Vet School and the post GI bill

[ilovelasun]

So I guess I am what you call a non traditional student. I moved to Los Angeles right after high school and worked as a animal groomer until I joined the army a year a half ago. Now I am realizing how much I miss working with my 'monster babies'....Anyways, I am currently deployed to Afghanistan right now and assuming I dont re up I will be out in July 2013. I will have the post GI bill. I was wondering if anyone has ever used it for vet school and could I expect to live off of that and loans without working so that I can attend school full time. I want to attend Pierce College and *hopefully* I get accepted into UC Davis.
How are you making it financially while on this journey? I am not married and I have no children. I am 26 years old. Just thinking of not having money to pay rent, insurance, phone bill (The only bills I should have if I were to get out) is scary. Is it possible to live off of student loans if you are frugal? Since the vet program is 4 years I wanted to wait and use the post GI bill for vet school instead of the pre vet program at Pierce. Please help/advise!

I am also confused on whether the post GI bill would cover the tuition for school in California. I was reading something online and there is conflicting information on whether or not tuition is covered because of the wording in the california law.

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[Armymutt25A]

I'm using it for vet school. I'm also taking out loans, as the BAH for a married E-5 isn't enough for me to live on. I am married and my wife is in pharmacy school, so we have added expenses. Going from an O-3E at 10 yrs pay to $30K/yr is kind of rough, especially since our actual living expenses are not going to decrease. If you are single, have all your debts (car loan, credit card, etc) paid off before you start school, and can find a place for about half of the BAH for the location you are going to go to school, you should be able to manage it. Figure you can get a place a little bigger than a hootch for pretty cheap and spend the rest on power, water, and food, and you'll be ok.

I've heard of issues with CA schools, but don't know if Congress has fixed the problem.

 

[heylodeb]

I'm using it for vet school. I'm also taking out loans, as the BAH for a married E-5 isn't enough for me to live on. I am married and my wife is in pharmacy school, so we have added expenses. Going from an O-3E at 10 yrs pay to $30K/yr is kind of rough, especially since our actual living expenses are not going to decrease. If you are single, have all your debts (car loan, credit card, etc) paid off before you start school, and can find a place for about half of the BAH for the location you are going to go to school, you should be able to manage it. Figure you can get a place a little bigger than a hootch for pretty cheap and spend the rest on power, water, and food, and you'll be ok.

I've heard of issues with CA schools, but don't know if Congress has fixed the problem.

My husband and I have had success with the GI Bill here in california. No problems, actually. (We used it for undergrad but I assume it is the same idea)

 

[gina85]

It helps if you can get a scholarship....i have one and use it combined with my gi bill to cover tuition and housing. I am single with no kids and find the BAH pretty fair. I can live off of it, and I still have enough to cover any vet expenses for my two dogs. It helps to get a job for extra money, though.

Also, the new changes cap any private school tuition at 17k annually...which sucks. I'm at a private school that costs less per credit hour than my state's public schools, but I still have that cap in effect.

 

[Armymutt25A]

Be aware that the Chapter 33 has changed for this year. If you have a scholarship that is for tuition and fees, that scholarship must be applied to your bill first, and then the VA picks up the rest.

 

[gina85]

That's true!!! By scholarship, I mean try and get one from the schools you are applying to! My school awarded me a Presidential Scholarship and it really helped me out with tuition, especially since that private school cap is now in effect.

Also, there is a website (I will try and find it, can't think of it off the top of my head) for veterans and active duty to find and apply for different scholarships, grants and loans. Mostly they are under $1000 but when you get a bunch of them it starts to add up. Might be super helpful for undergrad fees.

 

[ilovelasun]

Thank you for the replies! It helps a lot. Gina85 if you could let me know what that site is I would greatly appreciate it!