For those on here who went to college after completing active duty, how did you go about getting into college. Because joining after highschool, your going to forget a whole lot of stuff so I was wondering how you guys went about it. did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

-thanks in advance

That would depend on the person. There is no set standard for how to do it.

There is some testing they do at most schools to see how you are in general education. Depending on how you do on that, plus anything that can be transfered over to collage credit, will effect if there are generals you have to do before your main area of study. That also can very on what you are doing for school. I went for my mechanic degree and didn't have any generals anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

I did it that way. Parking and classes also cost a lot less at a CC, then at a 4-year university.

quote:

Originally posted by HollywoodMarine:

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

I did it that way. Parking and classes also cost a lot less at a CC, then at a 4-year university.

+1 Me too.

You usually have to take what is called a Placement Test to see how you score in each area: Reading, Writing, and Math. Your first classes are based off of those scores. After you complete any remedial courses you might need based off of said scores, you're off to taking what you need to take to complete your degree.

This, of course, is if you have been out of school for awhile. I went back to college after two enlistments.

I got my AA at a Community College and then transferred to a four-year university to finish my BS.

The best move I ever made was starting at a Community College.

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
For those on here who went to college after completing active duty, how did you go about getting into college. Because joining after highschool, your going to forget a whole lot of stuff so. . .

Heck, even if you become a college puke straight out of HS, it doesn't ment you'll be fully prepared for college. That's regardless of what knowledge you have. Besides Knowledge is fixed, knowing is continual (-Bruce Lee).

You're more or less starting from square one when you become a college puke, whether you begin at 18 or 23.

I joined before I became a college puke. My class valedectorian started college before me obviously. But I finished before her! She decided boys and working at McDonald's (to become a regional manager one day) is more important. This was a person who was educationally ranked many times higher than me when we graduated!

Nothing overtly wrong with what my classmate did (at least she had some semblence of direction after dropping out from college), but my point is, even people with "smarts" are NOT ready for college or can finish it when they start (that's regardless of whether they have the means to pay for it or not. My friend had a scholarships to pay for her school).

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I was wondering how you guys went about it. did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

Community college is a good start if you want to save a little money. Just be advised: the atmosphere at some JCs is like the "13th, 14th and 15th Grades." If you're a disciplined person (regardless of whether you served or not), you'll avoid those KIDS who treat it as such (except in the classroom of course, no way you can avoid them there) otherwise, you'll spend more time in the JC than needed.

Like was already said, where you become a college puke will depend on you: what your plans are; where you've applied; and other things.

So what's your plans?

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

+2
Didn't join the Corps until I was 21 so I had a real late start 26 when I started college. I did 2 years at a C.C. receiving an associates degree, then onto a university for another 3 1/2 years (had to hold down a full time job, otherwise it would only have been about 2), receiving my bachelors. Currently applying for grad school starting next year.
If you know you are weak in a certain subject take a couple of remedial classes to get you up to speed, otherwise jump in head first.

+3

when I got out, I got started by going down to the local VA Regional office to verify benefits.

Then i went to the local CC and spoke to a counselor and registered as a student.

came back the next day for placement test. i had always struggled with algebra in high school and i tested into a remedial math class. had to take Math 100 prior to taking any math classes for credit. however, the GI Bill still paid me for the class.

went to the Financial Aid office for GI Bill certification. (most CCs and Unis have a VA rep in the Financial aid office to certify eligibility)

went to the book store, bought my books and a month later started class.

not sure if the new GI Bill is different, but I didn't get paid until after i'd been in school for a month or so.

perhaps one of the new GI Bill recipients could chime in on how that end of it works now?

you'll have to declare a major to receive your GI Bill benefit.

if you know what you want as far as a major, great. go for it from day one. i never really knew what i wanted until later so i just took all my core courses first.

I majored in Liberal Arts because it included all your core classes for most other majors. (English, Math, Psych, Art, etc) They didn't offer a general education major, and this was the closest thing.

CC or Junior Colleges are great because they are a lot cheaper and most credits will transfer to a 4 year university.

also, as a transfer student you can get into most any 4 year school because you are a proven student (as long as you make grades) and because you won't be filling up the freshman level courses.

best of luck to you.

The worst mistake you can make is to be intimidated into thinking you will not be able to hang in college.

I was one of the prototypical "smart" high school kids, five AP's and 1430 on the old SAT's, and about a month after graduation I had already forgotten most everything I had learned over the last six years. The vast majority of high school grads are the same way.

Not to mention the average Marine is just as if not more intelligent than the average incoming college freshman, and possesses a huge advantage in maturity, discipline, and managing his own life than they do.

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Originally posted by Funkymustafa:
The worst mistake you can make is to be intimidated into thinking you will not be able to hang in college.

I was one of the prototypical "smart" high school kids, five AP's and 1430 on the old SAT's, and about a month after graduation I had already forgotten most everything I had learned over the last six years. The vast majority of high school grads are the same way.

Not to mention the average Marine is just as if not more intelligent than the average incoming college freshman, and possesses a huge advantage in maturity, discipline, and managing his own life than they do.

At 18 I was not prepared for college. I was not mature enough to handle it. I lacked self confidence. I was poor at time management.

At 22, after 4 years in the Corps, I possesed self confidence knowing I could hang with anyone after spending 4 years in the Corps. I was disciplined enough to follow through in my studies and time management became a stregnth for me instead of a weakness.

All the vets who I had classes with were far more prepared than the average recent high school grad. in fact, it wasn't even close. age is a factor sure, but in the end spending that time in the service molds you into a better individual overall for all walks of life. from my experience, it's rare to see a veteran fail at something he or she fully applies themself to.

Getting onto college is pretty easy...what you do after college is the hard part.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtLtUSMC:
Like was already said, where you become a college puke will depend on you: what your plans are; where you've applied; and other things.

So what's your plans?

Well I did said before in a previous post that I knew what I wanted to major in but now I'm starting to think more about active duty since traveling has always been a goal of mine and I just want to get out my hometown and just explore different places before I decide to go to college and get settled into my chosen career field. On a side note have any of you Marines ever had the luxury of travel while in reserves or is there better opportunity for that on AD?

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
Well I did said before in a previous post that I knew what I wanted to major in but now I'm starting to think more about active duty since traveling has always been a goal of mine and I just want to get out my hometown and just explore different places before I decide to go to college and get settled into my chosen career field. On a side note have any of you Marines ever had the luxury of travel while in reserves or is there better opportunity for that on AD?

Okay, I remember you now.

Anyways, yeah, there is opportunity to travel while in the USMCR, whether during peacetime or war. There are AD periods you can put in for or you can try to put in for an AD excercise (there are many that go on annually).

But if you're in college and you're foucused on that, you're going to be hard pressed to try to find time to volunteer for AD time overseas (other than mobilization that is). Unless of ocurse you take some time off from school.

Looks like you want to get out of your hometown soon. I wouldn't wait a couple of years. I'd go AD, but that's me.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 16325661:
For those on here who went to college after completing active duty, how did you go about getting into college. Because joining after highschool, your going to forget a whole lot of stuff so I was wondering how you guys went about it. did you just go to a community college and took general college level courses or what?

One of my friends attending College in camp Pendleton I think at the USMC College. not much of a college person but I think that what it was called but thinking of going there after AD(active Duty) in some years

I'm going to college now, but I take online classes from Troy University. I like it better that way since I have a full time job and two youngins (that's children, for you non-southern folk). I got out of the Corps three years ago after eight years of active duty. It's just one of those things that you look at and tackle, like any objective.

quote:

Originally posted by hulinmr:
I'm going to college now...

Good to go! Someone with an ejumacation that can support me as a dependent. Mac-n-cheese ok with you... Dear?

I have one last question, if I did one or two years in AD and decided to transfer to the reserves, how many years would I have to obligate to the reserves?

-thank you all in advance

quote:

Originally posted by 16325661:
I have one last question, if I did one or two years in AD and decided to transfer to the reserves, how many years would I have to obligate to the reserves?

Dude... we have 4-6 year AD contracts.

I knew that I was just wondering if you could transfer to the reserves if you want but I guess not. thanks for clearing that up anyway.

Oh, one more thing I forgot to ask. When reserve Marines get deployed for whatever amount of time, do they get payed as much as active duty Marines?

-thanks in advance