Question for previous 3 year AROTC winners at RPI?

BigBillNY

5-Year Member
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Jun 27, 2014
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So, my DS won a 3 year scholarship to RPI. Happy to report he was accepted too. However, the financial aid award letter for his freshman year arrived and I was a little shocked at the aid, or more correctly, the lack of aid.

We were told, by both RPI Admissions and ROTC staff, that if DS won a 3 year scholarship, that RPI would offer a very generous package that would cover nearly the entire freshman year. Now, after getting the award letter, it does not seem to be the case.

Furthermore, RPI's website has a financial aid forecaster to give you an "approximate" idea of the college's costs. You plug all your data in and it spits out an estimated cost to attend. Well, that estimate was off by over $23,000. So, you might understand the shock I just got.

Question for previous 3 year AROTC winners at RPI? What was the financial aid policy for freshman year when you went? Can you please tell me how long ago it was so I can understand when or if the policy changed?

Thanks so much.
 
No specific information on RPI award, but did you specifically contact admissions and financial aid to discuss the 3 year ROTC for son? Does or did the ROTC PMS or ROO at Siena (host) contact RPI on receipt of his scholarship award? As you know RPI much more competitive than Siena. Other consideration as mentioned by other posters is being able to afford #1 school if AROTC does not work out for him. Understand your pain as son in same situation at another expensive private school (waiting for word on $). Plan B moving forward just in case and he is visiting all the backups including state schools and checking numbers. We had conversation with son's #1 school and I asked if they would hit us hard the first year with expectation he would have scholarship last 3, and they said no. Keep us updated. Good luck.
 
DS got 3 year to a SUNY school. Got 3.5 so cost less second semester with book money. The scholarship became plan A and we worked with it. Talk to cadre. They may be able to clearly explain or reexplain. Used scholarship from spring to to cover other costs sophomore year. Took a ding first year but I spun this as a positive for son thatbhe could build credit with the loan he/we took.
 
Not sure what RPI is... but we are a 3 year winner too at an expensive school. I know our ROO is working with financial aid to help whittle down that first year bill and we are too. I don't want to pay $50K, but even if I do, I feel like that is a deal for 4 years at an expensive private school. Don't get me wrong, I will try every avenue to reduce it.... but we felt the benefits outweigh the cost, and if a parent loan is in our future, so be it. I am confident that they can help us get the cost down... after all, they are getting 3 years guaranteed cash payment at FULL cost, so I don't think they would want to lose that too.
 
No specific information on RPI award, but did you specifically contact admissions and financial aid to discuss the 3 year ROTC for son? Does or did the ROTC PMS or ROO at Siena (host) contact RPI on receipt of his scholarship award? As you know RPI much more competitive than Siena. Other consideration as mentioned by other posters is being able to afford #1 school if AROTC does not work out for him. Understand your pain as son in same situation at another expensive private school (waiting for word on $). Plan B moving forward just in case and he is visiting all the backups including state schools and checking numbers. We had conversation with son's #1 school and I asked if they would hit us hard the first year with expectation he would have scholarship last 3, and they said no. Keep us updated. Good luck.
Wilco- The letter came after hours on Friday. I've already sent an email to the ROO and I am waiting till Monday morning to call the financial aid office. I spoke with another friend whose DS also visited RPI and they were given the same information about the generous freshman package.
 
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