Using your Post 9/11 G.I. Bill can be complicated, but there are a few things that you should know to get the most out of what you have earned:

The Yellow Ribbon Program
• Choose a school that is a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program. The G.I. Bill will pay up to the full cost of state tuition and any private college that is a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program will waive all additional tuition and fees so that Veterans can attend the college debt free and tuition free.

Choose an Urban Setting
• The housing allowance associated with the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill is the equivalent to that of what an active duty E-5 with dependents would receive (regardless of your rank). The zip code that it is based off of is that of your school, not your home, so choose a school that is in a more expensive, urban setting and you might get a boost in the amount you take home each month.

Applying for Benefits
• To apply for education benefits, visit benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp and click on “Apply Online.” The website will walk you through the process from here.
• If you have previously used the G.I. Bill but have transferred to another college, you will need to submit V.A. Form 22-1995 which can be found and submitted here

Tips to Stretch your Book Allowance
• Beyond providing you with your Housing Allowance, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will also provide you with a Book Stipend at that beginning of the fall and spring semesters. To stretch the stipend as far as possible, here are a few helpful hints:
o Buy used books from sites like Amazon.com and Half.com.
o Rent books for Kindles and other electronic readers (This is a really affordable option but can be frustrating when trying to cite materials and look up information quickly).
o Check school and public libraries to see if they carry the books you need.
o Look for short stories and poems online and see if you can simply print them out.
o Ask a friend to borrow their copy if they have taken the class.

Use the rest to go to Grad School
• Any benefit left over after you complete your undergraduate degree can be applied towards grad school. Furthermore, if you only have one month left, the V.A. will pay for the entire semester.