A Good Dilemma and Windy Explanation

kar57

5-Year Member
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Jan 20, 2012
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157
Let me first say that although I’ve labeled this a “dilemma” – it is a very good dilemma and we, DS and his whole family, are so over-the-top grateful…not to mention honored and excited! So here it is:

April 10, 2012 - DS was awarded a 3 year AROTC scholarship with an accept/decline date of May 10. The scholarship can be used at one of four universities – all four listed on scholarship award letter DS has been accepted to.

April 15, 2012 – DS received call from USNA Admissions office with news that he was being offered a USNA Foundation slot.

April 25, 2012 – DS received the BFE from USNA Foundation. He immediately filled out his section of the forms and DH and I filled out the family financial portion. The forms went out yesterday in FEDEX overnight – we’ve had crazy problems with snail mail around here - and I just now checked, it was delivered about a half hour ago! Both prep schools (NMMI and MMI) DS put on the Foundation forms begin early August.

Anyday now, 2012 – DS will receive a yay or nay on NROTC scholarship (he's the one who's had the “no decision” status for 11 ½ months now, the same one with the 3 officer interviews…blah, blah, blah – I’m sure you’ve seen that story…ugh… Last we heard, May 15 is the very last date that NROTC scholarship applicants would hear of their offer/no offer.

So firm dates lie just ahead…

May 1, 2012 (four days from now!) – university commit date. No deposits have been sent to any of the schools yet…here’s the situation -

**Ohio State University. DS accepted to the Engineering program. This is #1 school on both AROTC and NROTC application. In state tuition
**Miami (of Ohio). Deposit 4x higher than OSU. Miami’s AROTC is a “cross-town” program about an hour away. NROTC on campus. DS has a modest merit scholarship here. In state tuition
**Eastern Michigan University. Does not have a May 1 deadline – it’s a rolling acceptance – through mid-July. DS has a healthy merit scholarship to EMU. AROTC on campus. NROTC cross-town with University of Michigan (doable). In state tuition
**University of Cincinnati. AROTC only (no NROTC unit at UC). DS accepted to pre-engineering program – typically a 5 year program. So with the AROTC 3 year, not sure how that works…years 1 and 5 on our dime, or years 1 and 2? Makes a difference as DS’s older brother has two more years at OSU. UC - In state tuition. DS would most likely live at home and commute in this scenario.
**University of Minnesota. DS accepted to university, on wait list for Engineering. U of Minnesota has both AROTC and NROTC on campus. Out of state tuition.

I’m way leaning to putting down the deposit for OSU – even though the USNA Foundation appears to be a done deal and it is DS’s FIRST and MOST DESIRED choice! We have been in back-up plan mode for so long, it feels weird and scary to let back-up plans evaporate. But then, what if …
NROTC does come through and it’s for say…Miami or Univ. of MN? That’s an additional $675 in deposit fees due in four days! On top of the $100 for OSU!

May 10, 2012 - yikes...the quandary of the MAY 10 acceptance/declination of the 3 year AROTC scholarship – is that even an option – the acceptance part – with the Foundation offer papers received in Maryland just about two hours ago? Is one exclusive of the other – as in it’s either AROTC scholarship acceptance OR Foundation offer acceptance, but not both?

Thanks for reading all this and helpful guidance/insight is most welcome!
 
Let me first say that although I’ve labeled this a “dilemma” – it is a very good dilemma and we, DS and his whole family, are so over-the-top grateful…not to mention honored and excited! So here it is:

April 10, 2012 - DS was awarded a 3 year AROTC scholarship with an accept/decline date of May 10. The scholarship can be used at one of four universities – all four listed on scholarship award letter DS has been accepted to.

April 15, 2012 – DS received call from USNA Admissions office with news that he was being offered a USNA Foundation slot.

April 25, 2012 – DS received the BFE from USNA Foundation. He immediately filled out his section of the forms and DH and I filled out the family financial portion. The forms went out yesterday in FEDEX overnight – we’ve had crazy problems with snail mail around here - and I just now checked, it was delivered about a half hour ago! Both prep schools (NMMI and MMI) DS put on the Foundation forms begin early August.

Anyday now, 2012 – DS will receive a yay or nay on NROTC scholarship (he's the one who's had the “no decision” status for 11 ½ months now, the same one with the 3 officer interviews…blah, blah, blah – I’m sure you’ve seen that story…ugh… Last we heard, May 15 is the very last date that NROTC scholarship applicants would hear of their offer/no offer.

So firm dates lie just ahead…

May 1, 2012 (four days from now!) – university commit date. No deposits have been sent to any of the schools yet…here’s the situation -

**Ohio State University. DS accepted to the Engineering program. This is #1 school on both AROTC and NROTC application. In state tuition
**Miami (of Ohio). Deposit 4x higher than OSU. Miami’s AROTC is a “cross-town” program about an hour away. NROTC on campus. DS has a modest merit scholarship here. In state tuition
**Eastern Michigan University. Does not have a May 1 deadline – it’s a rolling acceptance – through mid-July. DS has a healthy merit scholarship to EMU. AROTC on campus. NROTC cross-town with University of Michigan (doable). In state tuition
**University of Cincinnati. AROTC only (no NROTC unit at UC). DS accepted to pre-engineering program – typically a 5 year program. So with the AROTC 3 year, not sure how that works…years 1 and 5 on our dime, or years 1 and 2? Makes a difference as DS’s older brother has two more years at OSU. UC - In state tuition. DS would most likely live at home and commute in this scenario.
**University of Minnesota. DS accepted to university, on wait list for Engineering. U of Minnesota has both AROTC and NROTC on campus. Out of state tuition.

I’m way leaning to putting down the deposit for OSU – even though the USNA Foundation appears to be a done deal and it is DS’s FIRST and MOST DESIRED choice! We have been in back-up plan mode for so long, it feels weird and scary to let back-up plans evaporate. But then, what if …
NROTC does come through and it’s for say…Miami or Univ. of MN? That’s an additional $675 in deposit fees due in four days! On top of the $100 for OSU!

May 10, 2012 - yikes...the quandary of the MAY 10 acceptance/declination of the 3 year AROTC scholarship – is that even an option – the acceptance part – with the Foundation offer papers received in Maryland just about two hours ago? Is one exclusive of the other – as in it’s either AROTC scholarship acceptance OR Foundation offer acceptance, but not both?


Thanks for reading all this and helpful guidance/insight is most welcome!

Great options....Good luck with your decision and Congrats to you and Family(DS, job well done). That is the only advice I can offer you....My DS wants to go to OSU also but unless the Navy comes through....he will be on hos way to Florida with a 3 yr AROTC. or NCSU if the Navy gives that option. And it seems I will have to pay all admission fees if Navy waits pass 1 May.
 
Congrats to your son! He has some great options. If I was him, my deposit would be to Ohio State (although I just paid my deposit at Miami, ha.) As you said, it's a much lower deposit, and the AROTC program is on campus.

The only reason I could see considering Miami, U of MN or Eastern is if the NROTC scholarship comes through in the next few days.

Sounds like his Foundation deal is good to go, but Ohio State isn't a bad place to land either. :smile: If he didn't have the Foundation offer, I think you would have a much harder time choosing between the schools!
 
I agree kar. Send the deposit to OSU. That covers both ROTC programs and locks in AROTC plan if needed. You should accept the AROTC scholarship if you haven't already. Now you can wait on NROTC and Foundation, and if they work out you notify AROTC and perhaps OSU that you've decided not to use their excellent offer. If you can't have plan A locked in, this is the next best thing. Congrats to your DS.
 
Have you visited Eastern Michigan? Last time I was there was about 3 years ago for an athletic competition for my children. Personally, I wouldn't want to go to school there. Not the nicest of areas.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Have you visited Eastern Michigan? Last time I was there was about 3 years ago for an athletic competition for my children. Personally, I wouldn't want to go to school there. Not the nicest of areas.

Just my 2 cents.

Haha!!! It's funny you should say that!!! I agree, Ypsilanti is not much to look at...and the campus, at least when BOTH my husband AND I were there back in the 80's was pretty unremarkable...BUT it got the job done! He received his undergrad and Master's there, and I received my Master's there - and both of us found ourselves employed in our respective fields even before the ink was dry on our diplomas!! Not only that, we have lots of family there too - in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor (we're in southern Ohio now) so Ypsilanti is our Thanksgiving and Easter destination since time immemorial - again not much to look at...but it does get the job done! DS was on campus a couple times during this past academic year, talking to cadre, applying for scholarships, and I was with him on one of these trips and I was very surprisingly impressed with the facelift that EMU has undergone!!! It's quite pretty now - and so it's got that going for it now, and still is able to get the job done education wise. Another awesome feature of the formerly ugly stepsister college, is its feasibility in the cost department!!! With our family situation...good stuff. Again, as for prestige and name-dropping power ...not so much...but it can get some folks to their destination. For DS, it was a sensible, feasible, accessible way to get to his goal of serving as an officer in the military. Besides...Ypsilanti is such a weird name, but it is names after a long ago Greek general if I remember correctly! So there you go...even a military tie-in with this less than glamorous place!
 
Congratulations, kar57, on your embarrassment of riches. However, unlike the dessert table at our house on Thanksgiving, you can have a slice of only one pie.

I don't know if this will help narrow the list, but I note you are Ohio residents. A major problem with being an OSU alumnus is that when your son eventually leaves the state for military service, he will forever be dragged into or himself provoke vehement and exhausting debates over whether it's called "Ohio State University" or "The Ohio State University."
 
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Well, you'll have the same problem at Miami University...I feel like I will never be done telling people that I'm not heading down to Florida. :rolleyes:
 
Had to chime in...while Miami Oxford isn't in Florida and yes, THE Ohio State University name game will always be entertaining...try explaining to southwest Ohio that there is also an Ohio University.....DS has friends at both schools and the back and forth is always amusing:biggrin: Of course, he's the only one at OU.

Back to the topic at hand, I agree that the OSU offer is the one to protect by placing a deposit and let the cards fall where they will, USNA option or OSU are both amazing options to have in play:thumb:

Enjoy the chaos, the house will seem very quiet next spring without all the excitment.

Take care.
 
Had to chime in...while Miami Oxford isn't in Florida and yes, THE Ohio State University name game will always be entertaining...try explaining to southwest Ohio that there is also an Ohio University.....DS has friends at both schools and the back and forth is always amusing:biggrin: Of course, he's the only one at OU.

Back to the topic at hand, I agree that the OSU offer is the one to protect by placing a deposit and let the cards fall where they will, USNA option or OSU are both amazing options to have in play:thumb:

Enjoy the chaos, the house will seem very quiet next spring without all the excitment.

Take care.

I take exception with one point. It seems to me the excitement never ends once the kid embarks on ROTC or Foundation. :biggrin:
 
I take exception with one point. It seems to me the excitement never ends once the kid embarks on ROTC or Foundation. :biggrin:

True, but after last spring and the insanity of AROTC boards, college decisions and all the senior year craziness, this year seems very calm around here. My wine intake is much more moderate, less cleaning going on(yep-anything to stay busy while waiting...:wink:) and I actually haven't checked a status update from CC since June:eek:
 
Have you visited Eastern Michigan? Last time I was there was about 3 years ago for an athletic competition for my children. Personally, I wouldn't want to go to school there. Not the nicest of areas.

Just my 2 cents.

There are tons of great schools in sketchy towns. Ever been to Yale? Hartford is awful. Every school is what you make it.
 
There are tons of great schools in sketchy towns. Ever been to Yale? Hartford is awful. Every school is what you make it.

I remember when I went to L.A. to get a clearance letter for the background check, and the USC medical research center was right next to the juvenile detention center, separated only by a narrow street. Kind of an odd juxtaposition.
 
kar57 - IF USNA and Foundation is his FIRST choice - why would he put down a deposit?? :confused: :confused:

Is he undecided?
 
kar57 - IF USNA and Foundation is his FIRST choice - why would he put down a deposit?? :confused: :confused:

Is he undecided?

Undecided? NOOOOO!! Furthest thing from it!!! Chalk it up to being in a large and diverse family where luck sometimes is on our side and harsh reality visits us on occasion as well. Putting together Plan A through Plan Z is just how we manage around here - and trying not to become unglued or completely derailed if somehow something comes along, not of our own doing even, completely out of left field, something so weird and previously unheard of, that by the time it's straightened out - too bad, so sad, and then the making-lemonade-out-of-lemons machine gets fired up. The $100 deposit is what you could call "lemonade machine upkeep!" :smile:
 
Undecided? NOOOOO!! Furthest thing from it!!! Chalk it up to being in a large and diverse family where luck sometimes is on our side and harsh reality visits us on occasion as well. Putting together Plan A through Plan Z is just how we manage around here - and trying not to become unglued or completely derailed if somehow something comes along, not of our own doing even, completely out of left field, something so weird and previously unheard of, that by the time it's straightened out - too bad, so sad, and then the making-lemonade-out-of-lemons machine gets fired up. The $100 deposit is what you could call "lemonade machine upkeep!" :smile:

What is going to happen? That he will be offered a last minute scholarship that he will then decline?

It is getting late in the game. I think it's time to go forward with the decision at hand - USNA Foundation - and run with it.
If this is truly your son's unequivocal first choice - then he just might be confused by you (the parent's) insisting that he keep all these other options open 'just in case'.
I am not totally opposed to 'double deposits' but I think they should be used in cases where a decision can't be made, perhaps for financial considerations.

If your son is ready to move forward - I think it's best as a parent to enable this. Otherwise you risk him continuing to second guess himself as summer moves along.

USNA Foundation is great! Fantastic! Either MMI or NMMI are great for this! He is going to the Naval Academy!! Time to celebrate instead of overthinking!!!!!
 
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