Can you refuse an ROTC scholarship?

[suddensam]

This seems like a silly question to me, but my son spotted this on the NROTC application page.

"If offered the scholarship, the student will be expected to attend the school at which their scholarship is placed."

Like many kids, he is thinking about ROTC, but he's not sure about it. He reads that sentence to say that, if he is offered the scholarship, he has to accept it and attend the host school (assuming he's admitted to that school). I told him that was incorrect -- you never have to accept a scholarship offer, and you are always free to evaluate it amongst other options and make a decision, yes or no. I'm fairly sure of my answer, but I thought I would double-check.

Thanks.

 

[marciemi]

No, there's definitely no obligation to accept the scholarship, or even use it once accepted. That's just telling you that there's no guarantee that they will be able to transfer it to another school in the event that they decide not to attend or aren't accepted at the school to which the scholarship is assigned.

 

[suddensam]

Thanks. That's what I thought, but it's nice to get a concurring opinion. Cheers.

 

[kinnem]

Thanks. That's what I thought, but it's nice to get a concurring opinion. Cheers.

Just to give you some comfort of a second independent opinion, you're reasoning is definitely correct. You do not have to accept the scholarship. You DO have to go the school designated in the scholarship, if you accept it, unless you can get it transferred to another school which is never ever a sure thing.