<p>I've been cruising this site for quite a while and I thought it was time to start asking questions so here goes:
I'm a USMC veteran from 2006-2010. I began working right after my EAS b/c I have a family (wife, but no kids) and had to pay the bills. Now I'm in good position to continue with my undergrad eduction. Unfortunately back in HS I got a D in a second level foreign language course (wasn't me - totally the instructor which was different from my first year where I got an A and I wasn't the only one who got screwed, but I'm not here to complain) and therefore don't meet the LOTE (Language other than english) requirement to attend state schools here in California. So I have 2 options: 1. Apply/attend a private 4 year or 2. Go to community college for 2 years and then transfer to either a public or private institution. </p>
<p>The greatest thing would be to graduate without any student loan debt which is 100% possible if I go to a public university or a combo of community and the public 4 year and I don't mind attending community for a couple years if in the end it makes no difference. But one of my main questions is should I use my Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits during community college, or should I save it to have months left over after my undergrad? I plan to work part-time (my employer has already agreed) if I went to community and my wife will be working too.</p>
<p>Another question to this would be if I get accepted to one of the privates I applied to, would it be worth it financially to attend? What I seem to be finding out is that while the FAFSA doesn't count the G.I. benefits as income, a private university does and they hold that against you when determining financial aid. It blows b/c it means that I'd be getting 17.5k/yr from the VA + BAH and all that I would otherwise not be getting if I hadn't joined the military, but the Private college then won't award me any more grants or scholarships and will instead give it to the student next to me who did not join the military. Again, I'm not complaining, but just stating that that is how the system is and then would it be worth it for me to attend if even with my VA education benefits I would still be getting about the same amount of aid as any other student and will still owe the same amount as if I had just not gone into the military at all. . .</p>
<p>I'm a little worried already on the privates issue b/c I was deferred from EA to RD from the one that I thought I had the best chance at and am waiting for 2 others that I applied to RD.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance to everyone for the advice!</p>
<p>You don’t say what major you are interested in or whether the private schools will give you a better outcome than the publics (or vice versa). All things being equal, go for the solution which gives you a degree with no student loans. It sounds like that would be the Community College first and then the 4 year Public University because of the second language. You don’t necessarily have to spend the full 2 years in the Community College though so look at all the options.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is relevant, but did you learn a second language while in the service? Would that help you get into the 4-year right away? Perhaps a discussion with an admission counselor would be helpful.</p>
<p>So based on my experience of Community College + transfer to private school I would say that going to a private is the way to go. Note that going to a Community College did me some good as far as getting accepted to some very competitive schools. That said the thing you have left out is the yellow ribbon scholarship. Find a private school that gives good yellow ribbon money and you should be able to graduate without debt. </p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the GI Bill Web Site | The Home for All Educational Benefits Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs](<a href=“http://gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yrp/yrp_list_2011.htm]Welcome”>http://gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yrp/yrp_list_2011.htm)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the replies!
xraymancs - sorry, you’re right, I did not mention intended majors. I would try to double major for sure with Accounting and Political Science/International Relations. Accounting would give me the best ooptions for career advancement especially at where I work now and the whole polisci/ir thing interests me mainly because of my military experiences. I figure lean on accounting major and if I can fit in polisci then great, otherwise I could minor or something. So, would that make all too much of a difference between my options? I think I was thinking generically when mentioning transferring in 2 years, I know and would definitely go for the least amount of time possible. I currently have no other college credits other than what may/may not be awarded to me through mil exp. Through 2 deployments to Iraq Arabic language was heavy. Studied with my squad/fire team almost every night for months leading up to my first deployment, but unfortunately nothing official like in a school where I recieved credit or a certificate of some sort. Some Marines from my unit were sent to DLI (Defense Language Institute), but very few as seats were limited and it gets expensive for the military to send ppl. I could try to self study and test out of the basic year, but that would take a bit of time esp since I havebn’t really used it in the last year.</p>
<p>UTPG1234 - I have certainly looked into the yellow ribbon programs as an option. However, more often than not the spaces for the program are limited and not at all guaranteed. For example at the private I was defrerred from, they have 5 spots with a waiting list of about 15. List is first come first serve so if I attended I could put my name up there, but if all those 15 ppl were sophomores as I was a freshman, then most likely I wouldn’t even get the program until my senior year. The attitude I have been told to take with the program is that it’s great to have if you can get it, but don’t depend on it as much as you would your other G.I. Bill benefits.</p>
<p>Thanks again and if you have anything else to add then I’m willing to listen . . . er, read.</p>
<p>Re: Yellow Ribbon, just keep looking at schools on the list. I am choosing to go to Dartmouth because they grant every veteran $15,000 on the GI Bill. There are a lot of great schools that can support every veteran.</p>
<p>It might be too late for this year, but for applying look at the Leadership Scholar Program. Here is the link:
[Home</a> Page - Leadership Scholar Program](<a href=“Leadershipscholarprogram.com”>Leadershipscholarprogram.com)
Certain schools have spots set aside for Marines getting out or already out every year. Just fill out the application, on the site, and you should get an email from a lady named Beth Morgan. She is really helpful with the application process and can even give you advice.</p>
<p>Here are the requirements:
The LSP requires the following:</p>
<p>You must be an active duty, reserve or veteran Marine who is planning to attend a school as a freshman or transfer student.</p>
<p>If you are an active duty Marine, you must be honorably discharging before the beginning of the school semester.</p>
<p>You must have a recommendation from your chain of command, and an AFQT score of 70 or higher and a GT score of 115 or higher.</p>
<p>You must also be a High School graduate. High School equivalencies, such as the GED, will not be considered. </p>
<p>With most applications you will be asked to submit the following:
(1) One copy of High School transcripts (Unofficial).
(2) One copy of College transcripts (Unofficial).
(3) SMART transcripts.
(4) Certified true copies of NAVMC 118 (3); (11); AND (12).
(5) Certified true copies of ROS, BIR, BTR, AWARDS PAGE, AND EDUCATION RECORD (TEDU).
(6) Letter of Recommendation from OR phone/email of your commanding officer or any officer for whom you have worked.</p>
<p>I was accepted into Dartmouth, and I believe that is because they have slots for Marines through the LSP.</p>
<p>funk, thanks a lot for sharing. However, before I even clicked on the link I see I don’t qualify. My GT was like 108 or 110 or somewhere right around there, but I know for sure it was below 115. I noticed there are two schools in CA that I’d be interested in. One says it does not guarantee admission through the LSP (but takes applications) and the other had a deadline of January 1st, so I’ll note that for next year depending on my school situation at that time. The LSP sure sounds like an amazing thing though. I never even heard about this, so thanks again for bringing it to my attention and other veterans that may lurk this site.</p>