Joe Prive — USMC Intel Analyst to Amherst College!
Each week we spotlight enlisted veterans who have successfully transitioned from the military into elite colleges around the nation.
Hometown: Merrimack, NH
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a habit of hoarding newspapers. So I read them, which is normal, but then I stack them up in my room because I have trouble parting with them.
Major: English: I really like literature, and I enjoy reading pretty much everything, even though I picked up the habit relatively late in life — while I was in the military. I also took a lot of courses on political theory, something I hadn’t heard of in the military but learned to appreciate and love. One of the perks of small liberal arts colleges, I think, is the opportunity to study something you find a very real passion for and then still have relatively open options for post-grad. Whatever your major is, you really get set up to be a critical thinker and learner for the rest of your life.
What did you do in the military? I was a US Marine intelligence analyst. I studied Arabic at DLI and was also a semi-linguist. The rigorous academics at DLI combined with the military structure helped me mature and think about an academic future. I deployed to Afghanistan with 1st Intelligence Battalion from Camp Pendleton. In garrison, I took community college courses in the evening. I was fortunate to have a lot of opportunities to myself for higher ed.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the Marine Corps? I enlisted because I wasn’t making very mature decision for myself as a teenage, and I lacked direction — I had trouble sort of figuring out and navigating adulthood on my own. It took me some time but managing an intelligence team, my own work responsibilities and completing college courses at the same time is something that I’m proud of. Also, in high school I wasn’t the best student, so now that I turned into an intellectually minded adult, after some extra time, was pretty cool, too.
Why did you decide to pursue college? I decided pretty early into my enlistment that I was going to pursue college but got serious about it at DLI. After getting back from Afghanistan, I spent a lot of time researching different options.
How was the transition from the military to the classroom? The transition was tough. My first college experience was in 2011 and my personal history left me nervous and slightly uncomfortable. When I arrived at Amherst, I felt awkward and out of place for the first semester or two because I had a chip on my shoulder. The most important lesson for me was learning how to relax. It was a real punch in the gut — I was used to being a high-achieving Marine and there were 18 and 19 year olds that just knew the program and knew how to do it well. I recognized that I could learn to speak and write that way — I just needed to catch up quickly.
What led you to choose Amherst? I wanted to be close to the northeast. I also had a vague and naïve idea about what a small LAC was — a small, bookish environment where people read a lot of really great books. Amherst accepted mid-year transfers and I was eager to get started. When I visited Amherst, the people were really nice and accepting and I had a great experience. I highly recommend that vets visit the colleges they are applying to if possible.
What was your favorite part about Amherst? I got to hang in my own environment reading good books and writing about them. 2. The juxtaposition between Camp Pendleton and Amherst. They are both intense but in very different ways. 3. Being surrounded by really smart people. Everyone was so unbelievably pleasant, kind and laid-back. It was a good way to decompress and transition back into the civilian world.
What advice would you give to future applicants? Find a college search mentor and just do research. Be patient. College can be infantilizing in some respects after the military but the skill sets that you develop are invaluable. Take time to enjoy it. If you suck the first semester compared to peers, don’t stress, you will catch up.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully as a 3L or as an attorney!
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Amherst College is a private liberal arts college university in Amherst, MA. It is consistently ranked one of the best colleges in the world.
For more information, please visit www.amherst.edu.
Service to School is a 501c(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, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Notre Dame, Princeton University, Smith College, 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.
