There are three types of military focused educations: a military college, a service academy and an ROTC program at a college or university. Some students desire the rigors of an education with a military focus along with a career in the military. Still others simply like the discipline and teamwork that come with this type of education.
Continue reading Is a Military Focused Education Right for Your Student?
This post was originally written for ClassandCareers.com and was posted as “Taking the non-traditional route after high school graduation”.
Most high school seniors are geared up for graduation next month and that comes with a good case of senioritis. The typical path for a large percentage of graduates sends them off to college in the fall to live in dorms, stay up all night studying, and pledge sororities and fraternities. But what happens when those high school seniors choose a non-traditional route that doesn’t include the typical collegiate experience?
After 12 years of school, and more for some, many high school students are considering a gap year after graduation. That doesn’t mean you veg out on the couch in front of the television, or spend a year playing Xbox games in your parents’ basement. It’s a chance to expand your horizons and get some life experience under your belt before heading off to college. Gap years are becoming more popular among high school graduates and gaining credibility among established educators. Princeton University has a “bridge year” program in place for admitted students to do service work abroad before enrolling. High schools around the country are hosting gap-year fairs to familiarize students with the options available if they choose to take advantage of a gap year.
TechCrunch recently interviewed, Peter Thiel, the founder of Paypal about what he calls the “higher education bubble”. His recommendation: take a different path. He has started a program for 20 students under 20 and is paying them $100,000 over a two year period to start their own businesses. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos encourages those who are considering spending thousands of dollars on an education to skip the degree and use the money to finance a business. While it’s quite common for college graduates to take an entrepreneurial path, the thought of high school graduates going down that road scares the pants off of most parents.
The downside to this path: not everyone can be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. It takes drive, ambition and determination to start and run a business. You need an idea, a concept, a product and the business sense to make it all flow together once you get started. Think long and hard before you choose this path and in the meantime, get some education to help you when you do.
Many high school graduates choose the military as a post-graduation path. Although the prospect of heading into combat might not be appealing for some, others find this choice wise and honorable. The military provides training in many different career paths, along with the funding for a college education. Many servicemen are even attending college while they serve.
For those graduates who are confident in their path and are headed off to college in the fall, congratulations! But for those who still aren’t sure or are considering a non-traditional path, these options will be your ticket to the future.
While my daughter was studying abroad in Paris, my husband and I made a trip to visit her. Being a history buff, my husband wanted to visit Normandy. I remember staring at those cliffs along the beach in awe of the men who knew they were most likely going to die trying to scale them and take the enemy’s stronghold there. Standing in the enemy’s machine gun bunkers, I looked at the beach below and thought of all those brave men who simply would not give up. There was a price—and they paid it with their lives.
Afterwards, we visited the graves of all those men who died during the Normandy invasion. There are no words to describe the feeling you get standing there gazing at the endless crosses above the graves of those military heroes.
About 30 years ago, my son came to me and said he wanted to join the Marines. You can imagine–as a mom my heart dropped. I felt pride and angst all at the same time.
My father was a World War II veteran and I always loved to hear his war stories. Of course, I’m sure he spared me the painful ones, but I know he had some.
Neither of them paid the ultimate sacrifice but were well aware of the risk they took when they volunteered to serve. They knew every day their lives were at risk, but they also knew that freedom has a price.
On this Memorial Day, I am sharing some past articles that are appropriate today as we celebrate Memorial Day and remember the true heroes who died protecting our freedom.
Veteran’s Day—Thanking Those Who Served
Scholarships for Military Dependents
Are you or your spouse in the military? Do you have a family member that was a veteran of a foreign war? If so, there are scholarships available in these specific categories.
Educational benefits for families, particularly the children of deceased, MIA, POW, and disabled veterans, may be available in some states. Military.com has developed an on-line general summary of educational benefits for veterans, surviving spouses and their dependents.
Click here to learn more about State Education Benefits.
While looking for money for school many surviving spouses and their families overlook the over $300 million of military – and veteran – related scholarships and grants. These scholarships often go unclaimed.
Visit Military.com’s Scholarship Finder today and get started.
Also, don’t neglect to search in your military community. Many service aid organizations and associations, like the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, offer scholarships, grants, and low interest loans to help cover education expenses.