Warrior-Scholar Project

Transition from the battlefield to the classroom with immersive academic boot camps designed to help student veterans succeed at college.

For many enlisted veterans, college is a critical next step in acclimating to civilian life and landing a fulfilling career after transitioning out of the military. While this is an exciting new chapter, many find the adjustment to college to be a challenging experience, especially without the support and camaraderie they had while in the service. If you’re planning to earn your undergraduate degree after separating, or are already enrolled and feel like you could use some guidance, Warrior-Scholar Project is here to help!

Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) is a national nonprofit that empowers enlisted veterans and service members to excel at four-year universities through immersive one- to two-week academic boot camps at some of the nation’s top colleges and universities — including Yale, Harvard, Notre Dame, University of Southern California, and Syracuse University, among many others. The nonprofit also offers workshops tailored to address the unique needs of veterans enrolled in community college. Offered at no cost to veterans and enlisted active-duty service members, the programs are designed to introduce participants to college-level material and an academic environment while learning strategies to become better students.

During a WSP academic boot camp, participants are taught by university faculty and graduate students at the host institution with support from highly successful student veteran fellows who have completed the program. Students are introduced to analytical reading, writing, and other academic and everyday skills crucial to success in higher education. The curriculum also helps veterans adjust to life on campus and learn how to effectively engage in the classroom. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to learn about the many challenges student veterans experience during their transition to college, including the complex university application and admission process.

The introductory academic experience has a lasting impact: 100% of 2022 WSP participants recommend WSP to fellow veterans, and 95% say they are more confident that they will succeed in college.

“WSP is a life-changing program. After a really tough unplanned separation from the Army, I was on a downward trajectory. WSP caught me before I fell off the cliff; not only did I learn methods to succeed in college, but the program also showed me the path and lit the fire inside me. WSP is a necessity for all veterans, even those not seeking a college education, because the skills and messages you learn will change your life.” – David Nagley, WSP-University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University alumnus

“WSP was a life-changing experience for me. Not only did I gain the soft skills needed to thrive in an academic environment, but I also gained more confidence in my identity as a veteran and made life-long connections.” – Hanh Dinh, WSP-Yale University alumna

Start the Process Today!

Warrior-Scholar Project is now accepting interest forms and scheduling admissions calls for its 2023 academic boot camps. With partners at colleges nationwide, student veterans have the unique opportunity to learn from esteemed university faculty in humanities, STEM, and/or business curriculum focuses. Veterans looking to jumpstart their education can learn more about the program and submit an interest form at www.warrior-scholar.org.

WSP’s academic boot camps are exclusively for current and former enlisted service members who are interested in pursuing higher education. In-person boot camps traditionally take place from June through August and online boot camps are hosted in December. During in-person boot camps, student veterans typically enjoy the full college experience from staying in dorms to eating in the dining hall to studying in the historic libraries of the host institution. With the exception of travel (if applicable), all courses are offered at no cost to the student veteran participant.

Warrior-Scholar Project has partnered with the following universities for 2023:

• Amherst College

• California Institute of Technology

• Columbia University

• Cornell University

• Georgetown University

• Harvard University

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• Princeton University

• Syracuse University

• The College of William and Mary

• University of Arizona

• University of California, Irvine

• University of Chicago

• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• University of Notre Dame

• University of Pennsylvania

• University of Southern California

• Williams College

• Yale University

For more information and to apply, visit www.warrior-scholar.org.