<p>I’m a veteran who enlisted in the military immediately following high school. After my four year contract was up, I started my undergraduate degree at a local community college. After one year, I applied as a transfer student to Amherst, Williams, Dartmouth, Columbia, Wesleyan, and Vassar. </p>
<p>I can say with confidence that my story is not an unusual one. Two of my veteran classmates at my community college are transferring right now. Like me, they both have 4.0 GPAs and one of them is the valedictorian and will be going to McDonough B-School at Georgetown. I took the SAT this past January (never took it in secondary school), and did well. I will be attending Amherst this fall, joining at least two other veterans already there. </p>
<p>I think it’s great that these Vassar is starting the aforementioned program. While the vast majority of veterans will not qualify for top schools, much like the rest of the population, these programs play an important role in providing the opportunity. There are more than enough veterans standing ready to leap for an education if only apprised of the opportunity. In addition, veterans have a unique perspective regarding global affairs, and will surely have more life experience than many of the high school matriculants.</p>