I feel that I'm somewhat unique in that I already had a bachelor's degree before enlisting in the Army, and then completing a master's degree, with GI Bill money, will on active duty and before I got out in 2010.
Other than certifications and boot camps, I'm trying to find other creative ways to use the rest of my GI Bill money before it runs out. Trouble is, the web of programs out there is byzantine, to say the least, and give me a headache.
Does anyone out there have any experience with decent schools that have online programs and that are Bill-friendly with few hassles? I prefer to do something online, or something short-term like a certificate program for no more than two semesters.
Answers
Tim,
What career path(s) do you have in mind? I would advise to select educational pursuits according to what is (1) going to educate you in what you want to do or achieve, and (2) demonstrate on a resume or application that you have desirable skills. For instance, HR and IT (as I'm sure you're aware) have valuable certifications, while management and business value the MBA degree. There are countless options. Given your entrepreneurial and consulting interest, an MBA may actually be quite beneficial. MBA programs can typically be tailored to a particular interest, such as IT, and some can be completed in little over a year. In searching for my own education programs, I found gradschools.com the most useful. It allows you to filter by program type, such as certificate vs master's degree, as well as by field of study. You may also want to reconsider your preference for online programs. Given your location in DC, there are many good classroom options. The GI bill pays the full MHA for classroom programs, but only half for online programs.
Hope some of that helps.
Tony
Hey Tim,
Alas, I am not aware of any programs for entrepreneurship aside from traditional MBA classes. The only thing that comes to mind are short-term certificates similar to the aforementioned programs. If you have a disability rating, this may be an option: http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv/
Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Morgan
Morgan,
Sure, I'd like more info. But, just to be clear, I'm not interested in international affairs or getting an MBA. On the business side of things, I'm more interested in certificate programs or bootcamps for entrepreneurship that are dynamic and tailored to specific needs.
Do you have any info on those programs?
Tim
Hey Tim,
I'm a GI Bill connoisseur. You are unique and I applaud your educational achievements. There are a litany of amazing online colleges worth the investment. I am bias, but the GMAP at The Fletcher School is a great 1 year program if you are looking at International Relations. Since you are in DC, this may be a great program for you: http://fletcher.tufts.edu/GMAP
If you are wanting to enter/expand into business, there are great programs online. Here is a great informational article on great online MBA programs: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-51342353/whats-an-online-mba-worth/
There is also Thunderbird: http://www.thunderbird.edu/graduate-degrees/online-mba
The world is your oyster if you want more education at great schools using the GI Bill. The hardest part is researching them to see how much of the program is out of pocket. Personal message me if you went more information on how the GI Bill offsets costs.
Morgan
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