A lot of questions are asked about which college do you go to, which is the best, online or not....

Here is a place to ask away!

I attend Touro univerusty, www.TUIU.edu

It is an excellent college that truly caters to the needs of the military student. I have completed my Bachelors in Business and am half way through my Masters in information technology management.

It has a sliding pay scale for military students as well.

Where does everyone else go to?

Oops, all of a sudden there are a lot of threads about college program for the military and I posted a comment in another thread that would have been better posted here. Please feel free to delete the other.

Anyway, I was somewhat surprised to see an advertisement during halftime of the Auburn - Alabama game for a University of Alabama online degree program for military members. It must be becoming a pretty big business if the major schools are jumping in and spending the money for full commercials on a major network.

I would love to hear of more schools anyone might have went to and what you majored in. I will be looking to take online classes to get another bachelors and my masters. I currently have a BS in audio engineering from the New England Institute of Art in Boston.

This also leads me to my next question, which GI bill is a better option for someone who is taking online classes while enlisted? Post 9/11?

I dont use my GI bill for school. I am using TA to pay for it. No reason to use my GI bill i can save that for my daughters to use. When i decide im going to go over my TA limit i will pay out of pocket or find a small grant.

I am going to Indiana University via the Distance Learning Program http://www.scs.indiana.edu/. Tuition Assistance is picking up the tab. I have a campus right down the street so if I feel like attending classes I have the option. I'm currently pursuing Gen Studies, same as Husband (weak my ass). I'm debating switching over to pursue Journalism with the University of Memphis. Right now though IU offers Distance Learning at my own pace, I've nearly finished 5 classes in the last 6 months. Only 4 more exams to go! I do it all on my own time, with 1 year to complete each class. I love it!

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

How does TA work? from what I remember reading, they provide you with $4500 a semester?

you are given 4500 dollars a year not semesterg

The short version is this... You successfully complete Boot Camp, "A" school, "C" school, etc. You have copies of the completion certificates sent to the CG Institute for evaluation. The CG Institute breaks the courses down into college credits. You apply to your school of choice, get accepted and have the official transcripts sent from the Institute to the college. The college evaluates and awards credits as applicable. In order to finish you apply for tuition assistance, the register for the class, as long as you get a C or better the CG picks up the tab. You'll have to pay for your books yourself, I recommend Amazon they can be super cheap. You'll get $4500 a year to take courses online, distance, or brick and mortar depending on your unit and op tempo.

I'm pretty sure that covers it. Still confused? Once you're in it will be explained in greater detail.

Anyone have any experience taking a CLEP test to bypass unnecessary classes? (College Level Examination Program)

I took the English CLEP with essay and received 6 credits for it. TUI accepted it for my English requirements.

I would like to get my masters while in the CG, I just want to make the right choice on subject area. Although I loved majoring in Geography for my B.A. there isn't much besides teaching that I could do with it alone. Choices choices!

you can use TA for your masters but you will probably have some out of pocket expense as it is capped at 250 a semester hour

TUI reduces my course cost to 250 an hour! Woohoo, no out of pocket. I have learned that the masters program is a lot more intense than the bachelors!

that is good to hear on that. i just want to finish up my BS to begin with

This is super helpful, thank you. I am having TUI send me some more information on their programs. I have a while before I'll be able actually take any classes.

Jim got his Bachelor's and his Masters from George Washington University and he has yet to pay one cent out of his pocket for classes. He did take a trip to Russia for a final class in his Master's program. That he paid for.

that isnt to bad of a deal. Im working on my first BS then i might work on a masters then go get a few more BS not sure we will see.

By the time we retire Southern the BA is going to be an HS diploma. I'm planning on pursuing an MA prior to departing the CG, and possibly a 2nd BA or PhD with my GI Bill. I'm planning on having LOADS of free time when I retire.

I completely agree. I think a BA or BS = HS diploma right now. We had a LCDR talk to use about how a MS is about what it takes to get a good job now adays. I plan on finishing atleast to BS programs and one or two MS or even a PHD why not if im not paying for it. I have 18+ years to work on it if i cant get it done then that is my problem not anyone elses

heres a question, im currently working on my general ed at a local junior college, ive got about 18 units so far, i was wondering if most online/military schools will take the credits in transfer? they are all fresh from this semester and last year.

It depends on the school. Most will take some of the credits.

so what if i dont finish school while enlisted? would my military/online courses credits transfer to a civilian school? or would i still be able to finish after my enlistment is up?

Here's how college credits work for the military.. You go to boot camp (college credits), "A" school (college credits), and "C" schools (college credits). You send your certs to the CG Institute for evaluation, they develop an official transcript for you. Then you google SOCCOAST (Service Member's Opportunity College Coast Guard) colleges. You will find a list of about 3,000+ military friendly schools. Apply to the school like anyone else, send in your official CG transcript, and they award you credits based on the degree program you're seeking. As you attend more schools you can update your transcripts with the Institute and the school so you can keep your credits current.

Whether or not you stay in makes no difference once the credits are assessed. It'll make more sense if you get in, and have access to our educational resources.

Any questions?

Thanks I understand it now

That's awesome didn't know you get credits for boot camp and A schools, do you remember what classes you get for boot camp?

They give you a list. I think it's 6 LL credits. They'll go toward your general electives.

Boot camp gives you credits in basic seamanship, physical fitness, and safety. They will only end up being electives, but most college degrees consist of at least 30 electives. It's nice to get electives covered just for doing your job.

I'm a prior service AF E-5 that just graduated from university in Tokyo and will soon have my pilot's license.
A word of advice for those looking to eventually commission as an officer.

If you want to be an officer go to the Academy, an ROTC program, or get your degree while on AD and make sure it's a science degree. Do not do what I did (get out, go to a school with no ROTC program, and get a BA). Officer billets go to Academy grads and ROTC grads first. OCS gets what ever happens to be left over. For the Air Force last year that was 26 billets. It was statistically easier to get into the Academy than to get an OTS slot... I believe the Coast Guard only had around 80 billets for OCS last year.

Getting into OCS as a civilian (even with prior service) is ugly. If you want to be an O, go to ROTC, the academy, or commission directly from AD or you'll wind up in my boat staring at the prospect of returning as enlisted (which is easier said than done these days). Budget cuts, be prepared and plan accordingly.

Not sure if this is relevant to this post, but I will ask anyway. How realistic is it to get a degree while in the CG? I am hoping to get a Masters from AMU while serving but is it realistic?