RedKodiak

Hey, I know this has nothing to do with nursing, but I swear to God I just felt an earthquake. Well...I treamor at least. At approx. 530-540am. I'm at my girlfriend's apartment in Berrien County on the coast of Lake Michigan near the Indiana border. I swear I'm not crazy, because I went outside and about 10 people were in the parking lot saying the same thing.

Yeesh...if I tried to go to school in the Virgin Islands, I wouln't make it through the first semester. That's why I go to school in Michigan. Less temptation.

I had a mohawk for a few months after I got out of the Army, but shaved it when i applied to the Nursing Program. One thing I thought was a bit weird, none of my tats are visable in short sleeves, but I was still asked to submit pictures of them. I have an Airborne tat on my upper left arm (a skull wearing a maroon beret superimposed on jumpwings with the words 82nd Airborne underneath). Yeah...I know. But I was 18 and excited about being a paratrooper. Anyway, my advisor, for some reason, thought it was a rascist thing and told me she was deeply offended. I had to go get the VA Benefits Rep to come down and vouch for it being an Army tattoo.

I know a few people that took the Excelsior College route while serving as enlisted. And many colleges offer classes on post, but your admittance is dependent on your CO's discretion. I was assigned to Line Units (Armored Cavalry), so just about all of our medics never really had the time to go to school. I don't know what it was like in Rear Echelons. Honestly, I would suggest completing finishing school as a civilian or National Guard and then go Active Duty. There's student loan re-payment programs that could really benefit you.

Getting my pre-reqs for my ADN...4.0. But I pretty much had to bust my butt for it. Out of school for 8 years plus the fact that I'm just not a natural student.

Getting my pre-reqs done at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I start my program this fall. Living off the GI Bill and trying to avoid all the temptations in KZoo. Between Western and KVCC, this town is pretty much party central.

Try renting a room in someone's house for the short term. You can try craigslist or roommates.com. You could probably find something cheap with utilities and a low security deposit. Live there for a few months and save every dollar until you can get an apartment.

Way to go, man. 8 year Army Vet here. Biggest piece of advice I can give you is maintain all those study habits they grilled into us. Once you've faced down a table full of Sergeant Majors and First Sergeants at the promotion board, no Nursing teacher on earth can shake you.

I pretty much live off the GI Bill. So far I've managed not to touch the money I saved up in Iraq. I try to live as cheap as possible. I rent a room above a garage, eat Ramen and MRE's I still have from the Army. And to make spending cash for the occaisional dvd/video game rental, I deliver pizza a couple nights a week. Not exactly a glamorous lifestyle, but I like to think it will pay off.