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BY DOUGLAS HOAGLAND
Tyler Verburg
CROSS
at the
ROADS
Then almost before Verburg knew it, the Veterans Education Program at Fresno State provided a path forward. “They told me I could get in right away, and I didn’t have to take the SAT or any prerequisite courses. I didn’t believe it at first.” But in August 2017 – a month after Verburg got out of the Army – he was tak- ing classes in the Veterans Education Program. “That’s unheard of.” He also was grateful that the Division of Continuing and Global Education provides the program at no cost to veterans.
DONORS FINANCE IT, AND, VERBURG SAYS, “IT’S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING WHAT THE DONORS DO FOR US.”
He started in the program excited but also nervous, particularly about the writing expected at Fresno State. As he put it: “I’d always struggled to create coherent sentences.” The English Composition course in the Veterans Education Program helped him improve. “Our professor broke down the way to do a col- lege-level essay. It was very helpful in preparing to write with the college mentality.”
Tyler Verburg found himself at a crossroads following 3 1⁄2 years in the U.S. Army. He’d served with dedication and honor, and now in civilian life he knew what he wanted: a college degree and a career in law enforce- ment. But big questions loomed.
Was he qualified for admission?
Was he ready for college-level work?
ONE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM: he didn’t take the SAT in high school. So he had no score to show a university, at a time when SAT scores were required of applicants.
18 California State University, FRESNO