Marines,

How did you pay for college after the USMC?

For me, I saved up about $12,000 before I got out and put some of it away and lived on the other stuff I kept...I got a simple landscaping job and paid the bills making 13.01 an hour (2001). I also got the GI Bill kicker for $600.-it was a great return...150 dollars extra a month on top of the GI Bill basic rate full time.

I then joined the Army Reserve and got them to pay 100 percent of my tuition while I was a drilling reservist and then began taking classes at my local CC. I did this until 2002 and I racked up about 30 credits without having to touch the GI Bill or alot of my savings...besides books and supplies..I did this while going to work full time and Army Reserve. I got called up and went overseas to Kosovo where I saved even more money (tax free combat zone pay) for the eventual transfer to a four year university.

After completing that deployment I got accepted into a four year university. I paid my tution bill with the Army Reserve TA and paid my living expenses up front with my savings (yeah I was in a dorm). I then began to draw my GI bill and saved some for books and for personal expenses as well as next semesters living expenses. I got called up again after two semesters of college and went on deployment again. I had about 60 credits of school by then...no loans yet and I was in the black.

While on deployment (GTMO-lucky I know) I took 3 classes which I made sure transferred back. While AD Army as a Reservist I got TA once again, and I bought used books. I came home injured (training accident) and had about 70 credits or so...with money in the bank...this time I needed a loan..so I took one out for the minimum amount to pay for housing and a semester of college. I then became eligible for Pell grants according to my earnings and I still had GI Bill left...I was a junior in college with only 4000 in loans...not bad..I took the summer off from work (having saved up my GI Bill for summer expenses), took some online courses at my university and drew the GI bill at the half time rate (paid the car payment and insurance). I also had 1000 dollars and paid my sister to live at her place for the summer.

In the fall, I then became an RA (dorm housing paid for plus food) and was still eligible for Pell grants and the GI Bill...I then started to receive VA disability payments for my back. I graduated later and was about 5000 in the hole for a degree.

Not bad....so what helped me was to save up my own money, and having a budget. Also it helped and know the system of financial aid and the GI Bill and make friends with the fin-aid office...plus dont be afraid to go to CC either...

-about 4 yrs in the clasroom.

-almost 6 yrs total to graduate.
*two deployments totalling 22 months.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FormerEmbassyMarine,

Well, I'm an old fart. I went to school when tuition was measured in the Hundreds of Dollars (1960s) rather than Tens of Thousands of Dollars. I think a year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) goes for something like $43,000 these days.

So money wasn't such a big deal then. I did have to work during my summer vacations (third shift at the local Aircraft engine plant...talk about screwing up your summer vacation) and I pretty much depleted my savings while in school. I also qualified for a few academic scholarships, most of which just barely managed to help me keep up with the escalating tuition rates. Each year the rates went up. I must have gone to school just at the time that colleges started to dramatically increase their rates. Of course the big money saver was I went to a local college and lived at home. Room and board provided by Mom at no cost to me.

I started my freshman year less than two weeks after being released from active duty. Let me tell you about culture shock! From active duty Marine to Freshman engineering student in less than two weeks.

College classes at Camp Lejeune given by East Carolina University (free!) helped, but most colleges are reluctant to accept credit from other schools (at least in my experience).

G.I. bill education allotment in those days was a paltry $100/month, but I was very grateful for whatever they paid.

- LarSim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: larsim,

Took several classes while still on active duty, so that was free, then when I switched to the reserves I used my GI Bill/Pel Grant/OTAG and a few small scholarships to pay.

Thought I was going to go on the GI Bill. After enrolling was told the GI Bill was only good for ten years. I had been out eleven.

Student Loans plus worked two parttime jobs during the school year and one fulltime and two parttime jobs during the summer.

If I had stayed at the post office I would be making more now than I make as a teacher.

I never went to college, I have no desire to do so. I met so many people who went to college because it was the expected thing to do.

I do encourage one to go, as it opens many more doors for a normal life and all its expectations.

My life is far from a normal existance, I define it- and what my end result will be- not some University of how to think and why, for those that may want to buy into it.

Sometimes I think marraige and college are some of the best marketed scams out there, as you pay a huge investment, and often find the end result is often debt- and the result of each future promise often never meeting one expectations as the years pass.


I always said about college when people asked me if and where I went, on first conversations (to establish a social pecking order), "I never went, as I refuse to indebt
myself to the idea of being an educated man."

To each there own.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shaneo,

I just paid as I went. Took classes as I could afford them. VEAP when I was in, basically worthless. I'm glad I went but I ended up staying with the comapany I was with all the time. Funny, there are several college grads working on the production floor, can't find work in thier field so they work where they can make money. I'd say be careful about what you go to college for. Dude I went to high school with has a degree in marine biology, he just can't seem to understand why he can't find work in Indiana. Ron White says " you can't fix stupid" I would add " even with college "

quote:

How did you pay for college after the USMC?

I didn't, paying for a "semester" from my wages, before going active.

...then having an illuminating moment on a bright sunny day: I dropped out and joined the Marines.

..after 4 years I got on with my destined / connected career ...but I didn't know what it would be in my early years ...not until about age 28.

...with a few college credits ...and no degree!

Here at 59 and change, I'm still about it ...maybe at 62, 65 or 70 I will start SS and "retirement".

I, a "mere" HS graduate: I like what I do for work in the trades and crafts.

I am self taught and suck up to no one.

Sf,
--Erl,

(Gamma Delta Iota, which translated is "God Damned Inedependent")

Follow your bliss. Your heart, and where it leads you, is one thing. Beyond fun and the moment: make good decisions, for your future, with good mindedness.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SemperSignsdotcom,

Some of the old GI Bill (about a year) until the VA Voc Rehab came through, then it was the VA "work study" program, Voc Rehab, military retirement and a part time job on weekends/holidays. Got 'er done in 3 years. Of course, it helped that I had taken the CLEPS and had some college classes under my belt from active duty.

I was able to get 2 yrs completed by the time I eas'ed (Had some college before I went in)

I had my company pay for the remainder 2 yrs of my Undergrad and pocketed the GI Bill money!

I am about to start my MBA and have 2 yrs left on the GI Bill, my company is paying for the MBA so I will be pocketing the GI Bill again.

Did the GI Bill a couple semesters at the local college, hated it (the school).Then got voc-rehab so went to a tech school getting my AS & BS degrees.

This is dated info from a previous post. I was out in '67. Things have changed.

Here is my previous post:

I received $321.00 a month and college in the California State system was free to residents. The G.I. bill was extended to 5 years paid benefits for Vietnam Vets. I was solicited by a peer counselor from El Camino Junior College that let me know that I had to use it or lose it within 10 years of discharge.

I had no idea. I used all 5 years and I wish I had bothered to at least commit to memory the name of the cute little blonde that walked me through everything.

Thanks kid, it served me well!

Give 'em whatever it takes.

I worked full time nights and went 12 credit hours a semester and both summer school sessions for 5 full years.

No regrets.

I encourage and support anything that will educate anyone that served their country, particularly during times many would say were best forgotten.

I'll add that I was a second shift Foreman in a plastic bottle factory in Torrance, CA. working a 45 hour week the entire time. I was married at the time (my wife has since passed away and I am re-married)and lived in Hermosa Beach, CA. I won't tell you that it was not difficult at times, but if you have the resolve and realize what doors will open with a higher education, it is worth it. Do whatever it takes.

I am now an Engineer with DRS Technologies, soon to be the 9th largest defense contractor in the world. I am proud of what I and my company does. We are in direct support of the present war. I am in the manufacturing arm of Sustainment Systems Inc. Visit our web site at www.drs.com

Semper Fidelis

I used my GI Bill at a community college and pocketed a lot while getting my A.A. degree.

My last semester there I got a scholarship to a 4 year university and that plus my GI Bill covered everything. I'm truly blessed in that.

I just graduated with my B.S. last Monday. Yahoo!!

I began my school career in 99, worked in construction full time and took classes at night for three years, at which time I received my AAS. Then decided I wanted to try the "big time" at the local University. Kept working full time but between the wife, a house note, car note and, tuition I now have my BFA and a huge monthly college bill. Some one said that if I go back and get my masters they'll put my loan payment on hold!

It was easy I collected Vic beer cans.

quote:

I just graduated with my B.S.

Thanks guys......

I used my GI Bill with a kicker, savings from being deployed to Iraq, Savings Bonds while I was in Active duty, Pell Grants, student loans. Covered all the college costs this past two years which comes to $23,000 a year here in Ramapo College of New Jersey!!! (I live on campus) I feel lucky that I don't have to work at all and I can focus in Nursing classes which is a bit intense sometimes. My savings and bonds covered all the other expenses car, insurance, entertainment etc.

i used my GI Bill, went to community college for almost 2 years prior to transferring, i worked a bit, i applied for all the grants and scholarships i could get and i spent most of my savings.

now i have 85 credits and i don't have a dime in student loans. i only stopped because i was getting married and needed to work full time for awhile to pay for the wedding. someday i'll finish, but at least to finish i won't go too far into the red.

Using my GI BIll plus got the kicker. I use that as spending money to pay bills etc because I also got a full ride scholarship through ROTC. Plus I get 400 month stipend from ROTC. If you are thinking about going back in I'd get a ROTC scholarship. You wont have to work at all except during the summer. Ironically enough the summer is when I'm the poorest. Well depending on how many bulls I cover. If I ride alot I'm rich ******. If I buck off I'm a poor hobo on the side of the road. "can I have a penny sir."

I used my GI Bill. I kicked myself for not signing up for the kicker. Since I already paid too much tuition per semester, I took as many classes as I was allowed to take. I also took summer classes. Like FormerEmbassyMarine said, I had a budget and I stuck to it.
I pretty much had no life. I managed to complete my bachelor degree in 2.5 years with no debt. I still have some money left in my GI Bill if I want to go back for my MBA. I have until 2010 before my GI Bill expires.

Very interesting comments and a real eye opener. I retired in Aug 75, enrolled for 2-3 classes at USC Pueblo. Each semester increased the load until I was going full time.
Had a full time job as a Veterans Rep. with Dept. of Labor, heavy involvement in politics but with hard work, study etc., degreed in psychology, sociology.
GI Bill paid for everything, bought used text books. Hired a tutor for some classes in trig, algebra which was paid for by VA. Had a good time. Lot of work, lot of fun being a 38 year old freshman. Semper Fidelis. Blackcoat.

The GI Bill gave me ~$400 a month since I was enrolled fulltime. I supplemented this by working as a rent-a-cop during the graveyard shift for $5.25 an hour in 1992. Best job for working student. I studied at work though it takes a lot of discipline to figure out partial differential equation at 4 in the morning. To save money, I took most of the bullzhit classes at the local community college. Money was very tight. Not much money for beer or eating out but I had a LOOONG term goal. I’ll sacrifice now and party later.

I was a business major until math and science started making sense. I finished my BS in Mechanical engineering in 6 years – I was 30 years old. Not bad for a high school drop out!!!

GI Bill stopped during my junior year and I had no choice but to borrow money. Got to do what you got to do to make both ends meet. I did quit working as a security and worked as an intern for Halliburton. The pay was good but the experience was priceless.

My MBA was paid for by Halliburton and my current employer. At $2,000 a class, 17 classes to complete, you do the math. My last class cost $5,525. Ouch!!! I’m glad I did not pay for it.


Congrat frmr8511. Walking in front of your friends and family will wet your eyes. It happened to me.


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