VA Educational benefits, such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, have given many veterans and their families the opportunity to attend school across the country for a reduced, sometimes wholly reduced, price. In 2019, there were 1,700 GI Bill® recipients attending eight Ivy League schools compared to only 206 ten years prior. Despite a hearty attempt to attract this nation's veterans, the number of veterans in highly selective universities, such as Ivy League institutions, remains low and continues to be underrepresented in elite institutions. In order to attract more student veterans among Ivy League institutions, it is essential that transitioning veterans are encouraged and supported while applying for our country's top institutions.

Research on Student Veterans at Ivy League Institutions
A 2017 study states that although military-affiliated students make up around 5 percent of all college and university students, they only make up around 2 percent or less of Ivy League institutions. Carol Kalon looked into the specific experiences of veterans attending Ivy League institutions. Drawing from the experiences of four veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines in undergraduate programs at three Ivy League institutions, she was able to conduct extensive interviews on their experiences within higher education and, more specifically, at these highly selective institutions.

Kalon, using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, and a life course perspective to analyze the qualitative data gathered during these interviews, found that veterans at Ivy League institutions meticulously planned their transition to their home institution, as well as sought and accepted support from various people and groups regarding this transition. Additionally, self-discipline, learned and practiced from time served in the military, was exceptionally important in their success at their institutions. Although social support was a positive contributing factor to veteran success, the veterans noted that disclosure of veteran status remained dependent on certain social situations.

This study gives valuable insight to the experiences of veterans in undergraduate programs at Ivy League institutions. However, it is important to also recognize the limitations of this study. First, it only elaborates on the experiences of four individuals. The diversity of these participants is also not discussed, therefore the generalizability may be limited. In order to better assess the student veteran experience at Ivy League institutions, it would be useful to sample from a wider variety of individuals.

Barriers to Applying
The cost of Ivy League institutions makes it an unachievable goal for many transitioning veterans. Although the GI Bill® provides recipients up to $26,042.81 each academic year, that is far too little to afford these institutions. The average cost of an Ivy League institution is $56,746 each academic year for tuition alone. Additionally, the cost of living far exceeds the monthly housing allowance for many veterans. The cost of living near some Ivy League institutions, such as Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University are high above the national average, making it exceptionally difficult for transitioning veterans to attend these institutions due to financial hardships.

The presence of additional funding sources can help alleviate the costs of higher education. The Yellow Ribbon Program has helped GI Bill® recipients afford tuition amounts that exceed the maximum base pay amount for students that are 100 percent eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. Although the Yellow Ribbon Program is not guaranteed for all GI Bill® recipients, it does provide substantial support for many individuals that need the extra tuition money to attend expensive schools. However, this only applies to those that are eligible for Chapter 33 benefits, meaning that those using other chapters of VA educational benefits may not have as much opportunity to attend Ivy League schools that cost more than the benefit dispenses.

Socially, Ivy League institutions are sometimes a place where veterans may not feel comfortable due to their demographic makeup. The average student veteran is much older than the average college student. The disparity between the life stages of these individuals may be enough to deter student veterans from attending institutions of higher learning in general, but also highly selective universities where prior military service is not as common. Additionally, the Common Application, utilized by many universities and colleges, does not allow for individuals to account for gaps in education. As many current veterans applying to universities and colleges enlisted into the service directly after high school graduation, this brings up another barrier to applying for and attending Ivy League schools.

Service to School
Service to School (S2S) offers personalized support for transitioning veterans and connects them to the best university or graduate school possible. This organization serves those looking to attend undergraduate, graduate, MBA, law, and healthcare professionals' programs across the country. First, veterans need to apply for admission support for their intended program of study. Then, applicants are matched with a S2S representative that helps research the best colleges for each individual. Finally, the representative assists the veteran in compiling application materials, which includes writing essays and taking standardized testing. After applications are submitted and evaluated, S2S representatives will help veterans decide which offer best fits their goals and lifestyle. On their website, Andres Guerra, a US Marine Corps veteran now attending Yale University, expresses that "Veterans have experiences, Service to School helps turn them into stories. Those stories become a gateway to a brighter future." The S2S website also supplies several resources for veterans looking to apply to institutions of higher education. This resource services a prime need of the veteran community after leaving the service.

Ivy League Veteran Council
The Ivy League Veterans Council (ILVC) works to encourage institutions to implement a more holistic screening process while evaluating applicants. Oftentimes, veteran applicants are overlooked due to the nontraditional path taken to earn their degree. The ILVC endorses a model that pushes universities to allow veteran applicants to explain the gap in their education, All eight official Ivy League institutions, in addition to four other highly prestigious universities, have an ILVC chapter on campus. The ILVC also hosts conferences at various campuses with university staff, faculty, and student veterans to hold discussions on how to improve the application process for student veterans. Supporting veterans before and during the application process is vital to successful recruitment of student veterans.

Future Considerations
Individualized support not only spurs veterans' own success, but also offers institutions of higher education invaluable scholars. Student veterans' resiliency and determination to succeed is proven time and again through their accomplishments. Admitting and enrolling a more representative incoming class, diverse with military veterans and their families, will provide great opportunity, not only for the individual but also for the institution. Personalized support can assist each veteran in finding a program of study at the best university for them, and this process all starts with the veteran.

What other resources have you found for veterans applying to institutions of higher education?

Article Topics

Military Educational Benefits Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success Workplace Inclusion

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