Veteran's Keys to Success
To be successful with your education, you first need to ask yourself some questions.
- Why do you want to go to college and earn your degree?
- What career or job title do you hope to have after graduation?
- What degree do you want to pursue that will best prepare you for that career?
- Will a career in your chosen industry require you to earn a graduate degree such as a master’s or doctoral degree in order to be competitive in the field?
- Where do you hope to live?
- Are there jobs in your chosen field in or around the place you want to live?
- What will job demand look like in that industry in five, ten, twenty years?
- Is this a career that I will enjoy?
Once you've come up with the answers, you are ready to start your educational journey.
The following are tips to help you be successful in that journey:
- Set goals, short term and long term.
Reflecting on your personal and professional objectives before enrolling will help you better align your degree program and achieve your goals.
- Understand your benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® enable you to pay for your education. If you do not understand your benefit, you may not get the most out of it. The time you've earned for your benefit is typically enough to complete most bachelor's degrees but only if you use that time wisely. To thoroughly understand it do the following:- Read your Certificate of Eligibility. This is a letter you would have received from the VA showing the educational benefit you're eligible to receive.
- Chose your degree wisely by asking the questions above. Changing degree programs can cost you valuable time from your benefits.
- Register for classes, go to classes, and successfully complete those classes. Withdrawing from classes may not impact your GPA, but it will make you lose those precious months of eligibility.
- Ask for help. Seminole State has support for our students.
- Apply for financial aid.
Submit the free FAFSA application to determine what federal and state financial aid you may be entitled to in addition to your GI benefits. Remember, grants and scholarships can be especially helpful, as they do not need to be repaid, loans have to be repaid. - Speak with an academic advisor.
Every student who is admitted to Seminole State will be assigned an academic advisor. This advisor’s duties are to help you determine your best path for earning your degree. They will help you create a degree plan, choose classes that fulfill degree requirements, and enable you to meet your educational goals. - Treat your education as a job.
This means making a schedule and dedicating time to finish your coursework. You must practice good time management especially if you are juggling family, job, and school. It isn't easy, but you can do it.