From the Marine Corps to College: Transitioning from the Service to Higher Education

Ventrone suggests that even the bravest marines can be intimidated at the thought of enrolling in college and here assists them in navigating the complexities of veterans administration (VA) educational benefits. As an educational counselor working with marines, the author is knowledgeable about her topic. She explains how to choose a program of study, how to prepare an admission packet, and how to make the most of VA benefits. Discussed is the pursuit of higher education both while on active duty and after separating from the service. Vetrone's explanations of various federal and state benefit programs are comprehensive and thorough. Unfortunately, though, her delivery distracts from her message. The writing is at times dense and efforts to interject a conversational style are more annoying than encouraging. Extensive URL listings hinder the flow of the text and would be more helpful in an appendix, while sidebars would improve readability. Marines looking for a more general work may prefer Sean-Michael Green's Marching to College.