Does VA Voc Rehab pick your college?

Vocational Rehabilitation Counseler

The short answer is, “It depends.” They will pick it or at least push you in the direction of a public school. As in my last post, Voc Rehab wanted to push me to attend a public school.

Did I have to attend a public school?

No, I was able to convince Voc Rehab to pay for me to attend a private college for both my undergrad and, now, law school. Since the major I wanted to study was not offered at the public university, I was able to get VA to agree to pay for the private education. The difference was amazing.

What’s the difference?

The most apparent is the price tag. Northwestern costs $35,000 per year. The average public university was somewhere around $10,000. But the differences don’t stop there:

  • The professors are more active in teaching
  • Students take school more seriously
  • More businesses actively recruit

And those are just a few. I took classes over the summer at the local public university from time to time and noticed a big difference in the student body. Most at the public school really felt the experience was just about putting that degree on your wall rather than the process. But, that’s just my own perception. I treated college like an opportunity to better myself as a person and a professional, both.

That was my own experience. Yours may be different, whether you go to a public school or not. Regardless, the point of the blog is to make you aware that you have an option. Post below with any questions.

Similar Posts

3 Comments

  1. Ben: I am 61 year old and close to finish my bachelor in social work. I suppose to graduate last month but the state university UMBC discriminated all the way, the program was during the day, and a field instructor supervisor report and give a poor evaluation two weeks before my semester was over and the school pull me out of the agency and ask me to repeat the semester. I decide to change school but my VRC counselor is a pitball and a prejudice. I found a private school that offer education for adult students like me and it cost the same that the state university. They accept me and my counselor denied the transfer and order me to attend a school way far from my home. I depend on public transportation and take buses and metror. I had apply for post nine/eleven and my VRC told me that he will send a adverse letter action against me. i do not know what that mean and if I will loose my benefits. My classes for summer start on the 8 May 2017 and I am going to risk by register for classes. I am very aggressive when I am being see as a second class citizen for my age, nationality and ethnicity. I had not been paid for books for the fall semester 2016. Tutor was denied to me. I am being discriminated, disrespected, and almost pull out of the VRE program for this counselor who has a Master degree on Psychology. I should said that not all the VRE counselor are prejudice. My first counselor was a teacher and he help me big time. Wherever I need in school, books, and school supplies, I have it. But he left and after that they starting changing VRE counselor without notified me. This last VRE counselor it is the worst of the wort. Do not be afraid to be rejected for your ages. Study hard and your will survive.

  2. Ben, I just applied and was accepted to Loyola Chicago for an MSW. My counselor wants me to submit a letter as to why I think I need a private education versus going to UIC. Is the fact that I am admitted for Spring term at Loyola when UIC won’t admit until fall enough? For example, potentially losing over $50K of future income, or do I need something more currently relevant? Thanks!

  3. Anyone else out there who just happens to be an older Vietnam Vet? I have just been significantly upgraded in my disability rating and made re-eligible for Voc Rehab and am concerned about the same unspoken discrimination of my age may come into play, as it often has when applying for any real type of a job now. I haven’t as yet met with a VR counselor but expect to soon and really feel anxious about someone thirty to forty years younger than me trying to patronize me as an elder vet.

Comments are closed.