Mistakes to Avoid When Transitioning from the Military to College
The switch from military life to college demands planning. If you have been out of an academic environment for a while there are many things you’ll need to catch up on to make your transition from the military to school a smooth one.
Do you know how long it takes to be approved for the GI Bill? Do you know the registration deadlines for the next round of classes?
In some cases, those details will make or break your application for the next available semester, and we cover some of the most important details to know in the article below.
Manage Application and Benefit Timelines
Sometimes, the most basic issues trip returning veteran students up the most. One of those issues? Failing to apply early enough to start the next semester on time. Applications may be delayed due to demand, staffing, or other factors. Delayed applications affect when you get paid and when you can register for classes.
Activating and certifying the Post-9/11 GI Bill or other VA benefits demands significant lead time. Your first step is to submit your completed benefits application to the VA.
Contact both the VA and the school’s Certifying Official at least three to six months before your desired first day back at school.
Apply for All Benefits Open to You
What is one common mistake about going back to school? Not applying for other benefits besides the GI Bill. Do not view the GI Bill as the only source of college funding. Missing the wide array of state, federal, and institutional aid available limits your financial flexibility.
- You may qualify for Pell Grants, state tuition waivers, university scholarships, and federal student loans. These funds may be combined with GI Bill payments, or they may provide a backup if you use your entitlement or enroll in a course the VA does not fully cover.
- Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is key. Do not assume service benefits disqualify you from needs-based aid.
- Pell Grant eligibility often depends on income earned outside VA benefits, and scholarships depend on criteria such as academic merit or volunteer service.
Failing to complete the FAFSA and apply for scholarships forfeits available money. Many states may offer specific National Guard and Reserve tuition assistance or veteran-exclusive grant programs that stack with federal benefits. By relying only on the GI Bill, you miss chances to save your VA entitlement for expensive graduate programs or advanced degrees.
Complete the FAFSA every year, apply for several non-VA scholarships, and any state-level benefits you may qualify for. This broad approach builds a financial safety net stronger than the GI Bill alone.
Military-Friendly Colleges
Another common mistake to avoid is assuming all colleges are military-friendly. Do not trust a school’s marketing or enrollment numbers as proof of support. Military friendliness extends beyond Yellow Ribbon Program participation.
- Some higher education institutions lack proper support for student veterans. This may be reflected by the school’s policies on academic credit transfer, its mental health resources, and peer support.
- Anticipate struggles when colleges refuse to grant appropriate academic credit for military training and experience.
- Military experience may translate into college-level knowledge, but some schools lack staff familiar with American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines for evaluating military transcripts.
- Does the school have a Veterans Resource Center (VRC) or does it have limited options in this area? A supportive school dedicates resources to the VRC, hires staff familiar with military culture, and ensures campus counseling includes therapists specialized in military stress, Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), and transition issues.
Do not enroll at a school that treats veteran status merely as a compliance box to check. Before enrolling, actively investigate VRC services, the school policy on transferring military credit, and the availability of specialized mental health counseling. A truly military-friendly college adapts to your unique needs.
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Credit Transfer
There are important differences between the Joint Services Transcript (JST) and the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript. If you are returning to school, you should know the JST covers Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard experience, while the CCAF provides academic credit for Air Force and Space Force training.
Both documents translate your service training into college credit hours based on American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Obtain these documents before your first semester. Submit them directly to the registrar’s office and ensure the school evaluates them.
Some schools may resist granting credit for ACE recommendations, requiring you to advocate for your transcript evaluation.
Transferring these credits reduces the time and cost of your degree, prevents redundant coursework, and helps you achieve the necessary credit hours faster. Treat the credit evaluation process as the administrative operation it is, following up consistently until the transfer credit posts to your academic record.
Maintaining the Right GPA
Students may fail at times to maintain their GPAs. But letting your grades drop too low risks academic probation and suspension. And that can stop VA benefit payments.
The VA reserves the right to suspend Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowances and tuition payments if you fall below the school’s required minimum GPA, often 2.0, or if you are dismissed for poor performance. The VA does not pay for courses you fail, so you must repay any benefits received for a failed class.
Monitor your GPA. If you are experiencing academic difficulties, immediately use any free tutoring services available through the VRC or the campus learning center. Do not wait until midterm grades are posted. Being proactive in this area helps protect your benefits, VA and otherwise.
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Avoid Academic Burnout
When going back to school after an absence, it’s easy to overestimate your ability to commit to a college program. Some veterans may feel compelled to take the maximum course load immediately. While showing initiative, doing so may complicate a return to school and civilian life overall. Avoid over-enrollment in the first two semesters.
Be sure to factor in time for family, part-time work, and transition stress. Overloading your schedule leads to burnout and poor grades.
Start with a more manageable schedule to establish the right academic habits and resource use. You may increase your course load after achieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your first year.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
