AROTC scholarship and paying tuition?

philmont

5-Year Member
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Sep 17, 2010
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My DS received a 4 year AROTC scholarship from the October board. Do we need to be prepared to pay the first year or semester tuition and fees and then get reimbursed? How does it work? Thanks for any info on this.
 
DS also got a 4yr,
He has been emailing his PMS at his future University.
PMS said that they ask cadets to move into dorms
a week before the other students. They get settled in, go through a
ROTC/university orientation and do a qualifying PT test. If they pass the PT test then funds are available at start of school.

He also said this varies - different detachments/universities have different systems.,.. but that most have something worked out with their host university.

So have your DS contact the PMS for his schools specifics...

DS's PMS told him for now, enjoy senior year,
only things to do are; DoDMERB, keep his grades up, stay in shape and to find a college roommate.

"Getting up at O-dark-30 is not going to sit well with most roomies,
Sharing a room with another freshman cadet is a much better choice.
(Unless you can find someone that is also a very early riser.)"

Your PMS can help on finding a cadet roommate also.
 
As an MSI, funds are distributed after the 45th day. As long as your son passes his PT test his first semester (no choice), you shouldn't have to pay for anything. I would recommend waiting until he calls home and says for sure he passed his PT test and officially contracted. That means money is on its way.

EDIT to add: The 45 day waiting is only for your freshman year. Every semester there after funds are distributed alot sooner.
 
ROTC unit will notify Bursar's office at school that tuition and fees are paid for. Scholarship office will also notify Bursar if there are other qualifying scholarships coming.

My son/me then receive a statement before school starts:

Tuition $"X"
Housing $"Y"

Then the statement shows Pending scholarships $X (ROTC) and $Y(University)
with an amount due as zero.

Do not be surprised if the very first statement does not get this right. Sometimes the ROTC unit gets a few things mixed up, but it always gets sorted out.


In the summer, contact the Bursar's office and ask how it all works. They will explain it to you. Once school starts and it looks like there is a mistake, contact ROTC. Usually the administrative assistant knows the drill and how all this paperwork gets sorted out.
 
Thanks! Also, does anyone know if we have to fill out the FAFSA application if son has 4 yr scholarship?
 
I don't think anyone has to fill out the FAFSA, however make sure the ROTC scholarship will cover both tuition and housing, or I'd suggest filling it out.
 
Always file the FAFSA

I don't think anyone has to fill out the FAFSA, however make sure the ROTC scholarship will cover both tuition and housing, or I'd suggest filling it out.

You should ALWAYS fill out the FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) every February because you never know what other aid may be offered. Even if you make 6 billion dollars your student can qualify for federal loans and if you make only 6 dollars there will also be federal grant(s) available.

Also there are new (2009) federal regulations regarding how universities can award aid for those with ROTC scholarships. So once you receive the scholarship you may want to contact the school financial aid department immediately to see how they award need based aid as determined by the FAFSA. Some schools will include the ROTC scholarship and stipends and others will NOT include these monies when awarding need based aid.

If you qualify for federal grants you may want to speak with the Financial Aid Director to see when they last updated policy relating to ROTC awards and stipends. Norwich University had some compliance issues which brought to light some of the 2009 changes in the awarding of aid. Unfortunately, federal regulations change often and it can be difficult for schools to remain current with all the new GI Bill/ROTC changes. Smaller schools especially may not have the staff, time or resources to react rapidly to changing regulations. So if they have not reviewed the regulations in the last 2 years ask them to please do so.
 
In my son's case, the ED school insisted that he should submit the CSSprofile, even though his tuition, fee, room and board are all covered. They did not say anything about FAFSA.

Meanwhile, the form letter of ED acceptance says we should send in non-refundable deposit. Now, I wonder, is this going to be reimbursed? Since the school provides free room and board to the ROTC 4 year scholarship winners, there is no school related charges this $500 can be applied to in my son's case.

Um...........
 
Obviously.....**EVERY SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT**

We had to pay for our daughters first semester in August. Her first PFT was in early September and she passed, more paperwork had to be completed and we were reimbursed about November 1st.

We were told to fill out the FAFSA as well.

My daughter also moved in with everybody else. ROTC didn't come early.
 
Reimbursement

Now, I wonder, is this going to be reimbursed? Since the school provides free room and board to the ROTC 4 year scholarship winners, there is no school related charges this $500 can be applied to in my son's case.

Um...........[/QUOTE]

Once the scholarship funds post to his account and create a credit balance he should receive a refund. The only time this wouldn't happen would be if he had fees that were not covered by his scholarship that exceeded the deposit. As you can see from the various other postings the timing of this refund is the variable.
 
In my son's case, the ED school insisted that he should submit the CSSprofile, even though his tuition, fee, room and board are all covered. They did not say anything about FAFSA.

IF you want to take advantage of Federal Financial Aid - including loans; then you MUST complete the FAFSA; the CSS Profile does not qualify you for Federal Financial Aid.

It is prudent for everyone with a ROTC scholarship to complete all financial aid forms. This way if something happens and the scholarship does not activiate you can be awarded necessary grants and loans.

One thing to plan for.... if your kids receive a scholarship that will pay for room and board - this is taxable income and will be reported as such.
 
In my son's case, the ED school insisted that he should submit the CSSprofile, even though his tuition, fee, room and board are all covered. They did not say anything about FAFSA.

Meanwhile, the form letter of ED acceptance says we should send in non-refundable deposit. Now, I wonder, is this going to be reimbursed? Since the school provides free room and board to the ROTC 4 year scholarship winners, there is no school related charges this $500 can be applied to in my son's case.

Um...........

Mine was not reimbursed. Instead, I asked student accounts office to apply the deposit towards room and board instead of towards tuition. It ended up making things simpler.
 
It would be nice if Cadet Command would pay the scholarship used for room and board for this year. The semester is ended or ending and the Cadets at some schools have not been paid.
I know one school got paid last week. I must say that this is frustrating.
 
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It would be nice is Cadet Command would pay the scholarship used for room and board for this year. The semester is ended or ending and the Cadets at some schools have not been paid.
I know one school got paid last week. I must say that this is frustrating.

So, did you all have to pay this upfront?
 
So, did you all have to pay this upfront?

Yes both had to be paid already to the school. They do allow deferment in housing in some cases but the housing deferment is only until October 1st anyway.

I appreciate that this is on a reimbursement thing which we were told would be around November 15. But this just doesn't seem right. You have some kids who live off campus and are completely stressing paying their next rent and expenses.
 
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