Army ROTC 2023-2024 3rd Board

GrilledCheese94 said:
Norwich is a hidden gem for many reasons, especially financial aid considerations. They're also generous with their merit awards. Our son got their top level merit aid award long before he was selected for his ROTC awards. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you're in a financial conundrum.
Click to expand...
Honestly I've been looking at it pretty closely and it looks fantastic. Just with it wasn't in Vermont!
 
Milarmymarinelady said:
Norwich being in Vermont is special. It’s a beautiful campus in a state like no other. The history of the place is amazing. Go visit and see what it’s all about.
Click to expand...
I have no doubt it's special. The campus looks amazing and the history is fabrastic. The mountains are awesome and they have a 1,200-acre campus with cool stuff like an outdoor center for mountain biking and cross country skiing. Heck they have their own hockey arena!

I just wish it were further South because DS wants to go south not north. Norwich offers fantastic financial aid and basically makes college free for 3-year ROTC scholarship recipients. That alone is reason to give it a good, hard, looooong look.

At the end of the day, I just wonder whether DS could walk away from The Citadel, where you have beaches, a club sailing team and a location in arguably the most beautiful city in America. As a business major, I'd also think Charleston offers a lot more networking and internship opportunities than Northfield, VT.

Please understand, I'm not saying The Citadel is better than Norwich (though objective rankings might indicate it is). I'm just saying one may be better than another for individuals. And also that as a Dad, I wish every school was as generous in support of 3-year scholarship winners as Norwich is. Kudos to them for that! 💪🇺🇸
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
Yes, I agree. They can't get mad at you for asking -- and all they can say is no.

As far as The Citadel, that is DS's #1 at present. He also is accepted to Charleston Southern, which is a crosstown program. They offer free room and board to ROTC winners and also have given DS a very nice merit scholarship award. It looks like it would be more affordable to go there than The Citadel for freshman year, though he would still be in the Citadel's AROTC program and be on campus a couple times each week. Would be nice if The Citadel could at least match with a merit-based scholarship award on top of ROTC incentives for 3-year winners.

Thanks for the information regarding their program. I know they launched that a couple years ago with great fanfare. Best I can tell is they have scaled back somewhat on just how much "extra juice" they are offering the 3-year winners. As you shared, it may have been full tuition and room and board that first year, but now it looks like all they are doing is giving you in-state tuition for your first year and a partial offset of room and board. Not sure why they scaled it back; maybe they haven't been raising enough money to pay for it?

I also just checked with VMI. They offer some pretty impressive benefits for 3-year winners and they are still accepting applications. So, I am going to suggest DS submit his application. Not sure how interested he will be, but as you said, it's good to have options and perhaps be able to get an attractive offer that can be shared with other schools that may be interested in competing for a student.

Like you said, a 3-year winner is worth a lot in years 2, 3 and 4, when you know the school isn't going to offer any discounts to the Army and will be charging Uncle Sam full out-of-state tuition and fees.
Click to expand...
So, couple of points in response to your post:
- if your DS is considering an SMC like The Citadel, but also considering a university like Charleston Southern, you should ask him to carefully consider what his expectations are. The Citadel cadet experience is intense, physical and cadets are expected to be serious students. The Provost Office says the average cadet is taking g 18-20 hours a semester and usually graduate with at least a minor in addition to their major, if not double major. The campus atmosphere and academics at Charleston Southern would be entirely different.
- as for academic merit awards on top of the ROTC enhancement awards of 1st year tuition and Room & Board waivers for applicants with National ROTC. Scholarships, there are merit awards available for STEM, Cyber and other majors as well as merit awards for those selected for the Honors program. However, they are based on academic credentials. Just having been awarded an ROTC scholarship by DOD won’t qualify an applicant.
 
Does anyone know how to accept and then transfer your scholarship to another school? I understand you must accept one of the schools to reserve it and then upload a "transfer request" and your letter of acceptance, but I can't find a form for that transfer. What's the format of that transfer request? Is it just a paragraph on a PDF? I'm so confused and cannot find info anywhere else.
 
connorsbrotherconnor said:
Does anyone know how to accept and then transfer your scholarship to another school? I understand you must accept one of the schools to reserve it and then upload a "transfer request" and your letter of acceptance, but I can't find a form for that transfer. What's the format of that transfer request? Is it just a paragraph on a PDF? I'm so confused and cannot find info anywhere else.
Click to expand...
There isn't an exact format. You will have to explain why you want to transfer and I believe that's it. (I could be wrong, but that is what is stated on their website)
 
MGL said:
There isn't an exact format. You will have to explain why you want to transfer and I believe that's it. (I could be wrong, but that is what is stated on their website)
Click to expand...
star.gif
"Brief statement indicating why you want to transfer. There is not set format but please make it legible and do not write it directly on your scholarship acceptance form. Save as file type REQUEST TO CHANGE SCHOOLS"
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
I have no doubt it's special. The campus looks amazing and the history is fabrastic. The mountains are awesome and they have a 1,200-acre campus with cool stuff like an outdoor center for mountain biking and cross country skiing. Heck they have their own hockey arena!

I just wish it were further South because DS wants to go south not north. Norwich offers fantastic financial aid and basically makes college free for 3-year ROTC scholarship recipients. That alone is reason to give it a good, hard, looooong look.

At the end of the day, I just wonder whether DS could walk away from The Citadel, where you have beaches, a club sailing team and a location in arguably the most beautiful city in America. As a business major, I'd also think Charleston offers a lot more networking and internship opportunities than Northfield, VT.

Please understand, I'm not saying The Citadel is better than Norwich (though objective rankings might indicate it is). I'm just saying one may be better than another for individuals. And also that as a Dad, I wish every school was as generous in support of 3-year scholarship winners as Norwich is. Kudos to them for that! 💪🇺🇸
Click to expand...
I can attest to that! I recieved a 28k scholarship from Norwich and they promised additional funding if I joined their honors program. Didn't receive the national ROTC scholarship unfortunately :/. Debating between VMI and Norwich, so currently exploring SMP options, minutemen and etc but the end goal for me is to be active duty. Whole situation has my head going in circles...
 
ArmyROTCApplicant said:
I can attest to that! I recieved a 28k scholarship from Norwich and they promised additional funding if I joined their honors program. Didn't receive the national ROTC scholarship unfortunately :/. Debating between VMI and Norwich, so currently exploring SMP options, minutemen and etc but the end goal for me is to be active duty. Whole situation has my head going in circles...
Click to expand...
Have you made contact with the ROOs at Norwich and VMI? I'd definitely ask them about campus-based scholarships and your chances of securing one as early as second semester of freshman year.
 
ArmyROTCApplicant said:
I can attest to that! I recieved a 28k scholarship from Norwich and they promised additional funding if I joined their honors program. Didn't receive the national ROTC scholarship unfortunately :/. Debating between VMI and Norwich, so currently exploring SMP options, minutemen and etc but the end goal for me is to be active duty. Whole situation has my head going in circles...
Click to expand...
Norwich will guide you on SMP options, minuteman etc within the first few months of rookdom. My son has friends that are now in those programs and others competing for campus based scholarships as freshmen. He’s also in the honors program if you have any questions about it. Norwich told my son when he interviewed that they’d get him on scholarship somehow. And I do believe that’s how they operate.
 
Milarmymarinelady said:
Norwich will guide you on SMP options, minuteman etc within the first few months of rookdom. My son has friends that are now in those programs and others competing for campus based scholarships as freshmen. He’s also in the honors program if you have any questions about it. Norwich told my son when he interviewed that they’d get him on scholarship somehow. And I do believe that’s how they operate.
Click to expand...
From someone who took their ROTC scholarship to Norwich and who's son is taking his ROTC scholarship to Citadel....here is my comparison:

Location - VT is beautiful, but harsh. PT, parades, and walking to class (uphill and downhill) during half of the school year is tough...also hard to keep your boots and shoes shined! Norwich is in the middle of nowhere, but they have their own ski slope and other amenities. If you are not a skier, life is humdrum and the dreary weather compared to Charleston does have some affect on cadets there ...but it does force you to be involved in orgs on campus. I was on the Regimental Drill Team and the MCW unit, so I was very busy. Citadel....beautiful location with their own beach, beach house, 8 blocks from downtown Charleston, and their own sailing docks. However, due to the life of a Citadel cadet (just like a Norwich cadet), you will likely be too busy to be influenced either way by what lies outside of campus.

Coming home or visiting....it is a trek for cadet and parents to get to or get away from Norwich....no big airport to fly into and roads can be closed due to weather. Charleston...easy and convenient both ways.

Both schools are prestigious...both bring great pride to cadets and parents alike...though I am glad my son chose Citadel and did not even blink an eye to consider Norwich.
 
SchweatyYeti said:
Pa-Outdoorsman.....We were in the exact situation as I am speaking of The Citadel, and also out of SC. I am reading directly off their 2022 flyer to which they covered tuition and fees for the gap year (freshmen 3-year ROTC) for the Class of '26. "will cover tuition and fees for that gap year.... representing as much as $36,400 savings per student. Combined with the room and board funding, that represents a potential savings of about $68,000 over few years for those individuals". (ROTC pays tuition). Just had to maintain a 2.5 GPA during the 4 years at The Citadel.

They may have stopped the program or now offering something different.

Our DS was hard charging to The Citadel too. We showed that program above to colleges that also had ROTC units, and some trumped it. That was just our experience. The Citadel was not willing to move that much more (in our case). The Citadel is terrific and wanted him to go there. Money talked on this one.

My points are still:

1) 3 years scholarship winners have significant desires for colleges to pull them in. Colleges are willing to negotiate in many cases.
2) Talk to finical aid officers, let them know you have a 3-year in hand. Some may say "no more movement"; others may say "we will be right back with a better offer". Our experience was definitely the later.
3) It never hurts to ask. All they can say is "no".
Click to expand...
My son is attending Citadel with a 3-year. Already accepted the scholarship and designated Citadel which was his top choice. The Citadel (just like VMI and Norwich) have a "Service to Country" scholarship for 3-year winners (VMI has "Call of Duty"). They pick up your R&B during the first year so all you have it tuition to worry about (and a hefty uniform fee that applies only in your first year). VMI and Citadel are state schools, so their additional offer is in-state tuition rate vs out-of-state (we are in Florida). Right now it looks like a $29k scholarship his first year but more may come after the FAFSA results. So...if your son/daughter are bringing a three year scholarship, there is A LOT of financial "persuasion" offered for their knob/rook/rat year.
 
Anyone know how long after acceptance of scholarship until you receive the DODMERB communication? I can't recall how long afterward when my daughter received notice (she won a 3-year back in 2020). My son reached out to his ROO, but crickets so far on a response.
 
ROTC_has_been said:
Anyone know how long after acceptance of scholarship until you receive the DODMERB communication? I can't recall how long afterward when my daughter received notice (she won a 3-year back in 2020). My son reached out to his ROO, but crickets so far on a response.
Click to expand...
We still haven't gotten ours. But we did go to the site listed in the Medical Information (DODMERB) link which can be found in the additional information section of the rotc portal. My DS and I registered as a new user last night, and it worked. Showed he had been input into the system on the 29th of March. I'm calling in his appointments while he is in school today.
 
ROTC_has_been said:
From someone who took their ROTC scholarship to Norwich and who's son is taking his ROTC scholarship to Citadel....here is my comparison:

Location - VT is beautiful, but harsh. PT, parades, and walking to class (uphill and downhill) during half of the school year is tough...also hard to keep your boots and shoes shined! Norwich is in the middle of nowhere, but they have their own ski slope and other amenities. If you are not a skier, life is humdrum and the dreary weather compared to Charleston does have some affect on cadets there ...but it does force you to be involved in orgs on campus. I was on the Regimental Drill Team and the MCW unit, so I was very busy. Citadel....beautiful location with their own beach, beach house, 8 blocks from downtown Charleston, and their own sailing docks. However, due to the life of a Citadel cadet (just like a Norwich cadet), you will likely be too busy to be influenced either way by what lies outside of campus.

Coming home or visiting....it is a trek for cadet and parents to get to or get away from Norwich....no big airport to fly into and roads can be closed due to weather. Charleston...easy and convenient both ways.

Both schools are prestigious...both bring great pride to cadets and parents alike...though I am glad my son chose Citadel and did not even blink an eye to consider Norwich.
Click to expand...
OMG...our family feels the same way about these schools. We know they are both good but just feel the pull to Charleston. DS loves the water and is interested in being part of the Citadel club sailing team. We also don't love winter and would much prefer SC to VT.

As for DS, he is actually drawn to The Citadel's hard-core 4th Class System and likes the fact there are no "regular" students on campus. I think to him, military school is a binary option. He is accepted to multiple regular colleges and can choose that path if he he wishes. But he spoke with the ROO at Norwich yesterday and this was his text to me afterwards:

"Got ahold of Norwich. Kinda what I got from it was it’s cheaper, still a good school but a dialed back version of the citadel or vmi. Not really what I’m looking for. If I’m gonna go to military school the point is to be hard core."

Now take one 18 year-old's opinion with a grain of salt. That's just how he feels. Doesn't make it "right" but the fact that being a Rook at Norwich only lasts a semester vs. all year at The Citadel makes it lesser in his eyes. Also the fact that Cadets can transfer to the traditional student body doesn't sit well with him. Again personal opinion only.

I have spoken with multiple people who attended and/or had kids at Norwich and The Citadel and honestly didn't really hear any bad things. They are both excellent. You just have to decide which one is the better option for you.
 
ROTC_has_been said:
My son is attending Citadel with a 3-year. Already accepted the scholarship and designated Citadel which was his top choice. The Citadel (just like VMI and Norwich) have a "Service to Country" scholarship for 3-year winners (VMI has "Call of Duty"). They pick up your R&B during the first year so all you have it tuition to worry about (and a hefty uniform fee that applies only in your first year). VMI and Citadel are state schools, so their additional offer is in-state tuition rate vs out-of-state (we are in Florida). Right now it looks like a $29k scholarship his first year but more may come after the FAFSA results. So...if your son/daughter are bringing a three year scholarship, there is A LOT of financial "persuasion" offered for their knob/rook/rat year.
Click to expand...
Yup. I had a nice chat with Citadel financial aid and in addition to the ROTC incentives for 3-year winners, we are hopeful they will be able to come up with some additional merit or need-based aid for freshman year. But it sounds like they don't really expect to have all the aid packages put together until May. So, more waiting for now...

We will be back on campus next week for an official visit. Although he's already accepted we didn't get the full tour the first time we were there because we were just meeting with the AROTC ROO. Back then DS was thinking Charleston Southern University or College of Charleston. But he now seems all but certain about The Citadel.

Charleston Southern is where his scholarship is currently, but that's part of The Citadel's Palmetto Battalion and the ROO assures us the would be no issue transferring it to The Citadel. CSU has accepted student weekend next weekend, so DS will have one last chance to see both options up close and pwrsonal. Then it's just wait for the financial aid offers and make a decision.
 
ROTC_has_been said:
Anyone know how long after acceptance of scholarship until you receive the DODMERB communication? I can't recall how long afterward when my daughter received notice (she won a 3-year back in 2020). My son reached out to his ROO, but crickets so far on a response.
Click to expand...
you can log into DoDmerb and start process immediately. We did as soon as my son got his scholarship offer. He was on 2nd board and was DoDmerb qualified by March 1 .
 
Anyone able to download the acceptance instructions off of the ROTC site. I keep trying but it times out. Did they also email a copy?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top