Hey everyone, I've been thinking about the military route after high school and I've heard something about earning military credits? Is that a thing? And if so, how does it translate into college credits?
Yes, it's absolutely possible to earn credits from your military experience that can be translated into college credits. This is one of the great benefits of military service.
How it works is basically like this: The American Council on Education (ACE) assesses military training and experiences and assigns them recommended college credit equivalencies. These can include both general education and elective courses. Certain specific job training, like medical or technical, can earn you even more focused credits in those areas.
Colleges and universities then determine how they’ll accept these recommended credits. It’s important to know each institution has its own policies, so what one college may accept, another one may not. Therefore, it’s crucial to speak with a college admissions counselor or a veterans services representative at your college of interest about which military credits they will accept. This may influence where you decide to apply or attend.
You can apply for these credits using your Joint Service Transcript (JST), which is a document that outlines all your military training and experiences that can be translated into college credits.
Remember to also consider programs specifically designed for veterans. For example, some colleges and universities are part of the Yellow Ribbon Program. This allows U.S. veterans to attend or receive degrees from higher education institutions, with costs that may exceed the benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
So, in short, yes, serve your country and advance your education at the same time. That's a pretty sweet arrangement!
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