Hello All!
First, a little background information on myself before my question. I graduated high school in 2004 and enlisted in the Army when I turned 18. While I have been in the Army I have complied a few modest accomplishments. I will be getting out of the Army early in 2014 and would like to attend college in the fall of 2014. I currently take college courses online through Liberty University and have amassed approximately 30 credit hours with a 3.8ish GPA. High School is a completely different story, almost didn’t graduate and scored 1080 on the SAT.
Basically, my question boils down to what can I do to improve my chances of getting into a good college once I get out of the Army. For a nontraditional student as myself there are no clubs or National Honors Society, or are there? What would an admissions counselor want to see on my admissions paperwork besides college and military accomplishments? What type of things would set me apart from other candidates and what type of things would distinguish myself from other military applicants? I have plenty of leisure time so I can devote time to activities that will help me down the road.
Thank you very much for your time and help,
JJ
[Columbia</a> GS | School of General Studies | Columbia University in the City of New York](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/]Columbia”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/)
This school at Columbia is
“created specifically for returning and nontraditional students seeking a rigorous, traditional, Ivy League undergraduate degree full or part time.”
here is a link to a recent NYTimes article about Columbia’s school of General Studies and veterans
[New</a> York Times Profiles GS’s Admissions Outreach to Veterans | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/news-school?article=new-york-times-profiles-gs-admissions-outreach-veterans]New”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/news-school?article=new-york-times-profiles-gs-admissions-outreach-veterans)
and this is from the GS website for veterans
Military Veterans
U.S. Military Veterans at Columbia GS
GS has been educating military veterans for over 60 years. Since World War II, the School of General Studies has served veterans who interrupted their educations to serve their country. Like these military service women and men, most of the 1,500 students at GS have, for personal or professional reasons, interrupted their education, never attended college, or can only attend part-time. They bring a wealth of life experience to the classroom, and contribute in a unique way to the diversity and cultural richness of the University.
GS is pleased to announce its participation in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program. The scope of benefits provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program will make a traditional Columbia education accessible to eligible veterans, regardless of socio-economic status, who wish to pursue a rigorous undergraduate degree program.
[Military</a> Veterans | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/military-veterans]Military”>U.S. Military Veterans | School of General Studies)
Aim High and Good Luck!