I’m 24 years and I am falling college I am still a freshman and I’m 3 years in college. I also been reinstated back to my school after being dismissed. I’m currently struggling on what to do. I also have no financial aid helping me with college so I have to pay out of pocket which also leads me to work a part time and do part time school. Long story short I don’t know if I should keep trying after all the time I wasted in school, I don’t want to be in college for 5 years or more and struggle with money just to get my degree (information technology 4 year degree) so I’m thinking of joining the army and build my IT experience that I already have and just go for certifications …
Do it. If you are serious about joining the Army, and you think that it is something that you WANT to do, not just because of the circumstances, then do it. Plus, there’s a ton of scholarships for veterans. Consider it carefully. But looking at your profile, I would go for it.
Good Luck Soldier!
Don’t join unless you want to serve otherwise. And, you need to take the ASVAB to see if you score high enough for an IT MOS. You will find many others who joined in similar shoes and have the GI Bill when you get out. There are also opportunities for college on Active Duty and you could use GI Bill for grad school.
But, go slow. If you walk into a recruiter’s office, they will try to convince you to sign up on the spot.
If I were you I would do Air Force instead. I served in the Army National Guard for 8 years including one deployment. If I would do it again I would have done Air Force instead. It seems like they are more easy-going than the stupid stuff I’ve seen when I was in the Army.
The reason I choose National Guard is because you can get called for stateside national disasters or called up for foreign wars. As soon as you complete Basic Training and Advance Individual Training (AIT) you are eligible to start using the GI Bill. So I started college right after I completed those two requirements.
If you are worried about being deployed join the Army Reserves because they are non-deployable.
That is not correct about Army Reserves being non-deployable
If you’ve been dismissed once, returned, and are still failing, a four year college isn’t right for you. Look for careers that don’t require a BS/BA. Whether that’s the army or something else, I don’t know.
The Army is currently paying bonuses to enlistees who go into IT and cybersecurity MOSes. I think the military will provide you the self-discipline and focus you currently lack in order to be successful. If you want to serve, the benefits are very good.
I actually think joining the military seems like an excellent idea for you. Are you prepared to serve for at least four years? If so, go for it.
Yes, as others said remember that there are five armed services in the U.S. - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. There are probably IT positions in each one, so I’d think carefully about which one you want to join. (Nothing wrong with the Army - I have some family members who have served or are currently serving in the Army, Marines and Air Force, and some friends in the Navy.)
If you are still a freshman, then it will take you longer than 2 years to graduate - particularly if you are only doing college part-time. The armed forces may be a good way for you to get a job, learn some skills, and learn the discipline and organization you need to finish. You can also use the G.I. Bill to finish college after you get out of the military (or potentially earn some credits towards your degree in the military, too).
There is Tuition Assistance while you are on Active Duty. The rules vary by service. Each service also has a different culture that should be considered as noted.
I will say that while some join the military to gain discipline, it’s not a good fit for someone who is always fighting the system or doesn’t do well with structure. Can you develop discipline? Absolutely. Is it an easy process? No and it’s harder for those who don’t like structure.
Of course, hoping @jjcar247 is still around at this point.
I, personally, cannot really offer you insightful advice on what to go for as I’m not very familiar with what comes with going into the Army. However, I can offer you another perspective on your whole situation - that being that maybe information technology is not the right field for you. Think about your field of study. Do you GENUINELY like to study information technology? Because if you don’t, then choose some other field (you should have done that before but it’s not too late). Ask yourself all these questions: Why were you failing? Is it because you were just being lazy/slacking off or is it because you simply were not interested in what you were studying? I would rather spend 10 years figuring out and getting a degree in what I love than the next 50 years doing something that I’m not happy doing. Have you considered community colleges? They might be a cheaper alternative to get your degree.
Often, it’s not that college is not right for someone but rather that you don’t exactly know what to study and how to go about your life which is why it’s very important to honestly talk with your college academic advisors from time to time. A college degree does have immense benefits and pays off in the long term.
The military is a whole different path. It’s a big life decision. You’ll have to be very physically fit, motivated, and pass the Basic Combat Training Test. Going into the army involves strict discipline. Have you talked to your family about it? Are you ready for Army food? Are you mentally strong? Can you follow orders that you may disagree with because of your own views? Can you follow unpredictable schedules? Are you ready to wake up early? Are you ready to suffer possible injury or death? Have you considered Army ROTC programs?
I’m not trying to scare you. The Army may be a great option for you. I don’t know. But you should take some time and carefully think about everything before you join the Army. I think you should join the Army if you WANT TO join the Army NOT because you have messed up in college and now don’t know what to do.
And also, whatever you decide to do, put your heart and soul into it. There’s a lesson in every failure. Learn your lesson and don’t make the same mistake again.
I, personally, cannot really offer you insightful advice on what to go for as I’m not very familiar with what comes with going into the Army. However, I can offer you another perspective on your whole situation - that being that maybe information technology is not the right field for you. Think about your field of study. Do you GENUINELY like to study information technology? Because if you don’t, then choose some other field (you should have done that before but it’s not too late). Ask yourself all these questions: Why were you failing? Is it because you were just being lazy/slacking off or is it because you simply were not interested in what you were studying? I would rather spend 10 years figuring out and getting a degree in what I love than the next 50 years doing something that I’m not happy doing. Have you considered community colleges? They might be a cheaper alternative to get your degree.
Often, it’s not that college is not right for someone but rather that you don’t exactly know what to study and how to go about your life which is why it’s very important to honestly talk with your college academic advisors from time to time. A college degree does have immense benefits and pays off in the long term.
The military is a whole different path. It’s a big life decision. You’ll have to be very physically fit, motivated, and pass the Basic Combat Training Test. Going into the army involves strict discipline. Have you talked to your family about it? Are you ready for Army food? Are you mentally strong? Can you follow orders that you may disagree with because of your own views? Can you follow unpredictable schedules? Are you ready to wake up early? Are you ready to suffer possible injury or death? Have you considered Army ROTC programs?
I’m not trying to scare you. The Army may be a great option for you. I don’t know. But you should take some time and carefully think about everything before you join the Army. I think you should join the Army if you WANT TO join the Army NOT because you have messed up in college and now don’t know what to do.
And also, whatever you decide to do, put your heart and soul into it. There’s a lesson in every failure. Learn your lesson and don’t make the same mistake again.