VetLink Addendum
Overview
As a VetLink applicant, you will have the opportunity to fill out a special addendum to the application to a VetLink partner school. In this section, we will explain why that represents a distinct advantage, explain what the Vetlink Addendum is, and go step by step through how to fill it out.
What is the VetLink Addendum?
The Service to School VetLink Addendum is a demilitarized resume that is added to your college application as a means to translate your military experiences for members of the admissions committee. Admissions committees want to admit students who will be successful, who will contribute to the community, and whose success after graduation will reflect highly on the institution. A well-developed and thoughtfully constructed VetLink Addendum will demonstrate predictors of success while revealing authenticity, passion, and character.
How It Works
You will work on the Addendum with your Ambassador. After you have completed it, you send a final copy to your Service to School Staff Advisor. That person will sign off on the Addendum and then send it to the VetLink partner school on your behalf. You should not be uploading or attaching the Addendum to any school; it has to come from a Service to School staff member in order for it to be go through the proper channels.
Completing the VetLink Addendum
The VetLink Addendum has six components to help explain your military service in terms that will resonate with admissions committees:
Cover sheet
Military Awards
Military Schools
Military Experience
Overseas Service
Essay
Below we will look at each of these components in detail to understand how to complete the Addendum and effectively communicate your experience to admissions committees.
Cover Sheet
The Cover Sheet provides an overview of your military service using basic data on your overall service, including your branch of service, job title, job description, rank, and dates of service.
Military Awards
The Military Awards section provides a place for you to list your military awards and citations to provide additional context to your service record.
OPTIONAL: If you decide to include campaign medals and unit awards, then you should include a brief description of your responsibilities and performance highlights during the period of service. See the following example.
Military Schools
The Military Schools section provides an opportunity to demonstrate academic preparedness and a learning continuum following high school.
Add distinguished graduate status when applicable (Honor Grad, top 3, top 10%, etc.).
Military Experience
The Military Experience section is similar to a resume. Take advantage of the opportunity to highlight billets/positions/duty assignments that draw attention to skills and characteristics that further differentiate you.
Draw from awards, letters of recommendation, and performance evaluations to pull in Performance Highlights. These highlights should be specific to you and not generalized.
Overseas Service
The Overseas Service section is not limited to deployments. It should include all overseas assignments. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on these experiences as they compose their application essays and prepare for interviews.
Essay
A powerful, well-written essay can tip the balance for veterans competing against the more traditional applicant. The VetLink Addendum essay is the opportunity to add depth to your military experience by writing a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you.
Colleges receive thousands of applications from exceptional students with similar scores and grades. For the military veteran, your essays are your chance to tell the admissions committee what sets you apart from these other talented and deserving candidates.
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