The college in which I go my bachelors knew better than to mess with BootStrappers. We were there to actually LEARN something (like you)...that was a foreign concept to the other students I guess. Any class that had a sizeable number of bootstrappers showed a remarkable decline in 'civilian' enrollees..
They'd drop the class.
I taught a few semesters at a Community college in Michigan and found that most of the students there were "Bootstrappers" as you call them. Most were already in the workforce taking classes in Auto mechanics or nursing (they had an excellent nursing program). Most were in their late 20's or early 30's and they were so much more focused than the kids out of HS it wasn't funny. They asked pertinent questions and actually paid attention in class.
BootStrappers is a different thing.
Back in the day there was a program called "Operation BootStrap" for enlisted.
The deal was "if you get a degree...we'll put you thru Officer Training"
I spent over a year working two jobs (military and part time) to be able to afford tuition
AND...I took a full college load.
(sleep? what was THAT?)
In order to qualify..
Then I went TDY to college full time...
..I got the degree.. then they renigged on the deal.
they decided they didn't need any more officers..
so I spent many more years as enlisted.
Probably just as well... Most of the officers I saw weren't worth pissing on if they caught fire!
the best (and the worst) ones that I knew WERE mustangs..