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Veteran Student Spotlight


Earning your degree may seem like an impossible feat, especially if you are a war veteran. Below is a story written by Jean, a veteran of the Iraq War. Upon returning from the war, she started taking classes at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. Shortly before completing her associates degree from Parkland, she learned of the adult degree-completions program offered through Eastern Illinois on Parkland's campus. 
Due to the support and flexibility offered by EIU to their adult students, Jean was able to juggle the responsibilities of motherhood and being a college student. Read on to learn how Jean turned her struggle into success, thanks to Eastern Illinois University’s adult degree completion program. 


Battlefield inside the Hallways


The difficulties countless veterans deal with can be engulfing; however, the struggles are not unmanageable with the help of other veterans, students, and instructors. All that is needed to unleash this tremendous potential, is just a little bit of support and understanding of what he or she has been through and what they now have to face. After returning from Iraq, I thought there was nothing that I could not conquer and master. After all, I survived war. I left my family and experienced extreme culture shock. Boy was I wrong! I enrolled in a community college because I wanted to continue to leave my mark on the world, while setting a positive example for my children. 

What I didn’t understand at the time of enrollment, is that I was entering foreign territory and lacked the skill set to successfully complete the mission at hand. I realized, walking down the hallways, that my Army buddies were no longer a fingertip away. No longer could they watch my back while I tried to navigate this new world. I felt I could not relate to my peers and my professors because of the negative stigma that surrounds being a combat veteran.


 Why Veterans Choose B. A. in General Studies  

The B.A. in General Studies program ensures your training counts for more than just a certificate. B.A. in General Studies accepts all credits from military training and credits from other regionally accredited institutions. At Eastern Illinois University you are more than just a number. All students in the BGS program are assigned an advisor that will follow them through their degree completion up until graduation.  Our advisors will audit your work history and turn it into credits that count towards your Bachelor’s degree. The classes are small enough that your professor will actually know your name. Classes are offered in the evenings and online or hybrid programs are also available to ensure that your education which will not interfere with any previous commitments. 

There is no application fee for active-duty personnel. 

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Location: Illinois, USA

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