Hi guys, I'm all set to join military after high school but I also want to get my college degree someday. I heard somewhere that the military experience might count towards a degree. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks in advance!
Sure, that's a great question! Many higher education institutions in the U.S. do recognize the skills and training you receive in the military and may award college credit for it. This can help you complete your degree faster once you start college.
The American Council on Education (ACE) is a national organization that evaluates military training and experiences for college credit recommendations. ACE works with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences and recommends equivalent college credits. Universities and colleges can choose to accept these credit recommendations.
You can find potential credit equivalents through the ACE's Military Guide. The Military Guide is an online database that relates military occupations and training to corresponding college credits.
To transfer your credits, you'll need to order a Joint Services Transcript (JST), which provides a description of your military schooling and work history. The JST provides a consolidated record of all your military training and experiences, along with ACE's credit recommendations. Colleges will review your JST to determine how many credits they can transfer.
The exact number of credits you receive will depend on the school and your particular military experience. It's important to research how prospective schools award this type of credit. Universities may place a limit on the number of credits they accept from military training or may only accept certain types of military training for credit.
Remember, while many institutions award credit for military training, the acceptance of these credits is ultimately up to the individual college or university. Be sure to check with the admissions office of your desired schools to understand their specific policies and process for military credit transfer.
Finally, it's also worth noting that the U.S. military offers several educational benefits, such as the GI Bill, which can significantly reduce the cost of earning your degree after your service. This could be another valuable path to consider. Good luck!
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