Hey all. I'm thinking about joining the military right after school, and later, accomplish my degree. Can military experience be accounted toward college credits in certain courses or fields? What are some of the universities known to acknowledge military experience when considering admissions?
Sure, joining the military and then going to college afterward can be a good plan for many individuals. In fact, many colleges acknowledge military experience in unique ways.
Firstly, many universities do indeed recognize military training and experiences as transferable college credits. This is usually done through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) which translates military training and experiences into college credits. The American Council on Education (ACE) actually helps in making these translations for conventional academic subjects.
As for schools that are known to be military-friendly, Arizona State University (ASU), Syracuse University, Georgetown University, University of Southern California (USC), and University of Maryland-Global Campus (UMGC) are just a few that might consider your military experience in the process of admissions. These universities have programs or resources in place that are designed to support veterans in their transition to college. They may also offer credit for military training, provide resources for veterans, and may be more understanding of the unique needs of student-veterans, such as flexibility if you're deployed.
However, while the above gives you a good starting point, I highly recommend reaching out directly to universities you are interested in. They can provide more detailed information on how they might credit your military experiences.
And remember, beyond just allowing transfer credits, your military service can contribute significantly to your personal and character development, which can be reflected in your personal statements and essays. Make sure to highlight these experiences when you start your college application process later on.
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