As a prior member of the Armed Forces and someone who has worked in the field of higher education for over 19 years, I strongly believe that my military and work experience will be beneficial on my path toward achieving the PhD degree in higher education. With these thoughts in mind, I want to pursue a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education in order to seek a better understand around the challenges veteran student face such as retention and completion, success and development of new nontraditional methods and programs to help military personnel enter the world of academia and become successful college students. A doctoral degree will help me develop different competencies to assist non-traditional veteran college students on a more
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One of these issues is the financial aspect of attending college. For most veteran students, educational benefits provided through the GI Bill are not sufficient for veterans to attend college without having some type of employment. In addition, many veterans struggle to find a job with pay sufficient to support themselves and their families, adding to the strain while transitioning to college. Veteran students must balance education with job responsibilities as well as family roles and seek convenience and flexibility such as online and evening courses that can be completed part time. Finding balance when transitioning to college is important for all adult students, but can be especially stressful for veterans. Veteran students tend to be mature and serious about education, and view college as a necessary step to improve their civilian life. The age and maturity of veteran students can contribute to difficulty with the transition to college. Veterans have unique experiences and perspectives which can make it difficult to interact and relate with younger and non-military …show more content…
While in the military, bonds are formed between members who are working to achieve a common goal. The college environment is more open and self-serving, leaving some veteran students struggling to adjust. Often veteran students have experience and maturity that makes it difficult to connect with less mature non-veteran students. This higher level of maturity often heightens the age gap veteran students feel with other students and causes them to be critical of non-veteran peer students. Veteran students commonly experience peers who have little or inaccurate knowledge of military issues or conflicts, and/or are insensitive about veteran student issues. In a campus setting, veteran students are no longer only among other military members but rather many different types of individuals, and it can be difficult to find others with which they can relate. On a college campus, veterans become one of many students and are not easily identified as a veteran. Veteran students are generally disinclined to announce their veteran status to peers, instead selectively disclosing that they are a veteran, which means that veteran students’ transition to becoming a college student is often experienced in isolation. This makes connecting to other veteran students important for the transition to college. Most veterans feel more comfortable with other student veterans that can relate to
One of these issues is the financial aspect of attending college. For most veteran students, educational benefits provided through the GI Bill are not sufficient for veterans to attend college without having some type of employment. In addition, many veterans struggle to find a job with pay sufficient to support themselves and their families, adding to the strain while transitioning to college. Veteran students must balance education with job responsibilities as well as family roles and seek convenience and flexibility such as online and evening courses that can be completed part time. Finding balance when transitioning to college is important for all adult students, but can be especially stressful for veterans. Veteran students tend to be mature and serious about education, and view college as a necessary step to improve their civilian life. The age and maturity of veteran students can contribute to difficulty with the transition to college. Veterans have unique experiences and perspectives which can make it difficult to interact and relate with younger and non-military …show more content…
While in the military, bonds are formed between members who are working to achieve a common goal. The college environment is more open and self-serving, leaving some veteran students struggling to adjust. Often veteran students have experience and maturity that makes it difficult to connect with less mature non-veteran students. This higher level of maturity often heightens the age gap veteran students feel with other students and causes them to be critical of non-veteran peer students. Veteran students commonly experience peers who have little or inaccurate knowledge of military issues or conflicts, and/or are insensitive about veteran student issues. In a campus setting, veteran students are no longer only among other military members but rather many different types of individuals, and it can be difficult to find others with which they can relate. On a college campus, veterans become one of many students and are not easily identified as a veteran. Veteran students are generally disinclined to announce their veteran status to peers, instead selectively disclosing that they are a veteran, which means that veteran students’ transition to becoming a college student is often experienced in isolation. This makes connecting to other veteran students important for the transition to college. Most veterans feel more comfortable with other student veterans that can relate to