How much does getting ROTC help with the admission process?

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brandonz

5-Year Member
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Sep 24, 2014
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Hi all,

so college acceptances are coming out soon and it's been a stressful time. I received an NROTC scholarship to USC to me which is kind of a reach, and in an email I received they informed me that they would "be an advocate in the admissions process with the university" so I was wondering how much does it help? I know there is no definite answer but anything to help give a general idea is welcome.

Thanks!
 
Depends upon the school, the relationship between the Cadre and the admissions office and a whole host of other factors. Nothing more you can do here. Good luck!
 
In the same boat, DS has a four year NROTC to UPenn, the hardest school on his list besides USNA which we still have no answer from. He was beyond thrilled to be assigned to Penn though as its his other A plan. From what I read, there is no pull between the unit and the admissions office as they work separately though I am pretty sure admissions and the NROTC unit would be aware of the scholarship. I would appreciate any advice including advice on transferring scholarship, deferring scholarship for a year should there be no openings at son's accepted schools or converting the scholarship to a 3 year and joining a college program for the first year( just a thought, no idea if either of these are options). Anyone ever have a four- year where they couldn't use it due to lack of a spot? Thanks for any help.
 
NAVYHOPEFUL2019 said:
In the same boat, DS has a four year NROTC to UPenn, the hardest school on his list besides USNA which we still have no answer from. He was beyond thrilled to be assigned to Penn though as its his other A plan. From what I read, there is no pull between the unit and the admissions office as they work separately though I am pretty sure admissions and the NROTC unit would be aware of the scholarship. I would appreciate any advice including advice on transferring scholarship, deferring scholarship for a year should there be no openings at son's accepted schools or converting the scholarship to a 3 year and joining a college program for the first year( just a thought, no idea if either of these are options). Anyone ever have a four- year where they couldn't use it due to lack of a spot? Thanks for any help.
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The following is my best understanding of the processes you have questions about.
1. Information on how to transfer the scholarship should have been included in the mail your son received when he was told of and accepted the scholarship. I do know you must first accept the scholarship to begin the transfer process.
2. The scholarship cannot be deferred for a year. You're son would need to re-apply for a scholarship the following year.
3. If not accepted to the school where your scholarship was awarded and you are unable to successfully transfer the scholarship, your son could join NROTC as a college programmer and compete for a sideload scholarship (path my DS followed when not awarded a 4 year scholarship). I believe this involves a reapplication for the four year scholarship during the freshman year. The process for a sideload is different during sophomore year.

All that being said I get the impression from my several years on the forum that NROTC will do everything in its power to allow your son to make use of the scholarship in some way.
 
I really do not know, but DS heard he had earned NROTC to UCLA--still hadn't heard from admissions. DS spoke to UCLA NROTC program commander and he asked DS if he'd be willing to switch his major as his choice was seriously impacted. DS told him no problem. Less than a week later he received his admissions packet with his major switched to physics. Coincidence? I don't know, but sure felt like that NROTC scholarship tipped the scale. Call and write the admissions office and let them KNOW about the scholarship.

Read an article last year stating that a lot of top tier universities place VERY competitive applicants on their wait list because in the rating systems that are on done on universities if an accepted applicant declines the admissions offer it hurts the university's rating.
 
This is purely anecdotal, but it would seem to me if the government were willing to pay sticker for college tuition (in my son's case...out of state sticker, although he was accepted before he received the scholarship), that would have some effect on the admissions board. Let's face it, the universities do want to make money and while it may not be a big factor, it may be the tipping point.
 
The PNS at my DD's college said that if the college has 2 equal candidates they are considering and one has NROTC scholarship, they will give the admissions slot to the NROTC applicant. It will not, however, get a sub-par student in and they definitely have kids every year who get NROTC scholarship, who are not admitted, unfortunately. That school (Notre Dame) is VERY, VERY supportive of the NROTC and it's an extremely high visibility program there. That is one reason why she loves being in NROTC at ND, though.
 
Notre Dame has a long and proud history with NROTC. It used to be the largest unit outside of USNA in the country - not sure if that holds anymore. Saw a picture of Fr. Ted's funeral last week and noted all the NROTC students in uniform lining the street as the casket passed. Very impressive given his history with the program.
 
Blondie1 said:
Read an article last year stating that a lot of top tier universities place VERY competitive applicants on their wait list because in the rating systems that are on done on universities if an accepted applicant declines the admissions offer it hurts the university's rating.
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Bingo! I have been preaching this for years. According to a family friend who is in the admissions advising hocus pocus business, the holy grail for admission departments is "yield", i.e. the highest number of actual enrollees per admission. If the admissions department has any inkling you won't attend, they'll reject you unless they REALLY, REALLY want you.

Examples: DS#1 was rejected at most selective Stanford (not that he had flawless stats), but accepted at slightly less selective Swarthmore. Friend from across town rejected at Swarthmore, accepted at Stanford.

DS#2 accepted at Michigan out of state, rejected at less selective USC (we're Midwesterners which should have helped). Best buddy rejected at Michigan, accepted at Columbia. Our friend in the biz said USC rejected DS #2 because DS#1 was accepted two years earlier and did not attend. He also said that Michigan simply didn't believe DS#2's buddy would attend. He went on to guarantee that Michigan would take him if he called and convinced them he would attend.

Brandonz, the bottom line is if USC really is your #1 and you really will attend, then team up with the NROTC folks and let the admission department know. USC is so stinking expensive that very few attend USC without school based financial aid. The NROTC scholarship automatically makes you more attractive.

Not knowing your stats, I would only predict that it couldn't hurt to press the issue.

Best of luck!
 
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USMCGrunt said:
Notre Dame has a long and proud history with NROTC. It used to be the largest unit outside of USNA in the country - not sure if that holds anymore. Saw a picture of Fr. Ted's funeral last week and noted all the NROTC students in uniform lining the street as the casket passed. Very impressive given his history with the program.
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We toured over 20 colleges with DD and DS looking at NROTC and AROTC programs. At some schools, you could tell that ROTC was welcomed on campus and there were others where it seemed that there was little support from the college, faculty or students. Notre Dame was in it's own class with how, everybody seems to view it as a real positive, contributing piece of the university. They have many times where they show the various ROTC units on their Facebook link for the school, invite them to participate in many activities, put on Inter-Unit ROTC ROTC retreats on for the students, support the beautiful Veteran's memorial on campus, the University President went on a morning formation run with all the ROTC units, etc. It is said that the NROTC program "saved" the university during WWII by bringing in thousands of Midshipmen to complete NROTC at ND. Because of this, Father Hesburgh said that as long as USNA wanted to continue playing ND in football, that ND would do so, as well. Now that Father Ted is gone, I pray this tradition will continue. I know ND could add other "big money" teams onto their football schedule, instead, but I love the tradition. I've heard that the money USNA brings in from their every-other home game against ND, helps fund their entire football program and more. If our DS chooses to go to USNA next year, I will love going to the ND/Navy football games! I'll have to root for both teams, though. :) If anyone in the future is ever considering what school they want for NROTC, please consider ND, it is amazing!
 
Last year, my son won an AROTC scholarship to three schools on his list. He immediately accepted the scholarship to his #1 school. He then called the school admissions and let them know. At that point, he had not been accepted. He was told that the scholarship had no impact on his admissions, but he was accepted to the school a week later. It never hurts to inform admissions.
 
NAVYHOPEFUL2019 said:
Congrats Brandonz!! So happy for you. My son was accepted to his Ivy last night so we are so happy here too!!! NROTC all-around!! Such great opportunities for all.
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Congratulations to you too!! You must be very happy and proud!!
 
brandonz said:
Thanks all for the help! Just received my acceptance packet from USC last week! Will be beginning NROTC in the fall!!
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Congratulations and best of luck!

Did you ever contact the admissions department?
 
cb7893 said:
Congratulations and best of luck!

Did you ever contact the admissions department?
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I didn't directly but I talked to my admissions counselor about a problem I had with my application and just threw in there that I got the NROTC scholarship.
 
I think it makes the difference! My daughter got deferred for University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, Wash U, but listed AFROTC IVY as her school choice on application and got admission. Plus I agree all depends on detachment.
 
mbleykhman said:
I think it makes the difference! My daughter got deferred for University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, Wash U, but listed AFROTC IVY as her school choice on application and got admission. Plus I agree all depends on detachment.
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where did she choose? I know for army rotc umich and washu work with admissions.
 
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