Petty Officer 3rd Class John Venzon of the United States Navy returned home two years ago after serving four years at sea. Now he would like to go to college.

Venzon said it would be helpful for returning vets if colleges would offer more services and courses to give veterans an easier transition when they return home. Venzon also said the Veteran’s Administration has people they can go to for information about how to utilize their benefits, but more is needed outside the VA.

“There’s only one course you have to take before you get out that explains all your benefits, and this needs to be extended to the college level,” he said.

Even more new veterans are expected to return to college then ever before, and the new G.I. Bill, called the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, will allow them the assistance they need to obtain a college education and establish the foundation for life beyond the military.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported the new G.I. Bill covers public education for most veterans who served after 9/11 and minimizes the burden of the cost of private tuition. Members of the National Guard and the Reserves are also included under this new bill. Stipends for housing and books will also be available.

Senator John McCain and President Bush did not support this new bill because of fear that it would make service members choose college over re-enlistment.

The bill went on to pass and was signed into law on June 30, 2008. Thousands of vets are expected to take advantage of the new bill, which becomes effective Aug. 1, 2009.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that more than 523,000 vets are currently taking advantage of VA education benefits, and with the new bill that number is expected to rise.

Thousands of veterans left high school with poor academic grades and low GPAs to join the military and had no aspirations of going to college.

Now, they’re coming home after fighting the war in Iraq with new attitudes and new ambitions for obtaining higher education, only to find that doors are not opening as easily as they expected. This is because of their lack of acceptable SAT and ACT scores and their low GPAs while in high school.

Veterans counselor Julie Brown of the University of North Texas said she has spoken to ten prospective vets planning to register under the new G.I. Bill. UNT is one of the campuses that is considered by military.com as one of the most vet-friendly in North Texas.

There are 31 schools that are military-friendly and meet the military criteria in North Texas according to military.com.

A new group has been exclusively formed for vets that consists of psychological, academics and career services, according to Brown.

Access and Excess for Our Troops is an organization at UNT that is a work-in-progress group to find out what services are needed by veterans, according to Brown.

They have spoken to current active-duty vets and reservists, the VA regional office, the Department of Defense and Homeland Security to find solutions about how to administer the new benefit for Fall 2009, as well as what programs and courses need to be offered from universities and colleges to aid veterans in making the transition into civilian life.

Alethea Laxson, a UNT admissions counselor, said depending on how long veterans have been out of high school, if it’s five years or more, they can apply for an Adult Admit Application. Usually applicants are not denied admissions.

SAT and ACT requirements also get waived for veterans applying at UNT. Laxson said a brief essay and an outline of goals are required.

Because of the new bill, many universities and colleges throughout the country haven’t recognized the fact that post-war vets will be in need of courses that will give them assistance in transitioning into college and civilian life.

Transitioning from a regimented military life and wartime to the flexible and free civilian life is a difficult period for them, yet with the help of programs offered by some universities and colleges, the transition is made easier and vets can divert their focus in a more positive direction.

In 2006, the Troops to College program was developed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, offering a course called “Veterans in Higher Education” to help vets learn how to prepare for tests and how to study effectively and efficiently.

This program was designed to gain the attention of vets and lure them into colleges and universities to make them feel more at home in a campus setting.

Cleveland State University offers an introduction to college life course that gives veterans more insight about college life and helps make a smoother transition into civilian life.

The University of Michigan offers a veteran’s services office designed to help vets with details of the new G.I. Bill, registration and housing. This office also offers vets access to counseling programs.

The Dallas County Community College District only offers an Accuplacer Test, which includes math, English, reading comprehension and algebra.

Samantha Hammonds, an admissions counselor for DCCCD at Eastfield College, said hand-outs are available online for pre-testing.

“If they fail, classes are offered to aid in getting students up to college level in those courses,” she said. “It solves the admissions process by taking the Accuplacer Test.”

Hammonds said there were no other programs specifically designed to assist veteran’s seeking acceptance to community college.

Ginger Oravsky, admissions counselor for Southern Methodist University, said if veterans don’t meet the standard admissions requirements of SMU initially they need to attend a community college first in order to make the transition to a private university easier.

Oravsky was unaware of any special courses or any specific provisions being made by SMU for any returning veterans whose transcripts reflect a poor academic record and who are seeking higher education.

Brooke Dailey, admissions counselor for the University of Dallas, said they haven’t seen a problem with returning veterans who are seeking higher education and are in need of specific counseling services.

The University of Dallas still requires that SAT and ACT scores be met according to their standards. Dailey also said they have experienced a number of older students returning who are veterans in their 40s and 50s, and they too must meet UD’s SAT and ACT requirements.

“This issue is something their university needs to look into and bring to the table for discussion,” Dailey said.

Gayoone Quick, admissions counselor for the University of Texas at Arlington, said they assist returning veterans on a case by case basis. There hasn’t been any discussion about how to deal with vets wanting acceptance at UTA.

“There are no special requirements in motion at this time,” she said.