Question:
I am just about to start my senior year of high school and have really
started looking at colleges. Now comes the time when I need to start filling
out college applications. I have done some community service and programs
over the years, but I'm no all-star. My question is, how good would having
done something like the new 18-month short term enlistment program the army
is about to offer look on a college resume? College obviously isn't the main
reason why I am considering that but I would like to know what benefits
would come of it in the college additions world. This program would include
service in the reserves after the 18-months, which would require work one
weekend once a month while attending college. I feel that if I don't do
something like this now that I would never get around to it after college,
but is it a good idea? Also, if you do take a year or so off in between high
school and college, when do you send in the applications, sooner, or later?
Would it be difficult to make something like this work with college, or do
colleges like and facilitate this sort of thing?
Answer:
Not really sure, but I don't think colleges would really look at something
like that as good or bad on an application.
It's funny because high school kids sweat and stress over college
applications yet I can walk right into one, show the transcripts from the
few classes I took while on active duty, and get in with no problems.
As Dave says below - you don't really have to worry about a "college
resume" Once you've been out of school for a while. It's all about the
tuition - they want it, you have it. It will take you out of the running
for some scholarships, but it sounds as though you are already out of the
running for all save the teaser scholarships.
One of the biggest benefits is that you are more mature and better able to
handle the responsibility of college. My brother went to college right
after high school and it took him over eight years to get a four year
degree. No one forced him to study or go to class, and he wasn't
responsible enough to keep a good schedule. I've gone to college after
being in the Army, and I'm pulling a 4.0 right now.
Just about every place you can get stationed has an education center at your
disposal. They can walk you through college applications, and you can also
test out of the basic classes. I CLEPed out of English, Humanities, Intro
to Business and Intro to Computers, a total of 18 credits, in my first year
of being in the Army. Those were classes I didn't have to take later on.
Right now I'm using Army Tuition Assistance to attend college and they pay
100% tuition up to a max of $750 per class and $4500 per fiscal year. I
still have my GI Bill for my Masters or PhD when I get out.
This is a major point here. Folks who don't go to school right away will
probably tend to do better since they've gotten some of the partying out of
their system and are a bit more mature. My high school grade point average
is embarrassing (a little too much playing around, not enough actually going
to class at times), but my college GPA is right around 3.9 (I got a B in one
of my classes, but not since then!).
That's been my experience. It's still better than nothing, but I
think most admish offices would list it as the very last "feather in
the cap" they care about, behind being chess champ or a congressional
summer aide.
