Absolutely check with your DS's school Financial Aid office, ask if there is someone who "specializes" in military scholarships/veterans/GI Bill issues, DS's school has two people who are specifically for these types of questions.
DS held onto 2 additional merit scholarships until mid June last summer, waiting for the final decision on even which school he would attend. Yes, he felt bad holding up the other two schools and we did forfeit the deposits for housing, but with AROTC and then a possible brigade offer in the running, we really had to wait it out
. Unfortunately, he was denied an AROTC offer, but joined the National Guard for a SMP slot. His school allows him his merit and National Guard tuition scholarships to both apply to his account plus the school pays housing for SMP and contracted cadets so he actually receives a refund each grading period after deducting his meal plan. He's using these funds to cover books and spending until he contracts next fall.
Keep all the options you can open for as long as you can. It's good to hear your DS is already DoDMERB qualified for WP so that won't tie you up. Knowing what I know now about ROTC, budget cuts etc... if I had to pick one or the other, go with the merit money -- GPA typically has to be a 3-3.5 depending on the school and level of funding provided. ROTC will still commission him without the scholarship, just make sure he understands that he must continue to WOW the cadre so he's offered a contract after sophomore year(you cannot continue to take AROTC courses after that without a contract). That is the major draw back and why DS choose to go the SMP route rather than just wait it out, SMP's are offered contract in fall of sophomore year(as it stands now....)
If he's injured and becomes medically un-qualify-able for commission, the merit money will still allow him to get the great education with less loans(perhaps none
) and still put him in a better place than most of his peers on graduation day
The ride is far from over - January is only the second board...don't forget about March