Confused about ROTC and application

[Pima]

The following was provided by Pima, perhaps with some minor editing from me.

1. AFROTC does not super score SAT/ACT. It is best sitting
2. AFROTC has three types of scholarships... type 1, type 2 and type 7. See here: https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/types
3. AFROTC does not tie the scholarship to the college. All they care about is that the school accepts AFROTC.
~ IOWS they do not care if you go to MIT or University of Timbucktoo as long as both offer AFROTC or have a xtown unit that you can attend
4. It is a 2+2 scholarship. You must be selected for Summer Field Training (SFT) between sophomore and junior years. If you are not selected for SFT/EA as a 200, HQ AFROTC has the right to disenroll you.

Finally the most important. Sit down with the folks. Let's assume you get a type 1, but once at MIT you can't meet the 2.5 cgpa min., or decide you have no desire to go AFROTC, how will you pay for school if you leave?

I would stress that AFROTC is also like NROTC. 80-85% of all scholarships go to TECH majors, aka STEM for NROTC

Also forgot to say on the other thread AFROTC will not allow the scholarship to be used for room and board. It is tuition only. If finance is a factor, talk to the bursar because some schools will allow merit to be used for R & B, some will not.

 

[iMom]

For Army Only - apply for ROTC scholarship senior year of high school. You list 5-7 schools on your application. If you have your application in by October-ish, it will be reviewed by the first board, and all subsequent boards until you are either rejected, or receive a scholarship. If you receive one, it will usually be to 2 or 3 schools on your initial list. You have 30 days to accept or turn down the scholarship.

If the board meets in October and the candidate is awarded an AROTC scholarship that has to be accepted within 30 days, how does this work if the candidate is also applying to the academies and highly competitive civilian colleges? For example, let's say a candidate was applying to USMA, USNA, Harvard, Northwestern and Purdue. The board meets and awards the candidate an AROTC scholarship to Purdue. The candidate does not know that this point whether or not he has been accepted to any of these schools. How does he accept that offer? Or let's say he is admitted to Purdue in December and the board awards an AROTC scholarship to Purdue shortly after. If he accepts that offer, is he committed to Purdue if he is later accepted to Harvard, Northwestern or USMA?
Also, if a candidate is applying to USMA, USNA and ROTC, is it recommended to apply to both AROTC and NROTC, or should the candidate choose one?
Thanks for sharing your expertise on these boards. There is so much information available about the academies, but not as much regarding ROTC scholarships.

 

[nofodad]

If the board meets in October and the candidate is awarded an AROTC scholarship that has to be accepted within 30 days, how does this work if the candidate is also applying to the academies and highly competitive civilian colleges? For example, let's say a candidate was applying to USMA, USNA, Harvard, Northwestern and Purdue. The board meets and awards the candidate an AROTC scholarship to Purdue. The candidate does not know that this point whether or not he has been accepted to any of these schools. How does he accept that offer? Or let's say he is admitted to Purdue in December and the board awards an AROTC scholarship to Purdue shortly after. If he accepts that offer, is he committed to Purdue if he is later accepted to Harvard, Northwestern or USMA?
Also, if a candidate is applying to USMA, USNA and ROTC, is it recommended to apply to both AROTC and NROTC, or should the candidate choose one?
Thanks for sharing your expertise on these boards. There is so much information available about the academies, but not as much regarding ROTC scholarships.

The general advice is to accept the AROTC/NROTC scholarship when offered...if you are not admitted to the corresponding college you can request a transfer of the scholarship...not guaranteed, but not impossible. As far as USMA, USNA are concerned the general advice is to accept the scholarships, if one receives an appointment the accepted scholarship goes back into the national pool upon reporting to the SA. So when in doubt if you're fortunate enough to be offered a scholarship from the early boards...accept it.

 

[Pima]

iMom,

Your child should apply for every ROTC scholarship for the branches they want to serve in.

Again why I believe for the ROTC forum we need a sticky.

If your child is awarded an NROTC scholarship and commissions, they will not have a Guard or Reserve option. They will go Active Duty (AD). AROTC offers Guard and Reserve options.

I do not know about A/NROTC, but I know for AFROTC. The scholarship board does not talk to USAFA.
~ IE: There are kids that get both an appointment and a scholarship. There are candidates that get an appointment, but no scholarship. Candidates that get scholarships, but no appointment.
~~ ROTC scholarships start at the national level, SAs start at the geocentric level.
~~~ Theoretically, there could be 0 from AK for any ROTC applicant. Not true for any SA.

Finally, why apply for a ROTC scholarship?

Plan B.

Let's assume they get an appointment, but compete in track long jump. May 5, 2016 they compete and injure their leg so badly that they will be in a cast until July. Cannot go to any SA. Haaving that ROTC scholarship means financially you won't take the hit compared to if you didn't get a scholarship. They will be able to move on, rehab and next year be okay either way...go to the SA or stay with ROTC.

A/AF/NROTC/NROTC MO selection boards do not talk. They have no clue if you applied only to one or all of them. That being said, you will be interviewed and part of the score is the CoC/PMS at the college. If you can't answer why? chances are you will be dinged.