The Next Mission: Higher Education | Academic Boot Camp at Columbia University Bridges Service and Scholarship
The program, which empowers veterans and current service members looking to transition into higher education, will take place from July 12 to July 19.
This summer, a new cohort of enlisted student veterans will engage in a unique, immersive college preparatory experience at Columbia University. Facilitated and designed in partnership with national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project, Columbia will host a humanities academic boot camp from July 12-19. The program requires each participant to complete 75 academic hours, simulating the challenges of a typical college "finals week" to better prepare student veterans for the demands of academic life as they transition from military careers to higher education.
Each year, more than 115,000 veterans transition from military service to civilian life, and for many, enrolling in college is a critical next step in establishing a new career. This pivotal moment isn’t just academic; it’s also about embracing a new identity as a civilian, fostering personal growth, and discovering a sense of purpose and community beyond the military. WSP facilitates this journey, offering an experience that blends rigorous academic preparation with social support.
During the boot camp, veterans learn from esteemed Columbia faculty, work with tutors, receive personalized mentorship from successful student veterans, and familiarize themselves with campus resources. This support is especially valuable as veterans adapt to a formal learning environment, which may feel unfamiliar after years spent away from the classroom.
“WSP is an incredible program that helps reinforce the confidence needed to transition back to school. The fellows are friendly and personable, as well as the staff that I encountered. I could not have asked for a better experience or better people to go through this with,” said Air Force veteran Andrew Rodriguez, a WSP-Columbia alumnus.
The WSP difference is clear, underscoring the nonprofit’s comprehensive, veteran-centric approach: 88% of WSP alumni have completed or are on track to earn a college degree—far surpassing the national average for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (54%) and full-time civilian students (61%).
Support from Columbia University and investments made by foundations, corporations, and private donors cover the program's entire cost for participants. Columbia has partnered with WSP for eight years.
About Warrior-Scholar Project
Warrior-Scholar Project’s mission is to ensure that every degree-seeking enlisted veteran succeeds in their pursuit of higher education. Since its founding in 2011, more than 2,500 student veterans have participated in a WSP Academic Boot Camp, its flagship program, and 88% of program alumni have earned or are on track to earn a college degree. The immersive college preparatory experience, hosted in partnership with colleges and universities nationwide, helps veterans prepare for the cultural transition from the military to academia.
More than boot camps, WSP also offers programs to address the unique needs of student veterans, including integrated programming for underrepresented veterans, graduate school, and career field exploration. Recognizing the value WSP brings to veterans, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs collaborates with WSP to help veterans access information about WSP's free programming. For more information, visit www.warrior-scholar.org.
About Columbia University
Among the world’s leading research universities, Columbia University in the City of New York continually seeks to advance the frontiers of scholarship and foster a campus community deeply engaged in understanding and confronting the complex issues of our time through teaching, research, patient care, and public service. The University comprises 17 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and four affiliated colleges and seminaries in Northern Manhattan, as well as a wide array of research institutes and global centers located in major cities around the world. More than 40,000 accomplished students, award-winning faculty, and professional staff define the University’s underlying values and commitment to pursuing new knowledge and educating informed, engaged citizens. Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
About Columbia University School of General Studies
The Columbia University School of General Studies (GS), founded in 1947, is the premier liberal arts college in the United States for nontraditional undergraduate students seeking a rigorous, traditional Ivy League education, including those who have served in the U.S. and foreign militaries. Nearly 100 US military veterans graduated from GS in spring of 2025, and approximately 350 will be enrolled at the School for the coming academic year. GS students take the same courses, study with the same faculty, and earn the same degree as all other undergraduates at Columbia University.