As a recently separated veteran, should I pursue full-time college or a full-time job?

2020-02-26T22:59:48-05:00

Hello all, so heres the scoop; I just separated from the army a couple months ago. Im currently working and am awaiting my results for the MA civil service police exam and Fire is march 21st. So I was thinking this past week, should I hold off on getting on of these careers and use my GI Bill to go back to school and work part time at my job now? The reason for this is going to college while working one of those jobs could be stressful and I know I wont be getting the full GI Bill benefits, which here in MA the BAH is $3024 a month, sheesh! Thank you all for the help in advance.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 26 at 2020 11:11 PM

2020-02-26T23:11:14-05:00

If your goal is to get a 4 year degree, its better to go balls to the wall in college so you can attain the degree the fastest. If you can swing it, live in coed dorms and you will meet a lot of nice people and hopefully nice girls. If you go that route don't be a prick because you will be known as a prick. I had a few girls who broke up with their prick boyfriends and come up to me and say how nice I was. It's kind of cool been sexually harassed by coeds! lol I did that dorm route and eventually had 2 female college roommates at the apartment when we moved out of the dorms.

Response by LCpl Andrew Montoya made Feb 26 at 2020 11:33 PM

2020-02-26T23:33:56-05:00

It depends what you want a degree in. As a firefighter I got my BA in Emergency Management all online. 1 semester away from masters. Any fire job is going to have a pretty chill schedule after academy. Cant attest to PD. College is important however you got time with the GI. If you get one of those take it for sure. School can come later. Plus I know fire depts. In my area do tuition assistance and stuff like that if the degree works with fire in some way. Means more money in your pocket.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 11:52 PM

2020-02-26T23:52:22-05:00

I worked 42 hours a week as a shift working chemical plant operator. I also took 12 to 13 hours a semester with additional classes in the summer. I was able to obtain my degree in five and a half years. College and work can go together if you are organized and focused.

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made Feb 26 at 2020 11:54 PM

2020-02-26T23:54:56-05:00

You can do both! I went to college part time while working full-time and managed to get an AA, BS, MEd and Doctor of Ministry, all wile changing careers a couple of times. Think outside the box!

One of my careers was as a college counselor and I can also argue the opposite because it is challenging to have the discipline to excel at your job and in the classroom.

It also depends on how you can live as a student with GI Bill. I drew my GI Bill too, and by creative scheduling I was able to stretch it all the way to my Masters. You are in a great place....get some more advice. Let me know if I can help more specifically.

Response by LTJG Stephanie Thompson made Feb 27 at 2020 12:11 AM

2020-02-27T00:11:15-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member , are you asking if you should go to college now or work in the civil service (dependent on your exam results)? Or are you asking if you should go to college and work your current job part time? And, if you do that, what happens if you get accepted into civil service? Your question sounds like you have two options, but all that you wrote makes it seem more like you have three options, but won't have the full scope of those options until March 21st. Is this a fair assessment, or have I missed something?

Regarding your question of work or school, it depends on many factors. For what would you go to school? What are your job prospects with that degree? How likely are you to be placed in a job upon the completion of your degree? How long will it take to be placed in said job (sometimes it can take six months or more to get into a job after graduating...what is the track record for the students at your chosen school?)? How many months can you afford to be jobless (plan for worst case scenario)?

Why do you want to go back to school? Is it because you think you should, because it seems to be what people do post military? Or do you have another reason?

What is the opportunity cost of you going to college? (For those reading this that may not know what opportunity cost is: "the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen," according to Oxford Dictionary) So, for instance, if you chose to go to college instead of work, how much money would you not make (opportunity cost) by not working? How much money do you stand to gain by going to college?

What do you want to do, truly? Is college the only way to get there? Could you self educate and slowly build experience in that field, to a level you want to be? What are the barriers to entry?

Far too many people go to college and end up never working in the field with which they earned a degree. The opportunity cost can be great. Imagine what all those people who never work in their field of education could have done with those four years they spent getting an education they don't or can't seem to use? What is the most beneficial use of YOUR four years? Only you know what you yearn for in your heart, in your gut. Only you know what you dream about when you're all alone and can breathe easy. Dig deep. Reflect. Be truly honest with yourself. The person your decision will affect the most is you. What is it that you REALLY want, and what are the many ways you can get there?

Response by TSgt David Holman made Feb 27 at 2020 12:54 AM

2020-02-27T00:54:12-05:00

It really depends on what your current life situation is and what your end goal is. If you can swing living off of you BAH, and want to pursue a degree, I would definitely encourage that. Even with civil service positions, in order to get up the food chain, you will need some form of formal education. That being said, there is also nothing wrong with working while in school. I am going to school full time, and working 32-42 hours a week. Now, the job isn't glamorous, and I am tired most of the time, but I also have a family that I have to take into consideration.
Bottom line, education is important, but it is not impossible to work and go to school at the same time.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 1:11 AM

2020-02-27T01:11:34-05:00

I would say that once you put off going to school, it is much, much harder to go back.
Do that first, but keep your ear to the ground if an opportunity comes your way.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 3:15 AM

2020-02-27T03:15:42-05:00

Jesus christ, this is exactly why we have SFLTAP process in place. These are the kind of stories that when someone tells me a plan like this, I tell them they will end up homeless.

Don't go jump from one career path to another like you did with the Army, you'll only end up worse off. Sit down and plan out what you want long term. Either choice will have you being poor for a while. That GI Bill BAH isn't coming in any time soon, you won't get it over the summer break, and it will be prorated any school month you aren't in school the entire month. Let's not forget how often the VA doesn't pay on time, sometimes for months on end.

If you go making more of these poorly planned decisions you'll end up with half a degree and no benefits left over. Unfortunately it happens all the time, veterans try out a program, then another, then another before finding their niche. But by then they've run out of benefits.

Think, plan, then think some more and replan before making a move

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 6:11 AM

2020-02-27T06:11:35-05:00

It really depends on your situation at home and what you really want to do. Speaking from experience, I had two civil service jobs...I was a NYC Correction Officer first and then transferred over to being a NYC Police Officer all at the time going to school part-time and using my GI BILL benefits. I pursued my education online; however, you have to be dedicated and focused more so taking online classses becasue of all the distractions that come along with being at home. You have to sit down and plan it all out before just jumping in. I obtained my Assosciates Degree in General Studies and my Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems Techonlogy all while working full-time as a Police Officer. IMO I would go for the full-time job because you don't know when the next exams will come out. I know in New York they do not come but so often, especially if you need the money now. However, you have to do what you feel is best for you and what you think you can handle. It can be done and you can do anything you put your mind to, and do not let ANYONE tell you otherwise, because I've done it!

Response by SPC Brent Melton made Feb 27 at 2020 6:59 AM

2020-02-27T06:59:48-05:00

I'd suggest college so that you're working towards at least an associates degree. That money will help stabilize you while you're still in the transition period. Don't worry about getting the 'right' degree as a lot of what you'll be doing to start off is your general education stuff (math, science, etc). I'd also suggest going online vs brick and mortar because that way you can pace when/how you study and make it fit your work schedule.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Feb 27 at 2020 10:06 AM

2020-02-27T10:06:24-05:00

Where in MA are you located? What school are you looking at?

Response by SPC Cherry Allen made Feb 27 at 2020 10:27 AM

2020-02-27T10:27:30-05:00

Welcome home and many blessings on all your endeavors. Good luck

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 11:26 AM

2020-02-27T11:26:35-05:00

You could do both, but doing both full time might be a challenge. I've known people that did it, but they were masters of time management. Or you could work full time and take just a couple of classes a semester. It would take you longer to graduate, but you might better handle the time management constraint.

Response by SPC Richard Zacke made Feb 27 at 2020 11:49 AM

2020-02-27T11:49:13-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member How old are you? School would be great for your future, depending on age, but it sounds like you want the $3024 a month. Think it through without the $$$$ and come to a logical answer because only you know what you what and need.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Feb 28 at 2020 9:41 AM

2020-02-28T09:41:58-05:00

Going to school shortly after separation provides a natural transition point. It is harder to go full-time later. I am doing school full time now, and I recommend it.

Response by SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins made Feb 28 at 2020 3:13 PM

2020-02-28T15:13:25-05:00

By my standards of living, 3k a month is a lot. Probably just the difference in COL. I worked full time making 40k a year for 1 year after. I kept feeling that GI bill wasting away, year by year. I could no longer bear it. Now, I am a secondary educator in a very respected district making 56k (insert COL difference between TX and MA here) a year, and work with half the effort and stress. Work smarter not harder. Now, with that being said it also depends on your dependent status. Are you single? If not then you need to carefully plan, that's all. I went to school on BAH and a part time job with a wife and 2 kids (and a great set of parents and a little luck) and never had a terrible Christmas, birthday for wife and daughters, etc. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Mar 1 at 2020 9:14 PM

2020-03-01T21:14:18-05:00

It wouldn't hurt to get a degree in law enforcement.

Response by PO1 Robert Murray made May 18 at 2020 6:45 PM

2020-05-18T18:45:41-04:00

Had signed up for the GI Bill and applied for Voc Rehab, had a part time job for just 4-5 hours from M-F so as to concentrate on school work, a full time job would have
risked getting lower grades and possibly dropping out, wanted to get the degree done faster so I attended full time and even took summer classes and got my BA in 3 years, wish that I had taken more classes while on A/D, but being in the Navy and on board ships always deploying was
very hard to schedule on base classes, nothing wrong in getting full BAH and focus only on your educational goals, best wishes & smooth sailing!

Response by SPC John Tacetta made May 19 at 2020 1:27 PM

2020-05-19T13:27:42-04:00

If you want to advance in a civil service position a college degree will be practically essential. So unless you have the killer job, I'd put school first. Government benefits for schooling will never cover all your expenses, but between that and Pell grants, tuition assistance programs, some carefully considered federal loans, sharing a house with some schoolmates, the occasional side job during classes and summer work you should be able to successfully live the life of a starving, fulltime student for the few years it'll take to pull your degree. Just think of it as another hitch, of sorts. Honestly, aside from the "3 hots and a cot" it really won't be much different from the life of a junior enlisted member - just no formations or details.

Although I know others have done it, I could never study and work at the same time I just never found enough hours in the day. Get into an accredited non-profit college or university that offers something in line with your interests or intended career, attend your classes, do your homework and pull your degree. I feel that you really don't need to worry about your specific degree overmuch unless you want to be an teacher, engineer or scientist as most places care about what you studied in college as much as they care about what you took in High School. Without cynicism, it's mostly the paper that counts, particularly in the civil service field where it's generally a box that needs to checked for advancement.

Although it shouldn't be a problem, be sure to keep your taxable income appropriately low to qualify for the maximum financial assistance from the State and Fed.

Just one last piece of advice. You really don't want to bunk with undergraduates, even though you might be one. Look to room with graduate students who have generally better study habits and will in your age group. It'll provide you with a better study environment and keep you away from the party animals that will drop out in their first year.

Good luck!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 19 at 2020 2:46 PM

2020-05-19T14:46:50-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member first take some time to determine your mid- and long-term goals. If your primary goal is income now, then work now. If you can afford to be a broke college student for a while then pick school. As to picking a level and focus of education, ask the counselors at your local community college to help you. There’s “dirty jobs” that pay very well and require only a year or two of training. There’s a third choice that I recommend for you. Work and school. I did my degrees this way. Night classes, day classes and night work, and on line classes. It will take a few extra years, but you’ll value your degree more