Are 5 colleges really required?

cmartin1069

5-Year Member
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I was unable to find this answered elsewhere but I apologize if it is....

The NROTC site says applicants are "asked" to apply to five schools (one being in-state). Question: is this a hard number? can someone apply to say 3 (one of which is in-state) and not do the other two? let's assume that the candidate has already been accepted into his first choice in-state school in the Tier 1 degree ROTC wants.

if he doesn't apply to schools 3 & 4, what might happen? I suppose NROTC could award him a scholarship to one of the schools he didn't apply to. if that's the case, he's either out of luck or he can appeal the school assignment award, I would guess.

Thank you!
 
DS's app was kicked back because he only listed 4 schools. Therefore, I assume 5 is a hard number.
 
I am sure kinnem can give you the answers you are needing.

Just out of curiosity, is he not applying for 5 because he doesn't want any, but the 3 on his list? If that is the case, the question may come back to can he afford to attend all 3 of these schools without a scholarship?

If the answer is no, would it be to his best advantage to place 2 more on the list as a safety from a financial aspect?

Although he has been accepted to IS, he may not get the scholarship to that college, even if requests a change. If I recall correctly from previous yrs. NROTC does not change the awards until May, and by that time, many colleges require students to sign a matriculation form saying they will attend. Which brings it back to how will no scholarship impact their attending that school?

I am someone that hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst. Every yr there are posters here that apply to transfer the scholarship, and for some it is a stressful time during which should be the happiest days of their sr. yr. ; knowing everything is set for their future, except what color or type of corsage to get for their prom date!

xposted with cb, I would go with the 5, because if they do kick the application back without 5, that means they won't be boarded until there is 5 on the list, and the scholarship process is a queue system, so with everyday others will be placed into the system before him. ROTC has only a limited amount of money, hence why posters say to apply as early as you can.
 
You definitely need all 5. When I got my scholarship in 2011, ALL 5 of my school choices were full for scholarship allotments and they assigned me to a school I hadn't even applied to. I was able to work it out before May, but that's because I couldn't be assigned to any of my 5 choices. Things will not always work out as you plan.
 
You definitely need all 5. When I got my scholarship in 2011, ALL 5 of my school choices were full for scholarship allotments and they assigned me to a school I hadn't even applied to. I was able to work it out before May, but that's because I couldn't be assigned to any of my 5 choices. Things will not always work out as you plan.
I see that you posted that all 5 of your choices were unavailable and you were assigned to a different school. I have just been accepted for the 4 year Navy Option Scholarship but to a school that I did not list or have an intention of attending. I find it hard to believe all 5 of the schools would be unavailable by the December board (my application has been in since September). Did you look into it and were told that you could not be reassigned? Or did you just apply and attend the school you were placed at?
 
I see that you posted that all 5 of your choices were unavailable and you were assigned to a different school. I have just been accepted for the 4 year Navy Option Scholarship but to a school that I did not list or have an intention of attending. I find it hard to believe all 5 of the schools would be unavailable by the December board (my application has been in since September). Did you look into it and were told that you could not be reassigned? Or did you just apply and attend the school you were placed at?

I was told that all 5 of my choices were full and that I could either put my name on up to 3 waiting lists or pick a school that wasn't full. I wasn't even eligible to apply to the school I had been assigned to initially (they required SAT II's). I ended up picking an entirely different school that I had to apply to last minute.
 
I was told that all 5 of my choices were full and that I could either put my name on up to 3 waiting lists or pick a school that wasn't full. I wasn't even eligible to apply to the school I had been assigned to initially (they required SAT II's). I ended up picking an entirely different school that I had to apply to last minute.
That seems to be the same situation I am in as well. I was sent a list of schools that still have room and time to apply (including the school I am placed at), but I am not interested in any. I think I will wait list my original top three choices, and hope for the best. I am also waiting to hear back from USNA.
 
That seems to be the same situation I am in as well. I was sent a list of schools that still have room and time to apply (including the school I am placed at), but I am not interested in any. I think I will wait list my original top three choices, and hope for the best. I am also waiting to hear back from USNA.

One thing to keep in mind, remain open to all possibilities. I mean if you are dead set on one of the schools you wanted and you think you'll get in, by all means get your name on the waiting list. At the time I got my scholarship, I really didn't care what school I was going to, because it was a back up and I knew I was going to be reapplying to the academy if I didn't get in the first time (which I didn't). So I took a chance on a school and it was honestly the best decision I ever made. You're going to be faced with many opportunities in the next few years where you might have to take risks. Don't be afraid to take them.
 
I was unable to find this answered elsewhere but I apologize if it is....

The NROTC site says applicants are "asked" to apply to five schools (one being in-state). Question: is this a hard number? can someone apply to say 3 (one of which is in-state) and not do the other two? let's assume that the candidate has already been accepted into his first choice in-state school in the Tier 1 degree ROTC wants.

if he doesn't apply to schools 3 & 4, what might happen? I suppose NROTC could award him a scholarship to one of the schools he didn't apply to. if that's the case, he's either out of luck or he can appeal the school assignment award, I would guess.

Thank you!

Unfortunately, despite Pima's confidence in me I cannot give you a definitive answer. Given that some said earlier on the thread that their app was rejected because five schools weren't listed I would err on the side of listing 5 schools. Alternatively, you could contact the cadre at #1 school and see if they can give you some guidance.

As you point out, if you list 5 schools but don't apply to all of them he might get the scholarship to one of those schools. In that case you could try to transfer it (not easy and definitely no guarantees) but he may lose the scholarship as a result. I've actually seen this happen a couple years ago where a kid got a scholarship to a school on his list but he had never applied. Nevertheless that IS an option but I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm assuming your hypothetical about being accepted at #1 in-state school is an actuality and that the other two schools are one's he'd be willing to attend. I'm confident there must be two other schools in the country he'd be willing to attend and apply to. But if his heart is really set on attending #1 school where he is already accepted I would list 5 schools but make the last two expensive privates and not apply to them. If he loses the scholarship because of this, no great loss because he already has his mind made up.

If he does lose the scholarship, or simply doesn't get one, he should participate in NROTC as a college programmer and try to obtain an in-school (sideload) scholarship. He can apply for it starting spring semester of freshman year and the two sophomore year semesters. If he takes this path he must achieve advanced standing by his rising junior year.

So there's some alternatives. I still feel he should list and apply to five schools. I know this process is expensive but its a small investment for a potentially big reward. And would your son really be upset he if attended his 5th choice school (which he will ensure is an excellent school anyway) with a scholarship? Best to have a contract in hand now than to take chances on what's going to happen with budgets and whatnot. Expanded horizons may be in order here.
 
One thing to keep in mind, remain open to all possibilities. I mean if you are dead set on one of the schools you wanted and you think you'll get in, by all means get your name on the waiting list. At the time I got my scholarship, I really didn't care what school I was going to, because it was a back up and I knew I was going to be reapplying to the academy if I didn't get in the first time (which I didn't). So I took a chance on a school and it was honestly the best decision I ever made. You're going to be faced with many opportunities in the next few years where you might have to take risks. Don't be afraid to take them.

Thank you for the advice, I have already been accepted to my first choice and should be accepted to my second choice as well. It is unfortunate that the schools have been filled, in my case an early scholarship application did not seem to provide much benefit. I am glad that things worked out for you, I have just had my heart set on two or three colleges since middle school, but I will apply to the school the scholarship is placed at just in case :biggrin:
 
Unfortunately, despite Pima's confidence in me I cannot give you a definitive answer. Given that some said earlier on the thread that their app was rejected because five schools weren't listed I would err on the side of listing 5 schools. Alternatively, you could contact the cadre at #1 school and see if they can give you some guidance.

As you point out, if you list 5 schools but don't apply to all of them he might get the scholarship to one of those schools. In that case you could try to transfer it (not easy and definitely no guarantees) but he may lose the scholarship as a result. I've actually seen this happen a couple years ago where a kid got a scholarship to a school on his list but he had never applied. Nevertheless that IS an option but I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm assuming your hypothetical about being accepted at #1 in-state school is an actuality and that the other two schools are one's he'd be willing to attend. I'm confident there must be two other schools in the country he'd be willing to attend and apply to. But if his heart is really set on attending #1 school where he is already accepted I would list 5 schools but make the last two expensive privates and not apply to them. If he loses the scholarship because of this, no great loss because he already has his mind made up.

If he does lose the scholarship, or simply doesn't get one, he should participate in NROTC as a college programmer and try to obtain an in-school (sideload) scholarship. He can apply for it starting spring semester of freshman year and the two sophomore year semesters. If he takes this path he must achieve advanced standing by his rising junior year.

So there's some alternatives. I still feel he should list and apply to five schools. I know this process is expensive but its a small investment for a potentially big reward. And would your son really be upset he if attended his 5th choice school (which he will ensure is an excellent school anyway) with a scholarship? Best to have a contract in hand now than to take chances on what's going to happen with budgets and whatnot. Expanded horizons may be in order here.

Great advice. Thank you!
 
I have just been accepted for the 4 year Navy Option Scholarship but to a school that I did not list or have an intention of attending. I find it hard to believe all 5 of the schools would be unavailable by the December board (my application has been in since September)
Well, we were told in April, 2011, in speaking with the Freshman NROTC advisor at University of San Diego (one of the most in-demand schools for scholarship placement) that "you better get that app in very early ... the unit fills up very quickly". In practical terms I believe that means getting the App by mid June at the latest. My understanding is that the most popular units do fill up in the 2-3 Boards that meet between late Aug. and late October.
 
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