Collin Gosselin will be heading off to college this fall, one year after enlisting in the Marines, according to his father.
Kate and Jon Gosselin’s most talked-about son has given up his ambition of joining the military to pursue higher education.
But what really happened there? How did he get from basic training to new student orientation? Here’s what we know.
Collin Gosselin’s marine life ambitions: He’s always wanted to do this
A lot has changed in the Gosselin family dynamic over the years. First, Kate and Jon got divorced. Then, when their kids started growing up, they chose different sides.
For Collin Gosselin, his father was the obvious choice, as Kate had allegedly done a lot to him during his childhood and launched a smear campaign against him as an adult.
But as an adult, he was ready to decide about his future and was excited to join the Army.
In 2023, he begins basic training with the Marines, a move that was much talked about by his father Jon Gosselin and his girlfriend Stephanie Lebow Entertainment Tonight,
“Colin is very independent,” he said of his son. “He was on his own a little bit during high school. Like, he just wanted to experience that … [Then] He joined the Army at the age of 18 and left the Army at the age of 19.”
During his military training, Collin sent “letters” to John in which he talked about waking up early in the morning, his studies, and his happiness at being in a “very structured” schedule, as Stephanie described it.
“It’s what he’s always wanted to do,” John admitted.
Now, Collin is off to college
This interview took place in 2023, after Collin had just finished high school. In the spring of 2024, John told reporters that his son was in fact starting college in the fall.
while speaking to E! News‘ Speaking to Francesca Amiker at the grand opening of the Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center’s new West Hollywood location, Jon revealed he’s an “empty nester” now that Collin and Hannah have both left home.
Hannah was the second of six children who chose life with John rather than her mother Kate and began college last year. But it was clear to John that Collin would begin school this fall.
She made no mention of her son’s time with the Marines, or explain what school her son was actually attending. Instead, she focused on herself and what his departure meant to her.
“Hannah and Collin keep their stuff in my house. They don’t actually live there. But for me it’s a different time in my life, because one day they’re in my house, and then the next day they’re not.”
Is Collin Gosselin still enlisted in the Marines?
The short answer is – most likely. It is possible to enroll and get into college. It’s not an easy path, but it is still possible.
Collin hinted in his 2023 graduation announcement on Instagram that he plans to pursue both paths.
“This chapter of my life has come to an end,” she wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of herself and sister Hannah in their graduation attire.
He said, “Next stop is Parris Island, and right after that I’ll be heading to college to study Mechanical and Industrial Engineering! I can’t wait!”
So, he had big ambitions and it looks like he’s pursuing them! Good for him!