Excelsior help with Post 9/11 GI Bill.....RANT!

Published

Background: I have been an lpn for 6yrs, got it through the army. Did 4yrs active duty and currently work for a Veteran's Hospital.

OK, I called excelsior finanical office gave them my stats and told them I wanted to learn more about how the Post 9/11 gi bill works for the rn program before applying and enrolling. EX: How does getting paid BAH work with the nursing program? How long after enrolling and applying does the VA pay the school so that I can begin taking classes? I have used some of my Montgomery GI bill so what paperwork do I need to cross over to the Post 9/11?

Well to my surprise the lady on the phone acted like she could not be bothered to answer my questions. She kept saying that I need to speak with admissions before for she can speak to me. She said I still have a long way to go. I felt like I had gone to Sears and they said first buy this washing machine then we will tell you how this works:devil:

I have been researching excelsior for about a year now and got so much inspiration from this site. I was so excited to finally speak to someone and figuring out how to pay for it and get the ball rolling. To say I was shocked and felt like crap is an understand statement. It was like pulling teeth and she answered with sighs when she did answer a question but mostly she kept saying that I need to get with admissions first before she can answer finanical questions. I know I am not wrong to want figure out how to pay for school before I commit.

Have anyone been treated this way and/or does anyone know the answers to these questions? I am new to this site ( been looking around for awhile but finally signed up) Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks inadvance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If this is the way you were treated, I would write a letter to the head of the school and let them know that their financial aid people are turning away potential students with their unnecessarily rude behavior.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since you are a LPN at present, I doubt seriously if you would not be accepted into the program.... I would explain that until you have your financial questions resolved you're NOT enrolling. If possible I would email the admissions office, since that way you won't waste your time either. The person you spoke with should've had better phone manners, however I can see her point (even though I don't agree with it!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have you already changed over to the post- 9/11 GI Bill through the VA? The school will process your GI Bill differently, but a lot of your questions are actually questions for the VA, given that they are the ones paying your BAH, Tuition, etc. If it's an exclusively online program, I think they decided that you do get BAH but I think it's only half or something like that. A great source for a lot of your questions is: gibill.va.gov

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From what I have been told from the VA your BAH will not start until sometime in October because currently the do not pay out BAH for online classes. This was a new benefit that just recently was amended and does not go into affect until October. I'm not sure on the book stipend for you because my spouse transferred me some of his benefits.

You will have to fax financial aid your post 9/11 certificate of eligibility so have you transferred your montgomery to the post 9/11?

On the certificate of eligibility it should tell you what percentage of benefits your allowed (mine is 100% so it pays for all my fees and tests, just not my books).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is meant by "more than 50% time" for the Monthly Housing Allowance

(MHA) stipend based on the basic housing allowance (BAH) for an E-5 with

dependents?

You can receive the MHA if you take classes from Excelsior College and take a class from a

local in-residence, traditional college in your area at the same time. The MHA you receive will

be based on the zip code of the local traditional college. All the courses you take must apply to

your Excelsior College degree. Excelsior College Advisors are prepared to discuss the classes

you can take in your local area that will apply to your degree while you are taking classes with

Excelsior College.

You must be attending college more than 50% or more than half time for the MHA.

Example 1: taking 12 & 15 week courses:

If you were taking 12 credits (or 4 classes each worth 3 credits) for 15 weeks that would be

considered full-time (100%).

If you were taking 9 credits (or 3 classes each worth 3 credits) for 15 weeks that would be

considered three-quarters time (75%).

If you were taking 6 credits (or 2 classes each worth 3 credits) for 15 weeks that would be

considered half-time (50%).

For Example 2: taking 8 week courses:

If you were taking 6 credits (or 2 classes each worth 3 credits) for 8 weeks, that would be

considered full-time (100%).

If you were taking 3 credits (or 1 class worth 3 credits) for 8 weeks that would be considered half

-time (50%).

Remember, each term or semester, to get MHA, you must take classes from Excelsior and a

traditional college at the same time. Also, the VA will look at every day in the month so be sure

you were taking more than 50% course load. If you are not taking 51% or more every day of

that month than you will not get the full MHA for those days you were not more than 50%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was wondering about that too

Up Vote Up Vote ×
From what I have been told from the VA your BAH will not start until sometime in October because currently the do not pay out BAH for online classes. This was a new benefit that just recently was amended and does not go into affect until October. I'm not sure on the book stipend for you because my spouse transferred me some of his benefits.

You will have to fax financial aid your post 9/11 certificate of eligibility so have you transferred your montgomery to the post 9/11?

On the certificate of eligibility it should tell you what percentage of benefits your allowed (mine is 100% so it pays for all my fees and tests, just not my books).

I have benefits transferred freom my spouse as well. Are you saying it covers the cost of your books? I did not know this.

thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an LPN now for 10 yrs and only have the CPNE to finish up with Excelsior college to graduate and get my Associates degree in nursing. I got my LPN in the Army as well and decided a few yrs ago to get my RN with Excelsior. I was usure how to get the ball rolling with them just like you, but I applied with Excelsior and then went through https://www.ebenefits.va.gov to apply for benefits. I made sure to fill out all the paperwork online and everything went through. It seemed like it took a while to get everything going, but after I started taking my tests and passing them, then I would get a check based on how many credits I earned. I recently switched to the post 911 GIB and I am waiting for thoses benefits to kick in now, but they said everything is handled through the VA side and would automatically be taken care of since I already submitted my certificate of eligibility from Excelsior to the VA. Good luck! It is a lot of paperwork, but worth it once you get the checks! And another thing is you don't receive BAH if you are taking online courses. :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment