Rotc

If you're interested in joining the military after going to college, it's hard to beat the financial aid program offered by the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

ROTC provides students with money for college while they are in school. In exchange, the student must make a commitment to join the armed services after graduating.

Upon graduation, students become commissioned officers in the Navy, Army, Air Force or Marine Corps. ROTC scholarships pay for tuition, fees, and books for all four years of college. Smaller programs also are available for students who want to make lesser commitments.

The other military option to get college money is enlistment. The Montgomery GI Bill provides college money to soldiers that can be used to attend the public or private college of their choice. I have been in the Army for over two years now and will receive $28k for college with the GI Bill. When I leave the military in 2006, I will start college at a public university and will recieve a monthly sum of about $1,000 as a full time student until the $28k is paid out. I think the military is an excellent option for people who want to do something different for a while before college. It has benefited me in many ways, not just financially. My opinion only.

I served 3 yrs in the Army to earn money for college and took advantage of my GI Bill. Although it may not be for everyone, it makes more sense than to start college and accumulate debt while "trying to find yourself" and what you want to do with your life.

I now have a degree, and am serving in the Coast Guard with a chance to become an Officer. The military offers great benefits and one thing that no civilian job can offer- GUARANTEED JOB STABILITY. I've never heard of one person laid off or getting hosed on a pension only a couple years from retirement if they have maintained good conduct.

I will have the ability to retire with a pension at 42 and not work another day of my life if I want to. How much of YOUR life do you plan to spend working before you can finally enjoy it??? Sorry guys/gals, Social Security will only buy coffee and a newspaper if it even exists when us 20-somethings retire.