Homelessness among veterans is an often-overlooked crisis in the United States. On any given night, over 33,000 veterans experience homelessness, despite having once served their country in uniform. Many face housing insecurity due to a mix of economic hardship, physical and mental health challenges, and lack of access to long-term support. For some, the pathway out of homelessness includes higher education. But for veterans who are also navigating college admissions, that road is steep, unfamiliar, and often isolating.

That’s where Service to School (S2S) comes in. S2S helps veterans and transitioning service members apply to college by providing free application counseling. For Air Force veteran Jordan Manly, that support was the game-changer in a journey that led him from a Florida homeless shelter to one of the most selective institutions in the country: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Long Road Back to the Classroom

Jordan didn’t set out to go to college after leaving the military. His early days out of the Air Force were filled with uncertainty—he dabbled in day trading and tried to support family through difficult times. Eventually, he relocated to Florida for a fresh start and found himself drawn back to a goal he’d had since high school: studying computer science.

After applying to the University of South Florida and being denied due to missing prerequisites, he found himself securing the last available bed at the local homeless shelter, and enrolling in local community college classes. That first year was a rollercoaster—Jordan experienced homelessness twice, sleeping in shelters, on couches, and even in a parking garage. But school became his anchor.

“Going back to school made everything easier,” he says. “It gave me structure, a goal, and something to hold onto when everything else was unstable.”

Applying to MIT from a Shelter

The idea of applying to a school like MIT didn’t feel realistic at first. Jordan had previously applied to the University of Chicago and was rejected. He admits that his essays were a big part of that: “They were horrible,” he says with a laugh. But instead of giving up, he got serious.

That’s when he found Service to School.

Through S2S, Jordan was paired with a volunteer ambassador—someone who had walked the path before him. Together, they rewrote his essays, prepped his materials, and dug deep into his personal story. “My ambassador was amazing,” Jordan says. “He gave me honest feedback. I scheduled every meeting. We probably went through 20 drafts of my MIT essay.”

The result? A powerful narrative that wove together his military service, his academic potential, and his lived experience—without sugarcoating the truth. “I didn’t want a pity story,” he says. “I wanted to show how I grew through it.”

The Power of Community and a New Beginning

Jordan didn’t just get accepted to MIT—he also became part of a community that embraced and challenged him. Through Service to School’s Scholars Program, he met other veterans applying to top universities. “By the time I arrived on campus, I already knew people here,” he says. “That made the transition easier.”

Now a thriving computer science major, Jordan has a summer internship lined up with Amazon in New York. He’s working on research, building friendships, and still giving back—helping others in the veteran community understand that their story matters too.

What Jordan Wants You to Know

For other veterans thinking about college, especially those facing homelessness or hardship, Jordan has clear advice:

Start early: Plan your classes and applications at least a year in advance.
Tell your story honestly: Admissions officers want to understand who you are, not just what you’ve done.
Use your resources: Programs like Service to School exist to help you—and they work.

He also emphasizes the importance of school fit. “MIT has year-round housing. For someone like me who didn’t have a place to go in the summer, that mattered.”

Selective Doesn’t Mean Inaccessible

Jordan’s story is a reminder that with the right support, storytelling, and strategy a path to and through higher education is obtainable. Veterans bring exactly the kind of leadership, discipline, and perspective that schools like MIT are looking for.

“Service to School helped me put all the pieces together,” Jordan says. “But I still had to do the work. If you’re serious, if you show up—there are people ready to help you.”

A Call to Action

Jordan’s journey underscores a larger truth: the higher ed system can be transformative, but only when veterans have access to the right tools, resources, and support. Programs like Service to School don’t just open doors—they help ensure those doors lead to the right rooms.

At a time when conversations about veteran homelessness and college access remain fragmented, Jordan’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when determination meets community.

🎓 Learn more about Service to School

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From a Shelter to MIT: How One Veteran Beat the Odds—and Why His Story Matters