Warrior-Scholar Project Archives

Setting Up Veteran Student and Military Student Success

November 16, 2015/in Education, GI Bill, Military, Military Veteran, Veteran Schools

All too often, veteran students and military students (active duty and reservists) find themselves struggling to succeed in higher education. For some, the pitfalls might be financial, while for others, it might be the challenges of dealing with physical or psychological injuries.

Returning to higher education for veteran and military students can cause added stress to an already stressful transition for those who have been away from academics for many years.

Also, the manner in which GI Bill benefits are processed, arriving well after the semester has started, can be a huge stumbling block.

One huge advantage is having a well-informed veterans’ resource center on campus.

Many veterans are entering higher education after a prolonged break from school. There are programs that can assist in preparing them.

The Wounded Warrior Project’s TRACK program is the first education center in the nation designed specifically for wounded service members. As part of the cohort model, Wounded Warrior Project Alumni join other wounded service members who have shared similar experiences. They enter and complete the program as a team. Through this 12-month program, wounded service men and women take part in a whole-life approach to education, earn college credits that can be applied toward a degree, and gain valuable practical experience through an externship.

The Warrior-Scholar Project is an academic boot camp aimed at veterans who plan on attending or transferring to a 4-year college. Funded by foundations and private donors, the one and two-week programs are immersive and demanding. Veterans run the sessions, which are taught by university professors and graduate students. The curriculum is designed to help participants prepare to tackle the reading lists of rigorous college courses.

Veterans Upward Bound is a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Education that helps veterans prepare to be college students.

Veterans who come to college do so with a certain level of intensity, mission focus, discipline and structure from military life that is different from the mindset of traditional students. Anything that can be done to set these veteran students and military students up for success benefits us all.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Warrior-Scholar Project Preps Transitioning Students

November 7, 2015/in Education, Military, Military News, Military Veteran, Veteran News, Veteran Schools

By Debbie Gregory.

Military veterans have more life experience and maturity than the average traditional-aged college student. With that said, they can still benefit from extra guidance as they make the transition to a residential college environment often designed for 18-year-olds

Non-profit Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) is an academic boot camp aimed at veterans who plan on attending or transferring to a 4-year college. Funded by foundations and private donors, the one and two-week programs are immersive and demanding. Veterans run the sessions, which are taught by university professors and graduate students. The curriculum is designed to help participants prepare to tackle the reading lists of rigorous college courses.

The project began at Yale in 2012 with 9 participants. Since then, the boot camps have spread, first to Harvard University and then to the University of Michigan, Vassar, UNC Chapel Hill, Syracuse, Cornell, Georgetown, U of OK, U of So. CA, and U of Chicago.

The application requests information about the prospective students’ military experience, academic background and plans for college, and includes a series of short essay questions.

WSP is now accepting applications for its 2016 academic boot camps. The programs are open to enlisted veterans and transitioning current service members who plan to enroll in or transfer into a four-year undergraduate program. With the exception of transportation, WSP’s generous donors cover all program costs for accepted students. If you would like to apply online, click here. Applications will be accepted until March 14, 2016, and all students will receive responses by early April, 2016. Course dates and locations will be determined by January, 2016.

Also, for universities interested in hosting a bootcamp, the application for new host institutions is now open. Please find additional information on becoming a Warrior-Scholar Project Host Institution click here.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Bridging the Gap from Service to School

October 28, 2015/in Education, Military, Military Veteran, Veteran News, Veteran Schools, Veterans Benefits

By Debbie Gregory.

The Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) has been empowering Veterans to realize their full potential as students.

WSP is now accepting applications for its 2016 academic boot camps. These programs are held during the summer at top universities nationwide and aim to facilitate enlisted veterans’ transition from the military to college.

The Warrior-Scholar Project believes that military Veterans not only possess the necessary skills to succeed on the campuses of prestigious universities, but that they are capable of being student leaders among their classmates. Despite the fact that many Veterans are several years removed from any form of academic endeavors, the founders of the Warrior-Scholar Project believe that the motivation to achieve mission accomplishment, honed through their military service, drives Veterans to academic success.

Through the program, participants learn skills like “ninja reading,” how to structure academic papers and the art of self-editing. But more importantly, the program breathes new life into these unconventional students’ academic dreams.

The programs are open to enlisted veterans and transitioning current service members who plan to enroll in or transfer into a four-year undergraduate program. WSP donors cover all program costs for accepted students, except transportation.

Co-founded by Jesse Reising, Chris Howell and Nick Rugoff, the idea for the Warrior-Scholar Project was sparked when Reising, a Marine Corps Officer Candidate, was recuperating from an injury he sustained during a football game between Yale and Harvard. One hit ended Reising’s military career. But the support that he received during his recovery prompted Reising and his co-founders to provide similar support for the men and women who served and are now using their Veteran education benefits.

The intensive two week-long workshop includes:

Academic reading and writing
Adapting to changed social circumstances
Translating skills used and acquired in the military to the college environment

Interested student veterans can start the application process online. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and students may be asked to complete an additional phone interview. Applications will be accepted until March 14, 2016, and all students will receive responses by early April 2016.