Asking the right questions

One part of getting the right information is knowing what questions to ask. People--like college counselors and professors--tend to assume you understand everything they're talking about. Stop them when they're talking and ask them to explain things. You'll feel stupid while you're doing it but at least you won't actually be stupid after you're done.

Coming up with the right questions is difficult even when after talking to some people in school. When you first start reading about college and the words just look like gibberish, don't worry. Remember what a civilian would feel like reading something with a bunch of military acronyms in it: they would think we're speaking another language. It just takes time.

So are there shortcuts? Can you learn from other veterans' experiences? Sure. The easiest way is to just ask other veterans, especially the guys going to the school you've chosen. Go to the Student Veterans of America website (located here) and find your school. From there just fill out the contact request form. They'll get back to you with a contact number and you can talk to them on the phone for a few minutes, maybe schedule an appointment to meet them face-to-face.

Another option is to work off the list below. Just pick the ones that apply to you:
Do you have a lot of student vets? How long does it take for them to get their GI Bill?
Are there support services (like tutoring, child care, or job placement) available? Are they free?
Do you offer credit for my military transcript or service? How much? Is it transferable if I want to attend another school?
What sorts of jobs will (insert major or interest) get me in this area? Do you have connections with these businesses?
How many years will it take before I'm finished if I do this program? How much will it cost?
What courses have other veterans taken that they really enjoyed? Do these fit in with my major/interest?

These are just a few to get you thinking about how school can benefit you. At the end of the day you are going to school to get a degree so you can get a job so you can earn a lot of money doing something interesting. Don't look cite of that; asking the right questions will let the people at the school know you're serious.

Student veteran clubs and organizations

Whether you're already in school or are thinking about attending from some dirty patrol base in Afghanistan, you should think about the getting involved with veterans organizations on the national or local level.

These groups, like the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Student Veterans of America (SVA), are useful tools for making contacts, gaining information, and also hanging out with other veterans around your area. Check out the SVA website and you can find out how to get a hold of people via email and phone. They can answer questions about their particular school and help you make a better choice.

IAVA is also a good networking tools and their website offers a lot of resources if you're curious about benefits, important laws, or social events nearby.

What I really like about these sites is they help you understand how much people want to help out veterans. It's easy to lose sight of this in the day-to-day struggle of schoolwork, family problems, paying bills, and all the rest. Remember there are a lot of people out there who care about our success and want to assist in any way. No veteran should go it alone.

What does it take to get an "A"?

Doing well in school, especially community college, is easier than you think. Like I said in a previous post everyone in the military picks up the tools they need to succeed. The trick is figuring out how to use those tools.

The effort for a good grade will vary a lot from class to class. Physics is a hard class (even the non-math physics they have for knuckle draggers like me) and will take a lot of studying each week to get an A. Compare that to something like English 1A or Sociology 1--these classes are a cake walk. You'll still have to work, sure, but it doesn't take the same amount of time and you won't pull out half your hair getting frustrated.

Case in point: I have a buddy who spends 20-25 hours a week on his physics homework. Man, I could read every English book for the whole semester in two weeks doing that!

Besides convincing you not to be a physics major, I'm trying to help you understand the type and amount of effort will vary depending on what you do. It's never a bad idea of try a few of the basic courses in a department - English, Psychology, Mathematics, Chemistry, etc - when you start out. These are usually the ones listed with numbers like 1 or 1A that don't have any prerequisite course (meaning you have to take a different course before taking that one).

This will help you get a feel for what teachers expect, including how you much should pay attention to the syllabus (a piece of paper handed out on the first day that breaks down the class in terms of homework, tests, and grades). Most people tell you to expect two hours of homework for every one hour in class, but I've found it's more like one-to-one for everything but Math and the Sciences. If you can keep that ratio you'll do well enough.

There is one other thing you can do to ensure a good grade: individual tutors. You would be surprised how much it helps to go get personal help. Most schools have stuff like a Writing Lab (for help with papers) and student tutors who are provided at no charge or for less than $10/hour. That's a great deal and will really help you find out what it takes for you to crank out high grades.