3 year AROTC Winner - question

kaylar

5-Year Member
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Jul 24, 2014
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My DD just got a 3 year AROTC scholarship. Does the national boards ever change the 3 year scholarships to 4 year scholarships later on? Maybe after the final boards? Just curious. thanks!
 
We too just received a 3 year AD scholarship, but I can't seem to find much info on this. It as awarded to a very expensive private school though so perhaps that is why it was only 3 years instead of 4. Interested in comments on this.. why 3 versus 4 for a high school senior?
 
In the 2 years I have been here I have not seen the national board change or upgrade an offer. If you do have a 3 yr offer in hand be prepared to nail the AFPT on your first test, show up in regulations and you will put yourself in the best possible position to get your scholarship upgraded to a 3.5 yr or even a 4 year! One of DS friends had a 3 year offer, he did well on the Ranger Challange as a freshman ( they won the national event) and he got upgraded to a 3.5 yr.
 
Army is giving out more and more 3 year scholarships in general. The fact it was an expensive private school may have been a factor in the decision in this case. They have budgets too. Get that FAFSA application down and apply for other scholarships. You might find you can swing that first year (assuming it's an issue... it would be for me). I suppose there may be a possibility you could transfer the scholarship to another school although I don't think it would necessarily change the term. Maybe other folks more familiar with AROTC will chime in with additional info.
 
"My DD just got a 3 year AROTC scholarship. Does the national boards ever change the 3 year scholarships to 4 year scholarships later on? Maybe after the final boards? Just curious. thanks!"

My DS is a MS1 and on a 3YR so hoping to contract next fall. Originally Cadre told all 3 YR winners that they would possibly be able to contract/upgrade to 3.5YR start of Spring semester assuming they had great grades and passed PFT. DS was informed today that no upgrades will be done to any 3YR winners (seems odd that message came on the same day the 2nd board AROTC winners were announced). They were told that message came from Cadet Command but who knows what the true story is. My DS and a few others were not too upset but 1 or 2 cadets were extremely upset as they were banking on the $$ (these two cadets had very high GPA's and crushed their PT scores). I personally just hope he does contract next fall and stays on track.
 
Thank you for your feedback! While paying just one year is a struggle, I am hoping the financial aid office can work with us on reducing the bill so it's not so high. This is the school we want to be at, so we will make it work out. Feeling very blessed right now in so many ways.
 
Lemon, Have you looked at Wofford's ROTC package?

Students offered an Army ROTC Scholarship will qualify for the WC ROTC Scholarship valued at the current cost of room and board less any other grants and/or scholarships the student is eligible to receive. This will encompass both 3 and 4 year scholarships. The WC ROTC Scholarship funds will be awarded freshman year for the 3 year scholars to assists with cost until the actual receipt of the Army ROTC Scholarship Sophomore year.
 
Thank you, Georgia Mom, for your information. We knew they would match room and board which is amazing. Every bit helps! I did not realize it would be awarded freshman year to help until the funds come in sophomore year, so that would be a tremendous bonus. We love everything about the college and there was never a question about going there. Thank you for taking time to help us; it's been an emotional day :)
 
Thank you, Georgia Mom, for your information. We knew they would match room and board which is amazing. Every bit helps! I did not realize it would be awarded freshman year to help until the funds come in sophomore year, so that would be a tremendous bonus. We love everything about the college and there was never a question about going there. Thank you for taking time to help us; it's been an emotional day :)

So happy for you. I remember the day we found out. It was like we were walking on air for a few days.
 
Last year, there were a few kids on the forum (if memory serves, it was about four) that were upgraded at the national level from 3yr. to 4yr. scholarships after the 3rd and final board had been announced. All but one of them was a stem major. That being said, it seems CC does things differently every year. So, I wouldn't count on it being the same way this year.
 
I've heard a few pms' s talking about being upgraded to a 4 year from a 3 year. It was in the case of the kid getting a 3 year at board 1 and a 4 year at board 2. So I definitely think it can be done. (These were both in state at a public school)
 
My DD received a 3YR AROTC to an expensive private school on the 2nd board last year. Sometime between the 2nd & 3rd boards, she noticed that her portal listed her accepted college and 4YR scholarship. A few days later she received a letter from CC congratulating her on receiving a 4YR. Needless to say, we were thrilled! I don't know how often that happens, but it happened to us.
 
As posted above, it has happened though it's unlikely. Your best bet for these upgrades happens after cadets arrive on campus. Money becomes available after the school year begins and opportunities arise for the cadre to upgrade some scholarships or award new ones. It is all a guess on when, how much, and how many can or will be awarded and there is no type of application for an upgrade. I suggest showing up on campus ready to stand apart from your peers and keep in contact with the ROO and MS class advisor to see if or when money might become available.

At my school, there were upgrades every year so there is definitely a chance, but it's never a good bet to expect it to happen, always have an alternate plan.
 
Don't count on an upgrade. As a ROO I would never give a cadet the impression that they should count on an upgrade. There is very little certainty in this process. Work with the school to get through the first year.


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Off topic, but something I feel some 3 year recipients need to be aware of.

DoDMERB. Some candidates also applied for an SA appointment. If they had their DoDMERB exam during the summer, than it may not be valid when it comes time to contract as a sophomore that exam may not be valid because DoDMERB exams are only valid for two years.

IE candidate takes the exam August 15, 2014. They arrive at their school August 18 2016 for the start of their MSII year when they would be eligible to contract after passing the PFT. The exam is already invalid and they must administer a new one to the cadet. It could take weeks to get through the system again. This will in turn slow down the payment of tuition or R &B, book stipend and monthly stipend. It is a stress you don't want to go through.
~ There have been cadets that this has occurred to over the years, mostly with AFROTC cadets that were AFA candidates and converted their 4 year to a 3 year. However, as it has become more popular now with AROTC to offer 3 year scholarships it might occur more frequently than in years past. Again, it really only pertains to winners that had their exam very early on (summer), but impo, it is important to understand the DoDMERB exam has a clicking time clock on it for scholarship cadets.
 
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