Everyone's military journey begins roughly the same way. After your initial training (whether that is basic training/officer training), you are sent to a school to learn the skills you will need to be qualified to serve in your assigned MOS/AFSC/NEC. Once qualified, you begin your career, meet benchmarks, and advance. Some servicemembers will cross-train - move from their assigned specialty into a new one. When this happens, that member, regardless of their time in service or rank, goes through the same initial skills training course and starts the process over again.

This is - generally - not how higher education works. A bachelor's degree, while foundational in teaching initial skills for industry, is not the civilian equivalent of tech school. Yet there is a view among many student veterans that to move from one industry to another, the student must start at the bottom of the educational certification chain - i.e. another bachelor's degree. For many graduate programs, this is not the case; the distinction instead lies in whether you are an undergraduate (no degree) or a graduate (conferred degree). Once you are the latter, the ideal is to pursue graduate level education.

Learning to Learn versus Learning to Apply

Instead of viewing a degree as an initial certification for a craft, picture instead a degree as a rank-specific training. As a service member moves from junior enlisted, to non-commissioned officer, to senior non-commissioned officer - or from company grade officer, to field grade, etc. - members must attend courses designed to give them the leadership skills necessary for their new grade. Where technical training teaches you to do a job, career progression teaches you to think beyond your individual occupation and to lead across ranks.

Similarly, think of a bachelor's degree as teaching you how to learn. Throughout your undergraduate work, you learn research, concepts, theories, and how to correctly identify the originators of that work. Graduate school teaches you not just to learn but how to apply these concepts to your work. Where a bachelor's degree metaphorically teaches you the alphabet and grades you on your ability to correctly list letters from A to Z, graduate school teaches you the alphabet and asks you to use those letters to create words and craft an idea.

To Advance or to Pivot

Additional school, or graduate school, is often the answer when a person has decided that they need a professional change. Whether they feel they have reached the ceiling in their current role, or have decided they no longer want to be in that role/industry at all, school is often the answer to facilitate that change. Fortunately, many graduate programs are designed specifically for those looking to either advance or pivot their careers.

Many of the most popular graduate degrees - business administration (MBA), public administration (MPA), education (M.Ed.), social work (MSW) - are designed for students without a prior academic background in their respective field. For example, an MBA is designed to take professionals from across industries and specialties and equip them with the skills necessary to lead at higher levels. At Texas Christian University (TCU), more than half of the students enrolled in the professional MBA (an evening program for working professionals, of which military-affiliated students account for 35% of current classes) do not have a bachelor's degree in business. Instead, their work experience is the most weighted factor in their admission, and their undergraduate work adds to the variety of perspectives in the classroom.

Check the Pre-Reqs!

When considering additional education, it is important to first check the pre-requisites for a program. While many graduate programs only require holding a bachelor's degree, others will vary depending on the program. Science and engineering focused graduate programs are likely to require significant work in their field, some graduate programs may have undergraduate GPA requirements or demonstrated ability in specific subject areas. The key for veterans is to not short-change themselves by limiting their search to solely undergraduate degrees. When in doubt, reach out to the institution and the department you are interested in and ask to discuss your viability as a candidate. A good admissions representative will be able to evaluate your credentials, your goals, life situation, and make a recommendation on a best course of action.

Make Them Tell You "No"

Returning to school can be uncomfortable. Of the student veterans I have worked with who enrolled for a second bachelor's degree, most initially showed a lack of confidence in their academic credentials. Comments include:

• "Does my military service count as work experience?"
• "My undergraduate was so long ago I thought I needed to start over."
• "My undergraduate was in [insert field] and now I want to go into [new field], so don't I need to learn the fundamentals?"
• My least favorite, "I never saw myself getting a master's degree."

Ultimately, an employer is more likely to be impressed by a candidate who holds a master's degree over one who holds two bachelor's degrees. Veterans are uniquely positioned through experience to earn master's degrees and should pursue them. Make the graduate admissions office tell you that you are not ready before you limit your opportunities.

Article Topics

Job Search Advice Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success Women Veterans Working as a Veteran in HigherEd

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