Today we are joined by Service to School applicant, Justin Cole. Justin is a veteran of the US Air Force, transfer student, and current student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Justin jumps right with us about how life experiences during his military service drove a passion that led him to higher education. We chat about transitioning to campus, adjusting to the change in academic rigor of MIT, leveraging connections for research & career opportunities, and much more!

Main Topics

• Justin’s background & intro (0:03)

• Managing high level of responsibility & expectations joining the Air Force right out of high school (4:20)

• Deployment to Japan inspiring future career ambitions, influence of passion to fight climate change on decision to separate from the military (6:22)

• Transition from the military & into academia, impacts of connecting with fellow service members during the admissions process (10:05)

• Taking classes at UCCS, college plans that were on the radar, exploring opportunities in desired career space (12:00)

• Approach to applying for transfer admission, joining campus as a spring semester transfer (15:15)

• Experience transitioning from UCCS to MIT, the classroom environment as a non-traditional student (17:05)

• Connecting with faculty about career interests leading to academic research opportunity (22:35)

• Funding college, leveraging the GI Bill & VR&E, exploring schools with need-blind admissions (27:40)

• Best parts of studying at MIT (30:05)

• Advice for fellow veterans pursuing passions & applying to competitive colleges (33:20)

Additional Resources

• S2S VetLink College Partners

• Khan Academy

• Warrior-Scholar Project

• Vocational Readiness & Education (VR&E)

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