What does it take to build a career in consulting after military service? In this follow-up conversation, Alex Dawson returns to the Service to School Stories podcast to share how his journey evolved from pursuing an MBA to launching a career in consulting. Drawing on his own experiences, Alex offer…
Service to School Stories
by Service to School
Welcome to Service to School Stories, a deep-dive style podcast hosted by Service to School. We dig into topics in the Higher Education landscape as they relate to Veterans and transitioning service members. Tune in as we chat about navigating the college experience for Veterans: going through the application process, dealing with imposter syndrome, applying to highly selective universities, handling rejection letters, supporting Veterans on campus and much more!
Latest Episodes
Four years ago, Terren Wise joined the S2S Stories podcast shortly after being accepted to Brown University, sharing his excitement for the journey ahead. Now, as he prepares to graduate with an engineering degree, Terren returns to reflect on how that journey unfolded and the experiences that shape…
Is community college the right path for veterans pursuing a college degree? In this episode, admissions leaders from Vassar College and Princeton University discuss the realities of community college as a pathway to highly selective institutions, challenging common misconceptions and offering practi…
In this episode, student veteran Kyle Keen shares his journey from military service to Stanford University and reflects on the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to college as a veteran. From navigating a new academic environment to finding his place on campus, Kyle discusses …
What does it mean to find community as a woman veteran in higher education? In this episode, Haley Champion and Susan McLernon, co-founders of the Princeton Women's Veterans Group, share their journeys from military service to the classrooms of Princeton and the experiences that shaped their transit…
Many veterans focus on getting into college, but one of the most important steps toward a successful civilian career happens while you're still a student. In this episode, Whitney Cason sits down with Mike Brown, Army veteran and Director of The Prince Family Veterans Resource Center at Villanova Un…
What happens when a veteran returns to school after years away from the classroom? Shifting gears to balancing work, life responsibilities, and the pressure of starting over sound familiar? In this episode, Chris Gregory shares his journey from community college student to competitive applicant for …
In this episode, Emma chats with Marina Varela, manager of the Student Veteran Resource Center at Diablo Valley College, about how community colleges can provide veterans with a strong foundation for higher education through personalized support, transfer pathways, and veteran-focused resources. She…
In this episode, Sydney Matthes and Annie Behari from Service to School discuss how military service members and veterans can prepare for higher education. They cover college application timelines & nuances specific to veterans, evaluating schools based on military benefits and goals, using tuition …
In this episode of Service to School Stories, Emma Parish, Director of Student Advising, sits down with S2S applicant & Ambassador pair Denver Barrows and Cayde Bruce to explore the power of peer mentorship in the veteran-to-college journey.
They dig into how strong mentor–mentee relationships are…
In this powerful episode of Service to School Stories, host Whitney Cason sits down with Army veteran Nate Tiegs and admissions expert Nick Fritz for an honest, deeply human conversation about what it really takes for veterans to transition into higher education.
Nate opens up about the parts of h…
In this episode of Service to School Stories, Whitney sits down with Javier Kazmierczak — a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier whose path from the military to higher education is anything but ordinary.
Javier opens up about the real challenges behind his transition, from navigating the college…
Discover how Brown University is opening doors for veterans. In this episode, Sydney sits down with Bailey DiOrio and Mac Manning to break down Brown’s veteran-focused admissions process, the power of community on campus, and the programs that help student veterans thrive from day one. You’ll hear h…
In this episode of Service to School Stories, host Whitney Cason sits down with Luke Hixson, a U.S. Navy veteran whose journey from the fleet to the Ivy League and now medical school proves that there’s no single path to success after service.
Luke shares how he went from treating Marines as a Nav…
Transferring to a new college can feel like starting over — especially for veterans.
In this episode of Service to School Stories, transfer admissions expert Jamie Smith breaks down what every student veteran needs to know about making a smooth transition from community college to a four-year unive…
In this episode of Service to School Stories, Whitney sits down with Air Force veteran Zach Wright to trace his path from community college to Stanford University. Zach opens up about what it really takes to thrive in higher education after the military — from battling imposter syndrome and finding …
In this episode, Sydney and Annie discuss the evolving landscape of college admissions for veteran applicants. They explore trends in academic preparedness, the role of community colleges, the importance of standardized testing, and how veterans can effectively communicate their military experiences…
In this episode of Service to School Stories, we chat with Dr. Scott Smitson, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who transitioned into academia. He discusses the challenges he faced as a military veteran in higher education as well as opportunities, particularly through the Chamberlain Project, …
In this episode of Service to School Stories, S2S Director of VetLink, Whitney, chats with Kloey Albertson, a veteran and current student veteran at Brown University. Kloey shares her journey from military service to higher education, discussing the challenges she faced during the college admissions…
In this episode, we're joined by Kaleth Wright, the 18th Chief Master Sergeant of the US Air Force, who shares his remarkable journey from joining the military on a whim to reaching the highest enlisted rank. In this conversation, Kaleth shares his journey and reflects on the unexpected opportunitie…