As a Marine Corp veteran and alumnus of the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Master’s in Organization Development and Knowledge Management, I am passionate about helping fellow veterans transition from military to civilian careers. I made the transition in 2010 and (to be honest) made a lot of mistakes along the way. During transition, there are a lot of resources available, and advice seems to come from every direction. One of the significant challenges is hearing the signal through the noise. It’s not easy, and unfortunately, it doesn’t happen quickly.
In my case, it wasn’t until I began graduate school at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University that I really began to develop clarity about where I wanted to go and how to get there. Through my discussions with fellow veterans, I have found that regardless of whether a veteran enlisted for four years out of high school or retired as a Colonel after thirty years of services, there are aspects of the transition that are universal.
Many transitioning veterans make a university education, either graduate or undergraduate, part of their plan. In my experience, I truly believe an on-campus university program is the best option for veterans. Here are my top five reasons to attend an on-campus program:
- The Network
An on-campus university education provides veterans with the ability to develop deep networks with their class peers, faculty, and administrative staff. There is no replacement for the relationships developed in-person. As part of your strategy, pick a university geographically located near where you wish to live and work. In my case, that was the Washington, D.C. area, where the Schar School of Policy and Government is located. The network at the Schar School—including students, faculty, and staff—is exceptionally connected to opportunities both locally and globally.
- Education is Not Transactional; It’s Transformational (and Experiential)
At top universities such as the Schar School, students receive an outstanding education, and this is not a transactional process. In the military, we sometimes confuse training with education. Unlike much of basic military training, university education is a transformational process. The concepts are often highly abstract, and students explore complex challenges in which there are often no clear answers. In the on-campus environment, students have the ability to utilize a variety of experts from multiple domains to help make meaning within this environment. This is a process that must be experienced in-person on an ongoing basis to get the greatest value as a student and professional.
- It’s Familiar
As military veterans, we are accustomed to working in teams together. While we often work across multiple geographically distributed units and commands to achieve our mission, we almost always have a core unit in which we operate face-to-face. One of the greatest benefits of military service is developing advanced skills to work within and lead teams organized around a common vision and mission. Attending an on-campus undergraduate, master’s, or PhD program affords the veteran the opportunity to operate in this familiar environment and to help other students perform well in in-person teams.
- Deeper Connection to an Institution
Done well, the value of a university education pays off over a lifetime. Students who attend programs on-campus are generally more closely connected to the institution and can better leverage that relationship. Related to the first point about networks, your connection to a university institution can help you find mentors, gain future employment, pursue additional degrees, get involved in research, and many more personal and professional development opportunities. Students who attend on-campus programs know their universities better, feel a stronger bond to the community, and are more likely to take full advantage of that relationship to secure their success during school and in the years to follow.
- Better Support
Even with the advance in technology students develop far better relationships with their peers and faculty when they are physically together and can meet face-to-face. We know this from the military—senior commanders will often travel to field units to reinforce relationships. The military will conduct conferences and meeting with international partners in-person because it’s more effective than a conference call. When the military needs to discuss priorities for updating major equipment (such as aircrafts or tanks), they conduct those meetings in-person. For the same reason, education is best in-person. This is especially true with schools like the Schar School, which is strategically located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, has a strong network of faculty and administrators with deep-rooted connections in the area, and has access to dedicated veteran resources, such as the George Mason University Office of Military Services. With an in-person education, you will receive much more meaningful support to ensure your success.
There you have it—five reasons why veterans should opt for on-campus format for their undergraduate or graduate programs. Not every veteran is in a situation to study on-campus, but for veterans who have a choice, consider studying on-campus to maximize your return on investment.
For more information about how the Schar School supports veteran students and their families visit: https://schar.gmu.edu/prospective-students/military-veterans-and-dependents.
J.J. Stakem is a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Schar School Alumni Board. For more information about J.J. and his work at the Schar School, visit: https://schar.gmu.edu/alumni-and-giving/alumni-resources/alumni-leadership-and-chapter/jj-stakem.