APPLYING FOR COLLEGE/WAITING FOR THE CALL/GED

[armygirl95]

Okay I'm not totally sure if this is in the right place so feel free to lock this thread and redirect me elsewhere, I have attempted to search this but the search engine is disabled  :-\

I wrote my aptitude test a few weeks back. I passed and qualified for all my trades  8) And after I fixed a few problems with my references, I was told it would be a "while" before my next phone call. I understand this but I am worried. You see, if I don't get into the military, I want to go to college. College is my back up plan at this point. However, I must accept any offers of admission by May 1st.

Basically all I want to know is, will I know before then if I have or have not been accepted into the forces? Now before you shake your head and tell me how there's no way to know long it will take, let me re-word that. I'm not asking how long it will take for me to get hired. I'm asking will my application go to the next step (Interview) if I'm unlikely to get hired? (I'm curious because I have my GED and not my Ontario Secondary School Diploma, and I'm unsure if that puts me to a disadvantage). I need to know if I'm rejecting college offers because the military is a sure thing, not on a whim.

I have no medical problems, not even an allergy so I'm not concerned about the medical portion. I have no debt, no criminal record. So I just need to know that if I'm being rejected based on education or anything, I'll know before it's too late to make other plans for myself.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks! 

 

[armygirl95]

After re-reading this I want to be more thorough - basically I'm afraid I'll do my interview and medical only to find out I'm not as competitive as other applicants for whatever reason. Is this unlikely? Would they bring me that far just to show me the door? Or will I know prior to that portion of the process?

I apologize for my desperate sounding questions, I was rejected before and I was quite devastated I must admit.

 

[BeyondTheNow]

The military is not a sure thing. If you qualified for all your trades that's definitely positive, but there's also no guarantee. IMO, focus on what you can control, which is furthering your education. I wouldn't reject any educational advancement options hoping that things with the military will work out first. It could be quite a while.

Do what you have to do for your schooling, and if the military progresses while you're taking classes that's okay. You can deal with that when/if it happens.

 

[BeyondTheNow]

After re-reading this I want to be more thorough - basically I'm afraid I'll do my interview and medical only to find out I'm not as competitive as other applicants for whatever reason. Is this unlikely? Would they bring me that far just to show me the door? Or will I know prior to that portion of the process?

I apologize for my desperate sounding questions, I was rejected before and I was quite devastated I must admit.

Listen, I know all about disappointment. As well as many other applicants and currently serving members alike. I made it as far as I can possibly go for my trade and I failed at the end. So now I'm exploring my other options and hopefully things will work out.

Tenacity and perseverance will go a long way, but it's important you focus on what you're able to personally be responsible for.

 

[DAA]

Why not combine the two and have a look at some of the NCM SEP Occupations where you can join the CF and get paid while going to College?

 

[redorange363]

Curious, I know what NCM is but what is SEP Occupations?

 

[DAA]

Curious, I know what NCM is but what is SEP Occupations?

SEP = Subsidized Education Plan

 

[Goose15]

Curious, I know what NCM is but what is SEP Occupations?

Click the College tab:
http://www.forces.ca/en/page/paideducation-96

 

[MacIssac]

I'm almost in the same boat - I have to accept my offer of admission by May 1st, which I will more then likely do just as a back pocket alternative in case it takes over a year to get into BMQ (Which I hope not) I applied to College then a few weeks later put my application into the Canadian Forces. Although what I would be taking would not be the same trade as the forces, sometimes its better not putting all your eggs in one basket.

 

[armygirl95]

I'm almost in the same boat - I have to accept my offer of admission by May 1st, which I will more then likely do just as a back pocket alternative in case it takes over a year to get into BMQ (Which I hope not) I applied to College then a few weeks later put my application into the Canadian Forces. Although what I would be taking would not be the same trade as the forces, sometimes its better not putting all your eggs in one basket.

good to know it's not just me. thankfully i was able to contact the college and they said i can apply directly through them until august. i don't wanna blow $100 to apply just to get a call a few weeks later... military is where i wanna be! even if i go to school it's only to help my chances of getting in eventually, haha.

what trades are you looking at?

 

[Goose15]

good to know it's not just me. thankfully i was able to contact the college and they said i can apply directly through them until august. i don't wanna blow $100 to apply just to get a call a few weeks later... military is where i wanna be! even if i go to school it's only to help my chances of getting in eventually, haha.

I understand where you are coming from completely, as I currently have an application in as well. I will be applying to and attending college until I get "that call" and will make my decision to leave for BMQ when it arrives, as that is my overall goal. However, I will not just sit around and wait for that call to arrive. If I were you: I would not worry about spending the money and then getting a call a few weeks later. If the CAF calls and says they have a spot for you and it is just after your application is submitted or if it is halfway through a semester, so be it. That cannot be your main focus or worry though as it is impossible to say if they call when it would or would not be.

Education is a very valuable entity. In my view knowledge is power, so there is no such thing as a waste of education. I, personally, am going to use the ILP to the best of my ability to complete a degree when I [hopefully!] get in. Attending college will better myself as a person as well as an applicant and as a [hopeful] future member, all of which go along with my personal goals. As mentioned before by DAA: since you are already looking at college definitely see if your occupations of interest align with NCM SEP. NCM SEP is an excellent program and entry plan for the NCM side of the CAF.

PS: Watch your punctuation, spelling, grammar, etcetera. The expectation on this site is that all who post will do as such.

 

[MacIssac]

good to know it's not just me. thankfully i was able to contact the college and they said i can apply directly through them until august. i don't wanna blow $100 to apply just to get a call a few weeks later... military is where i wanna be! even if i go to school it's only to help my chances of getting in eventually, haha.

what trades are you looking at?

The trades for CAF? the same ones in my signature (Avionics system tech, Army communication information system specialist/ Air weapons system tech) for college I have three offer of admissions: oil and gas/HVAC/Aviation mechanic