Contact from Recruiting Officer

azdps5303

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Feb 17, 2016
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My DD received an email from the AROTC Recruiting Officer at a university in North Carolina. I had never heard of the university and it isn't one of the schools my DD had chosen on her application. The RO explained that he knew she was applying for an ROTC scholarship and offered her scholarship moneys if she didn't receive a 3 or 4 year ROTC scholarship. Is this a normal occurrence? It seems a little used car salesman-like to me... Thoughts?
 
It isn't that far fetched that a ROO could come calling on your DD.

If an AROTC unit is having trouble meeting their numbers, then I could see a ROO pursuing possible strong candidates, especially if they are applying to highly competitve units or colleges.
Did you Google the college and its AROTC unit? I would see if you can verify the name of the ROO on their website or through Cadet Command.
 
Gokings814 is right, make sure you verify who contacted your DD.

I agree, this is not that unusual, my younger son received a similar call before his first board, we actually flew to Florida to check out the school. The Roo told him that same thing that they would offer a battalion scholarship if he wasn't selected, he put that school on his list. As it turned out the school was one of those he was awarded a scholarship, in the end he selected a different school but it was nice to have the back up plan.
 
I got it too. Is would this be a good sign or a bad? Or is it something that we shouldn't look in to?
 
Pretty sure it's neutral...

If you still haven't gotten a scholarship and are interested in East Carolina University then reply to the email. Their ROO responded to my email in a few minutes.

Otherwise it's not something to look into.
 
My DD got the same one. Just remember, most schools do have the same on campus option, so everyone should first check with the schools on their list. One of my DDs top schools has a board in May for on campus scholarships for a 3 year AD then another board in the fall for freshman as well. @gokings814 has experience with this too, his son received it after arriving on campus, but that same school also looks at incoming freshman in May. My daughter is in contact with the ROO there and he sent out a reminder to the kids with that school on their list today about the final board and if they do not receive a scholarship, there is an on campus board in May they can apply at as well.
 
ECU is a good school but not generally well known outside of NC and certainly outside the region. Of course they may not offer one's major. Wife, her 2 nieces and some cousins are all graduates.
 
I think some of you may be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Here you have a proactive ROO who is seeking well qualified candidates who for whatever may not get a national scholarship. My advice is if the school is a fit in terms of major, comfort level etc... then you should definitely consider. The reality is this may be the only avenue some will have for a scholarship. Besides I bet the BBQ is killer in NC!
 
I think some of you may be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Here you have a proactive ROO who is seeking well qualified candidates who for whatever may not get a national scholarship. My advice is if the school is a fit in terms of major, comfort level etc... then you should definitely consider. The reality is this may be the only avenue some will have for a scholarship. Besides I bet the BBQ is killer in NC!

I think kinnem has a good point about not having the major, or not knowing the school outside of NC, and you mention that too. Yes, the ROO is being proactive, but if applicants have not already checked with the schools they have applied to and asked about how campus based scholarships work at those schools, then that should be a first step since those schools are already a fit, probably applied, etc. I also have to think those emails went to hundreds of candidates, my daughter received more this morning, Virginia Tech among them, not sure she could even get into that school at this point, so while it is nice to receive those, probably those emails are the most valuable to kids already seeking either those schools or that area of the country.
 
I think some of you may be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Here you have a proactive ROO who is seeking well qualified candidates who for whatever may not get a national scholarship. My advice is if the school is a fit in terms of major, comfort level etc... then you should definitely consider. The reality is this may be the only avenue some will have for a scholarship. Besides I bet the BBQ is killer in NC!

Exactly...at least complete your due diligence and check out the schools website and what they have to offer. When my daughter was going thru the process in 2009, we received an unsolicited letter from the ROO of a school not on her list...the University of Portland. Not only was in not on her list but we had never even heard of the school. We started researching the school and even took the time to go for a campus visit. She LOVED it and ended up making it her #1 choice on her school list. Shortly thereafter, she received the scholarship and UP was one of her school options. It turned out to be a great school with an outstanding nursing program.
 
My daughter was contacted by ECU as well. It would be a good fit for her academically. However, it was not listed as a choice on her scholarship application. She is already boarded so no changes can be made (is that correct?). So, should we look at this as a campus based scholarship option rather than a national scholarship option?
 
My daughter was contacted by ECU as well. It would be a good fit for her academically. However, it was not listed as a choice on her scholarship application. She is already boarded so no changes can be made (is that correct?). So, should we look at this as a campus based scholarship option rather than a national scholarship option?
You can make changes between the board results day and sitting days if you were not shown as a winner. So the answer to your question is yes she can apply today to ECU.
 
I got a message from them too. From what I've seen, they are well known in NC. But from what I have seen from what shows up on YouTube about there college, I decided it wouldn't be a very good school to go to. The first two results for ECU on YouTube were a bunch of people partying at the school. I realize that's not all they do there but it just makes the school look bad so I'm not putting at as a school of choice. There ROTC might be amazing but they don't look very good as far as how the other students spend their time
 
You might not want to judge it based on what you find on a quick internet search.
The fact is negative comments tend to get posted about everything.
People who are satisfied don't run to the internet to vent about it.
It tends to be an outlet for frustration.
 
You can make changes between the board results day and sitting days if you were not shown as a winner. So the answer to your question is yes she can apply today to ECU.
Applications are now showing not active, meaning nothing can be changed. Final day was February 29th.
 
I got a message from them too. From what I've seen, they are well known in NC. But from what I have seen from what shows up on YouTube about there college, I decided it wouldn't be a very good school to go to. The first two results for ECU on YouTube were a bunch of people partying at the school. I realize that's not all they do there but it just makes the school look bad so I'm not putting at as a school of choice. There ROTC might be amazing but they don't look very good as far as how the other students spend their time

+1 AJC
I'm not sure that the You Tube vid is a fair summary of ECU. They are ranked in the first tier (Top 200) of National Universities on US News & WR around 194, which puts them on par with Bowling Green, University of Nevada, Reno and Ball State University.

Furthermore, they have Nursing, Medical and Dental Schools along with many PhD programs.

Cappex has some pretty good student reviews of the college: https://www.cappex.com/colleges/East-Carolina-University/reviews
So does Niche: https://colleges.niche.com/east-carolina-university/

I think everyone here who doesn't get an offer from their dream schools should check it out. I keep saying...."Plan C can become Plan A+"
 
I got a message from them too. From what I've seen, they are well known in NC. But from what I have seen from what shows up on YouTube about there college, I decided it wouldn't be a very good school to go to. The first two results for ECU on YouTube were a bunch of people partying at the school. I realize that's not all they do there but it just makes the school look bad so I'm not putting at as a school of choice. There ROTC might be amazing but they don't look very good as far as how the other students spend their time

I think I saw the videos you referenced, unless your attending a SMC, you're going to find that most universities could put together similar videos. Looks like these videos are part of a promoted series that students from various universities have put together.

Granted, some schools may have a reputation that leans toward a party school, but the choice is yours as to how much you participate.

Never discount a school because of a few videos made to highlight the party atmosphere of the school. If you looked at some of the other videos you would see how they highlight many of the positive aspects of the school.

I would offer this advice, if you attend a traditional college you will be surrounded by many different people with different goals. If you start judging others on how they spend their free time your going to be very disappointed with any school you attend. College kids blow off steam, they attend parties, when they reach 21 they go to the local college bars and clubs....and yes some of them can get pretty wild, that hasn't changed since I was in school. The point is to have a balance, know what you can handle and don't get caught up in only the party, keep your goals in check and don't do "Stupid Stuff", and you'll be fine.

Bottom line...It's OK to have some fun, just know the boundaries.
 
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