BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Warning! Beware of sharks in the water, they smell blood...
There's a dangerous situation here concerning your higher education, and it's lurking beneath the surface. The danger is with some of our institutions of higher learning, our colleges and universities across the U.S. and beyond. Because of the new GI Bill, some are preparing to take advantage of unsuspecting and deployment stressed military personnel.
Most colleges and universities are honorable institutions, educating with integrity, and providing quality education at affordable prices for the military. Then there are "schools of sharks" that pretend to be legitimate, but are lurking out there to "rip you off." They are degree mills and businesses that exist for one reason only - profits. They lure military students into their programs, charge very high prices for classes, and extract maximum profits. If they educate a person during the process, it's an afterthought, not a goal.
The new Post 9-11 GI Bill that becomes effective Aug. 1, 2009, will generate billions of dollars in education benefits for this generation of service members now fighting. The education predators know this, and are positioning themselves for a "feeding frenzy" in 2009.
Their marketing and development teams are working hard on programs to entice military personnel out of their hard-earned benefits. Here are some guidelines to use when determining and selecting where and how to spend GI Bill benefits:
· Only enroll in colleges and universities that are regionally or nationally accredited. All state supported colleges, universities and community colleges, including the Community College of the Air Force, are regionally accredited.
· Take your general education classes at your local community college. The classes are 100 percent transferrable and the best "bang for your buck." Why pay $1,200 for a class at a four year college or university when you can get it for $60 at your local junior college?
· All state schools are "regionally" accredited. Private schools are the ones you need to be concerned with. Always check their accreditation. No matter their popularity or how slick and glitzy their advertising, check them out. Spending money to get a degree or certification from a non-accredited school could leave you with a worthless degree or certificate that won't transfer to another school, and won't be accepted by a potential employer.
· Try to stay away from student loans and apply for scholarships and grants. Every year, there are many that go unclaimed. Do your research, use the web. We can help.
· Beware of degree and diploma mills that promise completion in an unreasonably short period of time. There are some very popular online and local colleges and universities that are very expensive, have very short classes, and promise degrees very quickly. Even though they may be legitimate, you could have gotten the same degree or a better education thousands of dollars cheaper.
If you are in doubt about any school, have other questions and concerns, or would like to set up a counseling appointment, please contact Mr. Harold Butler, 940th ARW Education Services Office at 634-1844. We can help you get the right information, and save your hard earned benefits.