish. [/fusion_text][/three_fifth][two_fifth last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”center” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Check out these Military Friendly Schools![/title][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”https://www.gijobs.com/2016-hot-jobs-cool-degrees/” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
[/imageframe][counters_box columns=”1″ color=”” title_size=”” icon_size=”” icon_top=”” body_color=”” body_size=”” border_color=”” animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][counter_box value=”750″ delimiter=”” unit=”” unit_pos=”suffix” icon=”fa-graduation-cap” direction=”up”]Military Friendly Schools[/counter_box][/counters_box][/two_fifth][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Truthfully, the hardest part about going back to school after the military was figuring out a degree program that set me up to pursue my ambitions.
Take it from me: Not knowing what you want to do is a bad thing.
Figure that out first so you don’t end up taking a bunch of unnecessary tests. I took the LSAT and the GRE and then decided to attend business school. I probably did that backwards and don’t recommend it to anyone, but it’s a pretty common theme in the military.
See, most of us join the service at age 18, are told what to do and when to do it for years, and are kept so busy we rarely think about life after the uniform. You must make time to think about your future because at some point, whether retiring or separating after the minimum obligated service, we are all asked to hang up the uniform. Life goes on, and must.
As I assessed where to apply to business school, I focused on those programs that fit my geographic needs and work timeline. Wanting to stay in the Bay Area, I looked at UC Berkeley, Stanford and the University of San Francisco (USF).
I learned that each school offers an executive degree program tailored for people with work experience who also desire to continue working through school. At first, I was intimidated by the prospect of Stanford and USF because they are private schools and the tuition exceeds GI Bill allowances.
Then a friend told me about the Yellow Ribbon Program and my fears dissolved – I no longer felt the need to narrow my search to UC Berkeley and other state schools (visit militaryfriendly.com to learn more).
In order to refine my school search even more, I contacted the veteran program at each school’s registrar office. With San Francisco holding the dubious title of “most expensive city’” in the country, I really wanted to know about the scope of their Yellow Ribbon Program and make sure I would not be paying any tuition out of pocket. They were incredibly helpful, and explained the application and tuition process in an efficient and clear manner. They were also eager to explain that San Francisco commands the most generous housing allowance based on the affluent ZIP code.
With my financial concerns relieved, I focused on the best fit for my cultural desires and career intentions.
CHANGE THE WORLD FROM HERE. These five words were the first thing I noticed on USF’s website, and they continue to resonate with me. I think they resonate with every veteran on some level, because whether we know it or not, we signed up to effect positive and noticeable change on the world. The idea of continuing that mission as a civilian appealed to me, so I signed up for a business school information session and met with the program director. She had me attend a morning of classes to see if there was a culture fit. In class I was surrounded by hard-chargers – business leaders who understood success is directly proportional to constant learning. I applied, was accepted, and I’m proud to say I’ll be attending the University of San Francisco this fall.
The GI Bill just might be the most comprehensive and lucrative education benefit offered by any company. If used wisely, it can be your blank check to a better future. So figure out what you want to be when you grow up. Consider what education requirements you need to get there. Research what school is best for you. Take the necessary steps to get accepted. Then go change the world.
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