Anticipate upcoming changes in duty station, deployments or your personal life that may affect your schedule and budget. Be sure to check course schedules. Not all required courses are available every semester. Your school’s financial aid counselor can help you find the nitty gritty items that cut into your budget while you’re in school such as activity fees or institutional advancement fees. By having an educational plan and working in anticipated life changes, you’re ready for whatever comes down the road.
The new GI Bill covers the cost of the highest public school tuition in your state, but work with your financial aid counselor and make sure all the education costs are included in your budget. Look at the school’s standard student budget and see if your expenses are more than what they assume. Do you have a child who needs day care so you can attend class? Need a computer? Do you live off campus and pay rent or a mortgage? These are all line items that may change your financial aid budget. When your aid package is complete, it will show how much money you’re getting and how much money you still need, based on your budget.