Hey folks, I've recently come across the term 'military-friendly online colleges'. What does this mean exactly? And how do these colleges support military students differently compared to traditional online colleges? Any insight would be super appreciated.
"Military-friendly" colleges go beyond just accepting GI Bill benefits. They actively work to accommodate the unique needs and circumstances faced by military students. Many of these colleges provide special initiatives, services, and programs specific to military students. Here are some ways these colleges support their military students:
1. Flexible scheduling: Many military-friendly institutions offer asynchronous or self-paced courses. It allows you to complete your coursework at a time and pace that works best for your military commitments and timezone differences.
2. Military tuition assistance: Some colleges go beyond accepting GI Bill benefits and offer additional aid, discounts, scholarships, or waive certain fees for military students.
3. Generous credit for military experience: Many military-friendly colleges award academic credit for training or experiences received during service. This can substantially reduce the amount of time and cost it takes to earn a degree.
4. Deployment policies: These colleges have policies in place to support students who are deployed or relocated in the middle of a term. Such policies may allow military students to withdraw without penalty, receive an incomplete grade with extended time to complete coursework, or in some cases, allow them to continue their coursework while deployed.
5. Veteran services and support: They often have dedicated offices or staff responsible for helping military students navigate their educational journey, understand their benefits, and connect with resources.
6. Career and counseling services: They may also provide specialized career services to help military students transition into the civilian job market. Moreover, they recognize the unique experiences and challenges of military students, and as such, may provide access to mental health resources specifically tailored to their needs.
Remember, not all colleges marked as "military-friendly" will offer the same level of support or have the same kind of military-focused programs. It's important to evaluate each college individually to ensure it meets your unique needs.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.