<p>Hello,
I have been reading a ton of threads on this forum but haven't been able to find anywhere that specifically deals with my situation. I did fairly well in High School, I got accepted to UCLA and UCSD but my parents could not afford to send me and rather than face student loans I joined the military. Fast forward four years and I deployed to Afghanistan as EOD, long story short an LT stepped on an IED right next to me and 10 surgeries and tons of physical therapy later, I'm getting medically retired. I scored a 2030 on my SAT I, 730 on my lit SAT II. I am currently attending AMU (american military university) and am two courses away from earning an AS and have 3.7 gpa. For more background my degree is in EOD (random I know) but I plan to go into the medical field. Question being: what colleges would I be competitive for with my current scores and a Purple Heart/military experience? Also, does it matter that my SAT's are 5 years old as a transfer student? I have been reading a lot about programs like the Eli Whitney Program at Yale and a few other non standard programs, does anyone have ny advice or recommendations as far as these are concerned. Also, since AMU is a completely online school how much a pain is it going to be to transfer credit if at all? That being said, should I apply as a transfer or try to find a non standard program? Any and all advice would be appreciated, I've been out of the game for so long and just getting started with everything going on in my life is slightly overwhelming! Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m fairly new to posting on these threads but I think I might be able to give you at least a little insight.</p>
<p>AMU/APUS is regionally accredited, which means they aren’t just a diploma mill. From what I’ve heard, regional accreditation is harder to get than national. Depending on it’s curriculum, the school that you eventually go to will have to make a decision on whether they will allow those credits to transfer. I really have no idea what will carry over, but I would guess a good amount of the core classes would. With an Associates, I don’t believe your SAT scores will be needed, and you may not even have to send them. </p>
<p>I know UPenn has the College for Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS), which is aimed for non-traditional students and is supposedly easier to get into. Columbia has the School of General Studies, Brown has the Resumed Undergraduate Education Program (if you’ve been out of high school for 6 years), etc. These make it easier for returning adults to get an Ivy education. If you are a Marine, Upenn LPS is also part of the Marine Leadership Scholar Program, where you would only have to compete against other Marines, not a larger pool of applicants.</p>
<p>The Non traditional programs may limit you slightly because they are (to my knowledge) restricted to certain colleges (degree programs) and it may be hard to transfer to a different college within the university.</p>
<p>I think with your GPA, background history and whatever recommendations you can get/essay you write, any college would have a tough time denying you. It may be my personal opinion, but I’d like to think top tier colleges see a hard working individual/veteran (like yourself), who they know will attribute greatly to their school, and actively try to pursue them. </p>
<p>Some people on here know better than I the amount of veterans at the Ivies (low-non existent apparently), but I think that has slightly more to due with veterans not going after them.</p>
<p>Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.</p>
<p>apply to a mix of non-trad/trad programs…your story is a compelling one and I imagine you’ll do great in the application cycle. I think Columbia-GS makes a strong match and will get you a degree from an amazing institution…may as well do Penn-LPS as well for the non-trad ivy programs, Yale Eli Whitney as a true reach…(I predict Penn/Columbia acceptances)</p>
<p>Given that you have access to post 9/11 and the yellow ribbon program I think you would be a good candidate for Brown…just apply via normal avenues as it’s easier to get in than via RUE…DO NOT apply for financial aid to Brown (traditional undergrad) and I predict 80% chance you are in there! </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me with any questions…I just went through the transfer app cycle as merely a national guard vet and had amazing luck with acceptances…my point is aim very high as veteran status is appreciated by adcoms.</p>