Marine Corps & College; plus questions...

[teddyn]

Hi everyone;
Just found this site, great forum; I've been reading through several of the very informative posts.

I'm a high school senior at the moment (I go to school in the UK, but I'm a patriotic US citizen) and for the past couple of months I've been thinking about/ discussing with parents about the idea of joining the Marines. My worry is probably very common; I definitely want to go to college, but I would also like to make a tangible commitment to my country. My parents are very keen that I go to college first (or apply to a military academy) but I've latched onto the idea of enlisting for 4 years and then going to college.

To get to the point, I was wondering whether any of the Marines on this forum had followed this path? Would you do it again? And did you feel out of place or awkward at college (ie did it take away from that experience?

Ok, now that I've gotten my general point of anxiety out of the way, I've got a more specific query... I'm really worried by the idea of going through all the emotional preparation of enlisting, and explaining to the entire family my motives for signing up, only to for some reason be sent back from boot camp and accounting for my failure! Don't get me wrong- I am determined, and ever since meeting my local recruiter (at my home town in NJ, not UK lol) my resolve has been solidified. But I'm no jock; and I definitely don't conform to the stereotypical 'Marine' as seen in the adverts or on marines.com.

I'd love to hear advise of any kind whatsoever; I really don't have many good sources of information living in London except the internet!

[Curt Geezus]

RESERVES! Go to college at the same time.

[teddyn]

Oops, I've accidentally double posted the same topic! Maybe admins can delete one of them...

[teddyn]

Not really sure about reserves... Doesn't it interfere with college a bit? There'd be the burden of keeping up to expectations and commitments of the Corps while there(in college); also I wouldn't get the full MGIB bills and I'd really like to pay for college myself without any assistance from my parents.
The other reason is that I'm not sure I'd want to be tied down to one spot while in civilian life; for example if I wanted to do a semester abroad or anything like that.

[Curt Geezus]

Its one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year, I think you can handle it. What kind of GI Bill would you be getting for going to college after the Marines? And what do you think the chances are that you would never make it to college if you joined active duty?

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

You can attend some college classes while on active duty, and you'll get the GI Bill, plus a changed mindset, when you get out. If you want to enlist, do it. Don't let someone like Curt make you think the Reserves hold all the answers. While it is great for some people, it gets in the way for others. Missing a year of school to deploy, and expecting yourself to be able to come back and pick right back up where you left off is more than some can do.

[Curt Geezus]

Missing a year of school would be bad, but its better then kicking it to the side all together.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Curt, that is your opinion, it is not shared by everyone. I suggest you watch Combat Diaries if it comes on TV again. At the end, you can see the problems the Marines in the story had when trying to go back to school.

In my personal case, I think enlisting was the best thing I could have done. Being a reservist would not have made me happy, it is not what I wanted. So, I was older than the rest of my graduating class in college. You know what, looking back I wouldn't have changed a thing. I made the right decision, FOR ME. If you believe going the reserve route is best, then that is right FOR YOU. Don't assume that your decisions should be the decisions others make.

[Curt Geezus]

Yes. I think it would be tough going back to school after a 4 year break also. What type of problems did they have?

[rktect3j]

I went straight to college after high school and promptly messed things up. I had poor attendance and poor grades. At 21 I enlisted for 4 years active duty. While I was in I was able to take 4 college courses or almost one semesters worth. I received the GI bill, pell grants and the Illinois Veterans Association basically paid for my next 3 years at college where I excelled due to what I had learned in the Marine Corps. Discipline, motivations, drive, leadership, pride adn respect come to mind right now. Corps values. There is nothing wrong with joining the Corps first and then later going to college nor is it wrong to go the other way. I honestly do not feel I ever would have made it through college without the Marine Corps. The choice is yours as to the manner you want to tackle the situation but if you are going to do both then all I can say is that in eight years, no matter what or which way you go, you'll have accomplished those two same goals. Pick a path and good luck.

[Curt Geezus]

Do you get the GI bill and all that during your entire enlistment? If so..thats a pretty good deal money wise.

[rktect3j]

Do you get the GI bill and all that during your entire enlistment? If so..thats a pretty good deal money wise.
No you get that after. You pay into the GI bill while enlisted.

[teddyn]

Thanks for all your replies so far :) ...

I guess it's true that a problem could be the possibility of not getting around to college, wich wouldn't be very desirable...
To those that did do Marine Corps before college, when did you make your applications? I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to apply this year and defer entry until after I had served my country and earned college.

I like the idea of a change and doing Marine Corps first to gain that pride and fulfilment; but I'm worried about it being for the worst in terms of college.

[AmyG]

Enlisting can be emotional, but don't let it control you. Instead, control it. If your family doesn't support and doesn't think you can do it, then prove them wrong. If they do support you, then prove them right. Your emotions can be a fuel to your fire and help you do what you thought you couldn't. The only problem is emotions tend to be fickle, and therefore be useless as a helpful fuel. As for the physical part, I'm sure many Marines weren't "jocks" when they joined. I've seen many poolees who would fall over when the wind blew, they were so thin. But they do very well in the PT area. If you believe the Marines are for you, then do it and don't look back. Recruit Training will put you into the shape you need to be in anyway.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

I don't know if it exists in any form in the reserve, but while on active duty you qualify for having a portion of your tuition paid by the Marine Corps (I believe it is 70% or so, but I am not sure), which is a big help. Then when you get out you have the GI Bill (which is paying over $1000 a month right now) and things work out well for a Marine wanting an education.

[Curt Geezus]

I like the idea of a change and doing Marine Corps first to gain that pride and fulfilment

Thats why I am doing the reserves.

And no you dont really get much help from the Marine Corps as a reservist(unless my recruiter is lying to me to make think I get less money)

[Marine84]

You're never too old to go to school - my Mom got her PhD at the ripe ole age of 52. Another thing you have to take into consideration is the natural cycle of life. Some of us older ones in here can tell you that the older you get the slower you get - personally, I KNOW I couldn't do bootcamp again at this age but my brain still works so school would be good for me now. I have the patience to sit and be taught. 22 years ago I wanted to be a wild child - glad I did the physical stuff then.

[PFTstud]

I don't know if it exists in any form in the reserve, but while on active duty you qualify for having a portion of your tuition paid by the Marine Corps (I believe it is 70% or so, but I am not sure), which is a big help. Then when you get out you have the GI Bill (which is paying over $1000 a month right now) and things work out well for a Marine wanting an education.

70%? no.

I heard it's 10,000 a year, which is chump change for some schools.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

OK PFT, you're right, it isn't 70%. The tuition assistance program now pays 100% of all tuition and fees, not to exceed $250 per credit hour or $4,500 per fiscal year. Now, seeing as how I've been in this situation, and you have not, I will try to explain something to you. The above numbers mean the Marine Corps will pay for everything buy books for up to 18 credit hours a year for as long as you are on active duty. 18 hours in a year is more than any Marine I ever met could manage. With deployment schedules, PCS orders, and other things I found that 9-12 hours was about all anyone was going to manage.

As for your comment about $10,000 being chump change, please tell me what school a Marine on active duty could attend (part time mind you) that would cost $10,000 a year. I took classes at local community colleges, online, and at Boston University. None of this ever came close to the numbers you are throwing out there.

I don't know what part of this you can't understand. You've been told many times... but please Don't talk about things that you do not understand! It only causes confustion for people wanting to become Marines, and work for Marines that are here just trying to help you out a little.

[Korling]

I went in Active Duty right out of High School for 6 years. I was honorably discharged and went to college after I got out. As an Illinois veteran, my tuition and some fees were covered by a veteran's grant and had I had VEAP or GI Bill I would have gotten that money in addition. Also, much of the schooling I did in the Corps (language schools, even boot camp) made me eligible for several credits at the college level and I got my AA done in just 3 semesters and transfered into a 4 year and got my BA (language requirement waived due to my language training in the Corps). More recently I completed by MA. I would not change a thing about the route I took (Corps before college). What I might have done differently is try and stay in. A friend of mine who had same MOS as me went through the MECEP program and got her entire 4 years of college paid for by the Corps AND she received her normal Active Duty pay that whole time, she is now a Major!
You will have opportunities to take college classes as well while on Active Duty, but my particular job had me constantly deployed so it was darn near impossible for me to ever get signed up and complete a class. Nonetheless, my time on Active Duty did nothing to preclude me from completing college and I certainly was far more disciplined and mature about my course work so I got more out of college than if I had gone straight out of HS.

[Sixguns]

Take a harder look at active duty. I have posted this several times before. Active duty will allow you the opportunity to serve your nation, get trained as a Marine and in a skill, afford you the chance to travel and will provide you with educational benefits while you are serving and when you leave active duty. Earn the title Marine, a college degree and the right to say that you did it all by yourself. At the same time, you will be growing as an individual, become more self-reliant and more confident.

[teddyn]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies;

I agree that doing Active Duty would be a good goal; and also that it could be worth doing it before college.

Another thing I've found from looking into various programs such as the MECEP (Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program: Apparently, as long as you're 20 years old, it's possible to go to college full time whilst still active duty... and payed for by the Gov't!).
Also, I understand that whilst in the Marine Corps it's possible to apply to the Naval Academy and go there.

Is anyone able to shed any light onto these two programs?
Thanks!

[His_angel]

Teddy,
I went to college for a year because it was what everyone else wanted me to do and not what I wanted to do. After one year of college I joined the Marines. I joined because it's what I wanted to do. I've never regretted it. When it comes down to it you have to be the one to decide what you want. You are the one that has to live with your decision. Whether you go to college first, enlist first then go to college or otherwise.

Angel