Military Veterans, Here Is How to Get Into the Ivy League

As a student at Yale University, military veteran, and mentor for Service to School, many veterans have contacted me asking for advice on how to enter a high selective college. Reflecting on my experiences, I have outlined 6 tips to help you on your quest for admission.

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1. Enroll in community college courses. Earn at least a 3.5 GPA. Take advantage of tuition assistance and enroll in at least 2 semesters of community college courses. Colleges want to see that you are able to handle a rigorous academic workload. Like many other veterans, I was not a model student in high school. Show colleges that you are academically inclined by taking challenging courses, and be sure to take general courses—technical or specific credits don’t typically transfer. You’ll have to accept up front that you likely won’t receive credit for your military training. For instance, Yale took zero credits from my technical training in the Air Force. However, they took all of my credits from community college. Also be sure to brush up on your test-taking skills for the SAT or ACT.

2. Start your search early. Spend some time looking at facts about programs you’re interested in and locations of colleges that appeal to you. Many veterans like to prop open the latest edition of Military Times and search for “veteran-friendly colleges.” What they don’t tell you is that many of those schools have abysmal graduation rates. In fact, you may not want to go to a school that has many veterans. There’s a possibility you'll have greater impact and be valued more if you are unique versus just one of many. A school that is labeled "vet friendly" has a large veteran population, and already has an idea of who they think enlisted veterans are— I didn't want that. At Yale, it’s easy for each veteran to have our own identities and often receive invitations to events and dinners because we bring something unique to the table.

3. Connect with student veterans at your favorite schools. Once you’ve found some schools that interest you, see if they have a veterans group. They’ll likely be able to connect you with someone who can answer some questions from a student’s perspective. One program I highly recommend is Service to School. They will connect you with a mentor who has the resources to find someone at a particular school and connect you with him or her. If the school doesn’t have many veterans, they can still introduce you to a traditional student. Take this chance to ask some questions and see how the school fits your personality.

4. Visit the campuses. A friend of mine considered studying at Columbia in New York, only to remember how much he hated big cities after visiting. He’s now at a smaller college in a rural area where he’s much happier. You should also make appointments with admissions deans and have some questions prepared. Do your homework and scour the college website, making sure to ask only questions that aren’t already listed. As a veteran, this step is particularly important because each school offers a different environment for non-traditional students.

4. Refresh your academic skills. It’s been a few years or more since you’ve been a full time student, and studying at selective colleges can be grueling if you don’t know what to expect. To prepare yourself, consider applying for an “academic bootcamp.” One I recommend is the Warrior-Scholar Project. I attended this program at Yale in 2014, which was vital to my acceptance at multiple colleges. This program is hosted at several universities across the U.S. and their goal is to help veterans translate military skills into academic success. Another strong program is the 2 to 4 accelerator at Stanford.

6. Write strong essays, get feedback. This is one area where you can stand out above other applicants. Your story of how you arrived at the decision to join the military, what you did while you served, and lessons learned throughout your enlistment has more than enough material to craft a compelling narrative. Be sure to find at least 2 smart people to read and re-read your essays and provide you with feedback. I went through more than 5 different drafts of my essays before submitting my applications. I went through even more for graduate school. If you have an especially unique story, consider submitting it for publication. Several media outlets encourage college applicants to submit essays to show their readers the assorted backgrounds of potential college students.

Best of luck on your transition!

Follow Rob on Twitter: @robkhenderson