USNA and NROTC scholarship

crair70

5-Year Member
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Feb 7, 2011
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My DS was just notified he received the 4 yr NROTC scholarship. Although he is thrilled, his plan A is USNA. He has been advised to accept the scholarship as he can always turn it down is appointed to USNA.

My question is, does the USNA and NROTC programs talk... meaning could the USNA look at my DS and say "well he has a scholarship so no need to waste an appointment on this candidate- he is already committing to the NAVY"?

DS wants to serve... he applied to all options to reach his goal but like most kids he has a dream and his is the USNA. Just curious if by receiving the ROTC scholarship if this could affect his chances of an appointment.

In addition... should he NOT mention this during his MOC interview for the same reason..."not to waste a nom on a kid who already has this"

Please don't perceive this post as being ungrateful. That is not the case at all!
 
May I ask how and when your DS found out, i.e. mail, email, phone call? We're eagerly awaiting word on NROTC as well, but ultimately hoping for USNA too.
 
This happened to my son

Last year my son received a 4-year NROTC scholarship in October and accepted it per the instructions. Then, he received an appointment to USNA in December which he accepted. There was a form, I believe, to complete to let NROTC that he would not be using the scholarship.
 
Dolphins2012
He checked the website for application updates and it was posted today. His application was complete about 5-6 weeks ago. Good luck!! The waiting is killer!
 
My question is, does the USNA and NROTC programs talk... meaning could the USNA look at my DS and say "well he has a scholarship so no need to waste an appointment on this candidate- he is already committing to the NAVY"?

I've read repeatedly on these forums that USNA and NROTC do not talk. Not sure if scholarship should be mentioned in MIC interview.
 
My DS received NROTC, AROTC and AFROTC scholarships and an appointment to USNA. He is a youngster now at the Academy. It's always best to be honest during the interview if asked. It's also wise to be able to explain Plans B, C and even D if asked...my son was asked if he had a backup.
 
Last year my son received a 4-year NROTC scholarship in October and accepted it per the instructions. Then, he received an appointment to USNA in December which he accepted. There was a form, I believe, to complete to let NROTC that he would not be using the scholarship.
Timeline was very similar for my son - but NROTC scholarship in Nov and accepted it, then USNA in December as well. However, when he was accepted at his #1 choice of school in March he decided to go the ROTC route and declined USNA at that point (which he'd never accepted while waiting).

I've read repeatedly on these forums that USNA and NROTC do not talk. Not sure if scholarship should be mentioned in MIC interview.
Having been on a senator's nomination panel the last two weeks, I would say that we would have viewed the scholarship as a major positive - proving to us that you were: 1. A strong candidate proven by NROTC choosing you, 2. Obviously interested in being a Naval officer since you applied for NROTC as a backup and 3. Motivated enough to have everything complete and have an answer by this point. When they ask you your backup plan, you now have a ready-made one!
 
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When I applied for NROTC, Naval Academy immediately knew and had my BGO contact me. So there is a possibility
 
I received a NROTC scholarship. When i was asked during my interview with Bill Frist's staff if I had backups to USNA I told them, yes, a NROTC scholarship. I was asked which schools I had applied to for the scholarship (3) and which was my top pick. I told them Vanderbilt would be my top NROTC pick. It was a good choice, as the Navy officer on the panel was the commanding officer of Vanderbilt's NROTC program. Actually got a letter from Vanderbilt the following week, announcing I had been accepted to the NROTC program (think that Navy Cmdr. had something to do with that?)

I got an LOA at USNA. Also got CGA early, which I opted for. It's good for them to know you're serious about the service and you think far enough ahead to plan for the "likely" event you don't get in (I say likely only because most people don't get in).
 
Your son should accept the NROTC appt and hold it until he gets something better. It won't create any great angst on the ROTC side, and frankly I haven't heard of any congressional office denying a SA nom because the candidate held a ROTC appt. (see marciemi above).
 
It's fine to accept the NROTC scholarship. Be aware that once a Plebe signs on the dotted line on I-day, the NROTC scholarship becomes void.

DD had hers (NROTC) in hand for months while jumping through extra USNA medical waiver hoops. She was up front with everyone about it. The OIC at the NROTC unit knew that she would accept USNA if allowed. The MOC committee knew that she was committed to Navy, not just to the "glamour" of winning an appoinment to USNA.
 
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