The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy has partnered with Service to School (S2S), a nonprofit founded and led by veterans, which provides free college and graduate school application counseling to service members and veterans.
Through its flagship program, VetLink, Service to School connects highly qualified veterans with top universities, guiding them through the admissions process and helping them translate their leadership and military experience into academic success.
"This partnership carries forward Cornell's long tradition of supporting military and veteran students and reflects our mission to prepare future leaders in public policy. Veterans bring perspectives that enrich our classrooms and strengthen our community, and we are proud to help them continue their service as civic and policy leaders," said Colleen Barry, Dean of the Brooks School of Public Policy.
The partnership applies to the Brooks School's residential and executive Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs. By joining the VetLink network, the Brooks School will strengthen its outreach to military applicants considering these degrees, ensuring they receive tailored guidance and mentorship as they transition into graduate study.
For some students, the impact of Service to School has already shaped their Cornell experience. Will LaRose MPA '20, an Army veteran who completed the residential MPA program and now works as a business development and regulatory affairs lead in the defense technology sector, drew on S2S resources for support during his application journey.
"I utilized Service to School throughout the application cycle-an organization I cannot say enough great things about," LaRose said. "They connected me with mentors who helped me showcase my military experience in a way that strengthened my application. That guidance was instrumental in my path to Cornell, where I found a program that allowed me to continue serving, just in a different way."
Cornell University has been recognized as one of the top-ranked Best Colleges for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report for the past three years. The university is also home to the largest ROTC cohort among Ivy Plus institutions, representing four branches of the U.S. military. Cornell actively supports service members through programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, which help alleviate financial barriers for veterans pursuing higher education. Veterans seeking Brooks School master's degrees can also receive application fee and deposit waivers, and the Brooks School has no limitations on the number of Yellow Ribbon participants each year.
By partnering with Service to School, the Brooks School expands access to its residential and executive MPA and MHA programs for veterans and military-affiliated students, equipping them with the tools to lead across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Veterans interested in learning more about VetLink can connect with Service to School here and explore the Brooks School's master's degree programs here.
Sarah Louise Schupp is a writer for the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.
