GI Bill

[trontobo]

can anyone give me more info on this situation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK_9sI7hzAc

Is getting help for university a problem for many people post service? Anyone have any personal experience dealing w/ the current system?

[Firefly26]

I can't view youtube here, but I've found that it's pretty frustrating to get started in the GI Bill, to the point where you think the VA is never going to repay you for your service, BUT, after you get in the system, it's actually pretty smooth. It took me about 3 months of waiting and calling the VA, meanwhile I was already paying for my 3rd and 4th college classes out of my pocket. Then everything finally got verified and I got the back payments. Now I will typically be reimbursed for my classes in a week after paying for them. I pay with check too, so in many cases the VA will have deposited the payment before the college even cashes my check. The frustrating part is that you are going to have to pay out of your pocket for the first few classes, so you have to save up for that, but you will get your money back, sometimes with more than you paid for the classes. The GI Bill is a pretty good system, you just have to do a little work in the beginning, and you have to pay for your classes out of the pocket, requiring a little financial discipline. I guess it's better that way, because it would probably get abused if they gave you the money up front without you having to pay for anything.

[Edit] I just watched that youtube clip and I have to say it's very one-sided and aimed at uninformed impressionable people; just a contrived shot at McCain. The three soldiers they interviewed obviously expected a $50,000 bonus for getting out. It's not that difficult, you just have to take a little initiative and realize you aren't going to be spoon-fed. It was also on them to see how the GI bill pays before they enlisted. Their troubles are all on them. You get $663 a month for a 4 credit hour term, and $995 for a 6 credit hour term. $995 is the 3/4 time student monthly rate, I think it's $1,300 for full time. So, with a 10 week term, taking two 3 SH classes, that's $2287 for the whole term. Now that will probably keep you from going to the really expensive pedigree schools, but that's a pretty good lump for other stateside schools. A class at UMUC costs $595 overseas and 700 something stateside. The GI Bill more than covers it. I think the GI Bill could be improved a little with enrollment, but is still completely adequate.

[trontobo]

i agree that is very one sided. that's why i asked here if there's any counter-arguments.

Does the GI Bill limit which types of institutions one can attend (public vs. private vs. community?)

[Firefly26]

No, you are only limited by money. My girlfriend has been able to get her bachelors and masters with money left over. I could imagine that there is some rich kid school out there that 1700 a term won't cover, but for the most part, you can get into just about any school you wanted to.

[edit] I just found out the max monthly rate is $1100 and not $1300.

[Ordie]

The GI Bill is not strictly for College. You can use it for vocational training and flight school.