Overview

This free course teaches veterans to unlock their enormous potential to excel in the college classroom. Through a mix of direct instruction, lively classroom discussion, and tailored readings and activities, the College Success Kit provides a first-of-its-kind course applicable to every veteran pursuing a college education. The course was designed by leaders at Warrior-Scholar Project, a national nonprofit that has supported thousands of enlisted veterans to and through college over the past fifteen years, in collaboration with Yale University’s digital education team and with generous funding from the Northrop Grumman Foundation. It meets student veterans where they are, speaking to the unique challenges of transitioning from the military into higher education. There are five modules in this course, each containing essential information that helps veterans not just survive college, but thrive. Modules can be completed in isolation and in any order, though we recommend starting with the first module and working through them sequentially.

Syllabus

Mindset

What role does your mental attitude play in your academic transition? In this module, we move beyond the simple binary of fixed and growth mindsets to explore the Mindset Continuum, a more realistic approach that acknowledges the fluid nature of learning. We expand on the Continuum idea to introduce the Warrior-Scholar Mindset, which centers self-awareness, purpose, knowledge seeking, and resilience, and highlight how these essential traits, already honed through military service, provide the foundation for success in the college environment.

Student/Veteran Identity

Why is understanding your identity essential for college success? This module explores the crucial transition veterans face when moving from the communal structure of the military to the individual-focused environment of higher education. We examine how identity shifts and the key differences in military and academic cultures.

Community in Transition

This module explores the vital role new communities play in fostering success and mental health, and provide tools for finding new communities during the transition from military service to college. Crucially, we redefine "imposter syndrome" as "imposter phenomenon," offering strategies to leverage self-doubt into motivation and growth.

Success Tools: Productivity & Procrastination

In this module, we challenge conventional ideas about productivity, time management, and the myth of multitasking. Transitioning from the military's strict command structure to the self-directed environment of college requires mastering new skills in attention and time management. We explore why equating productivity with self-worth is dangerous, discuss the concept of "pseudo-working," and introduce Newport's Law (focus intensity x time).

Success Tools: Methods for Optimizing Attention & Time (MOAT)

In this module, you will learn how to build your personal MOAT (Methods to Optimize Attention and Time) using practical tools for setting priorities and eliminating distractions.

Success Tools: Note-taking & Analytical Reading

In this module, we challenge you to think about thinking and how it is central to skill building. We focus on two of the fundamental academic skills necessary for college success—note-taking and analytical reading and explore how one informs the other. You'll learn different note-taking and reading strategies that are immediately applicable to any kind of academic work.

Success Tools: Exam Prep & Essay Writing

This module considers two additional essential skills for success in college: preparing for exams and writing essays. Learn how to become exam ready by setting yourself up for success well before the exam date. And explore new ways of thinking about essay writing, and how it is tightly connected to the note-taking and analytical reading skills discussed in the previous module.

Becoming an Informed Consumer of Higher Education

In this module, we help nontraditional students become informed consumers of higher education by defining your personal "why," determining what to study, and navigating financing options like the GI Bill.

Building Your College Knowledge

This module dives into the "hidden curriculum"—the unspoken rules of success, focusing on building essential relationships with professors and leveraging vital campus resources like syllabi and support centers.