You have no idea how happy I am to hear this. In my mind, I'm thinking that becoming a college programmer is as competitive as the national scholarship. I guess I shouldn't be too worried about it. And yes you are right, the 2 units I'm applying to are FAMU (FSU) and JU (UNF), both have a formal application process. But it's through email, so I don't know how anyone can call that formal. Anyway, I am going to submit my "email" packet to both schools and I hope they let me know BEFORE I pay my non refundable tuition deposit.
First, you probably won't hear from them until some time in the summer. They won't feel a need to address it until then as they'll be focused on assigning new billets, getting grades out, final PFA testing, commissioning, getting summer training squared away, etc. Since their deadline to get you squared away will be mid to late August it will definitely be less pressing to them. YMMV and I suppose you might hear prior to sending in a deposit.
If you're able to visit the units between now and May 1 that might help. There will normally be someone around, even if its just a midshipman... and you should be able to speak with someone. In any case, keep working the phone. Try every phone number for the unit that you can find and leave messages. Perhaps once your application is in they'll be more responsive, recognizing the name, and that you're serious.
Perhaps not during the application time frame, but certainly once you report, being a college programmer
is very competitive. I'm sure you realize this, but by your rising Junior year you must achieve Advanced Standing, which says you've submitted a formal application to a national board during your sophomore spring semester and they have approved you to continue in the program. This entitles you to the monthly stipend. There will also be a few opportunities before then to apply for an in-school scholarship which is also a national competition for NROTC. Trust me. Although it is a friendly competition and one always tries to help their shipmates, every midshipman will be competing intensely.
Oh yeah, freshman orientation is changing for some NROTC units, but if these units are following the old model this is the initial weeding out process. At DS's college almost 50% dropped NROTC during Freshman Orientation, including people on scholarship. Be prepared to:
1. Wow them right out of the gate by being in shape
2. Question if this is really what you want to do. Everyone asks themselves this during freshman orientation, so don't think it's just you. It's designed (or was designed) to make you ask yourself this question.
This is a formidable path, but if you're determined it is definitely doable.