Jacob Fischer — From Army Medic to Yale!
This is one part in a series of veteran profiles spotlighting Service to School(S2S) and our VetLink program, which connects veterans with highly selective colleges and universities.
Hometown: Mokelumne Hill, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I was not originally planning to apply to Yale, but multiple Service to School (S2S) reps encouraged me too. I got in and will be headed there this Fall!
Intended Major: Global Affairs
What did you do in the military? I was a platoon medic in the Army Airborne Infantry and a resuscitation medic on a Forward Surgical Team.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? My proudest accomplishment in the Army was graduating from Ranger School.
How did you hear about S2S? Stanford’s veteran liaison encouraged me to contact S2S.
What was the best part of S2S for you? The best part of S2S for me was the strategies for utilizing essay content to highlight my experiences.
Why did you decide to pursue college? Education has always been very important to me, whether formal or informal. I decided to pursue a college degree because I want to increase my options beyond my role as a medic.
How has the transition been from the military to civilian life? It has been very easy at times, and also challenging to fit in at other times. The best advice I can give is to immediately jump into something to stay active and keep momentum. Don’t expect special treatment, and be ready to be judged by your abilities in the current environment — not your last job.
What’s your favorite part about Yale? I haven’t arrived yet, but the Global Affairs program has many amazing opportunities and resources. I am excited to challenge myself and learn from many highly intelligent students.
What advice would you give to future applicants? If you don’t get into the school you want first try, go to community college (save your GI Bill for later). Get a year or two of A’s to prove your academic ability while at the community college, then reapply to the schools you want. Community college can help you save the GI Bill for grad school, and some schools need proof that you can succeed in school.
What are you goals post-graduation? I plan on becoming involved in California politics and eventually serving in a public office.
Yale University is an American private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It is consistently ranked one of the best universities in the world. For more information, please visit www.yale.edu
Service to School is a 501(3) non-profit committed to helping our nation’s veterans earn admission to highly selective colleges and universities. Our mission is to help every transitioning military veteran win admission to the best college or graduate school possible.
In 2015, Service to School launched VetLink, an initiative within our larger mentoring program, which partners our organization with some of the best colleges and universities in the U.S. including Amherst College, Cornell University, Emory University, Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Notre Dame, Pomona College, Princeton University, Smith College, Stanford University, Williams College, and Yale University.
Are you a transitioning veteran thinking about applying to college to earn your undergraduate or bachelor’s degree? Sign up for help from Service to School.
