Veterans Preference at universities?

[pfdr1991]

I'm going back to school right now after 4 years of service. I'm currently in my first semester at a community college doing the GE leg work because I've been out of the game for so long. I know a lot of schools claim that they have veterans preference in admissions but I have a feeling that it's a lot of political bull**** for federal funding. I'm a Public Health major and I'm competing with a bunch of 18-19 year old whiz kids who probably have a wayyy better GPA than I do, not to mention parents paying for everything. Has anyone here been accepted to UC's as a veteran? Do they take into account military experience or is it all talk? Thanks guys.

[rero360]

Can't speak for the UCs, I go to CSUN, I have priority registration for classes, in fact I think I'm number two for the entire mechanical engineering department. It does have a downside though, almost none of the professors are assigned the classes yet so you can't avoid taking the bad ones. My registration time is roughly a month before most everyone else.

[fighter4cage]

You might get preference for classes in a community college, But California does not do much else for its Veterans as far as education goes.

When I got out of the service in 2003, I started the process of enrolling in College near Sacramento. After serving this country 22 years and participating in three wars, California required me pay 'Out-of-state fees"
What's totally disgusting is the illegal aliens signing up for the same courses were given much lower instate fees.

[4x4Trooper]

Can't speak for the UCs, I go to CSUN, I have priority registration for classes, in fact I think I'm number two for the entire mechanical engineering department. It does have a downside though, almost none of the professors are assigned the classes yet so you can't avoid taking the bad ones.

+1

I attend CSUEB and both of my vet buddies get priority registration. No idea about UCs.

[castgold]

The professional programs do. Undergraduate colleges not so much. The person in admissions that reads your personal statement might look favorable on it, but no guarantees there.

Thank you for your service.

[BoJackUSMC]

Community College.... very VET friendly.
CSU and University... not so much....

Look for Yellow Ribbon Program because those college or University will give you better service to veterans.

[19K]

I went to and graduated Ventura community college and it was extremely vet friendly You get priority registration and they even hold back on yor payment deadlines if torte waiting for the gi bill

I currently attend CSU Channel Islands and they are also get friendly. You get about 4 hour priority registration for classes after your first semester there.

As a new Channel Islands student o had 12 hour priority for registration for all new students. Which is about 3 days after regutstration opens for current students. They were also very cool about the payment deadlines while I was waiting for my gi bill to kick in once I transferred.

[19K]

You might get preference for classes in a community college, But California does not do much else for its Veterans as far as education goes.

When I got out of the service in 2003, I started the process of enrolling in College near Sacramento. After serving this country 22 years and participating in three wars, California required me pay 'Out-of-state fees"
What's totally disgusting is the illegal aliens signing up for the same courses were given much lower instate fees.

Did your home of residence ever change from California?

I was not made to do that at all.

[BoJackUSMC]

Check for campus that has Veteran Service Office (they will help you with your GI Bill and other veteran benefits as well). Most of the time, campus that has Veteran Service Office are more veteran friendly campus.

[BoJackUSMC]

I went to CSULB and they have awesome veteran service and campus is right next to VA Long Beach Hospital as well.

[ChuckDizzle]

My advice is that your first stop should be with your VA rep on campus. It is usually someone in the registrar's office. This is the most important person you will know when going back to school, this person gets you paid and the school paid by the VA.

I have had the best and worst of both these worlds during my pursuit of higher education. In the first instance a paperwork screw up at a local community college ended up with me paying back the school and VA thousands of dollars.

On the other end of the spectrum I finished my undergrad and graduate degree at a school that was so squared away I didn't have to do anything but show up to class and collect my check 2 weeks after each semester started. I even sent the ladies in the office flowers after graduation thanking them for such a great experience.

Hope my advice can help you avoid the former situation and experience the latter. Good luck and congratulations on your honorable discharge and pursuit of education.

[pfdr1991]

Thanks for the input guys. For the record, my veterans program at Orange Coast College is outstanding, and they helped me register when I was OCONUS. Unfortunately I don't want to stay there forever!! I have talked with the veterans offices at USC, UCI, UCLA, and SDSU and they seemed pretty much restricted to VA certification and couldn't help with admissions. We shall see how it turns out i guess haha

[steelrain82]

I went to and graduated Ventura community college and it was extremely vet friendly You get priority registration and they even hold back on yor payment deadlines if torte waiting for the gi bill

I currently attend CSU Channel Islands and they are also get friendly. You get about 4 hour priority registration for classes after your first semester there.

As a new Channel Islands student o had 12 hour priority for registration for all new students. Which is about 3 days after regutstration opens for current students. They were also very cool about the payment deadlines while I was waiting for my gi bill to kick in once I transferred.

thats where i go! im finishing the teacher program. the vet center there is nice. i enjoy the free coffee and printing.

[BarrettM99]

It's all a big lip service to make themselves (the school & its stakeholders) feel better. In reality, they don't even like us! But they like our money. The only people there that care are the va reps and they don't have much sway.

[not-fishing]

My #2 son is currently at UC Santa Cruz studying Biomedical Engineering but he was a whiz-kid before he enlisted in the Marines and did a tour in Sangin Valley as a sniper.

Ever since the 70's when I went to Berkeley the UC system has quiet and not so quiet discrimination against white vets.

Still don't give up, even the best students get knocked-down at the UC. Just take a breath then Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.