January 4, 2011 AROTC Board

[montalbanol]

Cadet Command Facebook

Well accordingto CC Facebook page January results out on March 1st (after the last board).

At least I can stop looking at the Scholarship application website every morning and night for a while.

Still hoping for the best.

Good luck to all.

 

[clarksonarmy]

That is not after the last board. Last board meets 8 March. I'm guessing that they will try to resolve all the January board offers before they release the next/last boards results. The facebook posting said "no later than 1 March. I'm not holding my breath. It will be very difficult for Cadet Command to obligate scholarship funds that they can't be sure will be there next fall, so I'm betting the best course of action is to keep an eye on the budget fight. Not sure what the plan is, but I know I'm glad I'm not the one trying to figure this stuff out.

But in the meantime...this is an epic thread....someone should turn it into a book.

 

[paradoxer]

Great Reminder

It will be very difficult for Cadet Command to obligate scholarship funds that they can't be sure will be there next fall, so I'm betting the best course of action is to keep an eye on the budget fight. Not sure what the plan is, but I know I'm glad I'm not the one trying to figure this stuff out.

But in the meantime...this is an epic thread....someone should turn it into a book.

Reminded once again that importance of realizing there will only be certain things one will ever have control of and those are the things to maximize.

This thread is the rotc wikipedia on waiting, federal budgeting, networking, information, encouragement and humor which is exactly what all forums should strive to be.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

February 16th

Since I'm not so creative, will tell you the true story I heard this weekend.
Hockey dad from my son's team was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital and phoned ahead to tell them they were coming. Hockey dad tells nurse the contractions are 5 minutes apart. Nurse asks, "Is this her first child?" Hockey dad answers, "No, this is her husband."

Hi Ohio!
Yes, I've been checking in and just watching.
Lol!
I don't expect anything... but I've been wrong before, so I continue to keep my eyes open.
Yep! I'm a "fan" of the CC facebook page. I didn't notice the question regarding the results until it was brought up here though.

Nice to have some spring weather coming our way here in KY. I hope you are going to have some warmer weather this weekend as well!

Ttys!

Glad for a few giggles, this thread is sanity at time - the cause of insanity at others... Yes, warm weather is welcome Cincy also, DS is glad to run outside again and needs the extra physical outlet. I just need a drink

Jkcksoup, I was in your area yesterday...wasn't your DS considering this school also, PM me if its easier, I completely agree with Patentesq observation that naming schools/ROOs on open forum isn't a great idea.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

USMA90, that was an extremely thoughtful and informative post. It clearly took you a long time to compose. Thank you for posting. We truly apprecriate that terrific addition.

Reminded once again that importance of realizing there will only be certain things one will ever have control of and those are the things to maximize.

This thread is the rotc wikipedia on waiting, federal budgeting, networking, information, encouragement and humor which is exactly what all forums should strive to be.

USMA90 - yes, your post was a huge blessing, encouragement and information wrapped up with a bow

Paradoxer, you said it very well, control what you can and ride the ride - where it stops, no one knows....

Yes, this thread has taken on a life of its own, so to speak, I am amazed that we have all stuck together and as many have mentioned, no great drama or bashing of anyone/anything. Wikipedia on waiting...love that title.

Sit tight, I have a feeling the ride will get a little bumpier before we're done.

 

[patentesq]

I'm guessing that they will try to resolve all the January board offers before they release the next/last boards results.

Good morning, clarkson! You're probably right, but I think we may ultimately see a twist to CC's original plan. I'm probably going to be flamed for this, but if I were CC, I would delay announcement of the Jan. results and wait to see (1) how many scholarships they'll have for this year, and (2) how the packets submitted to the March 8 board shape up. Then, once CC knows how many scholarships they can offer, the two boards could hold an unplanned joint meeting to coordinate and then issue a joint announcement and take the top folks from both boards. I say this because I think it wouldn't be fair at this point to hand out all the scholarships to those who were board-ready by December 27, when the stated deadline for applying was 10 January. Of course, this puts the scholarship announcements from the Jan. board at around the third or fourth week of March or so.

I suppose we'll know whether this might be a likely scenario if word leaks out that the members of the Jan. 4 board are making unscheduled plane reservations for Louisville, Ky in the coming weeks.

I know there is a certain appeal to the statement "Hey, I had my packet ready way early! Why should I suffer because others didn't?" However, if CC had made it clear that awardees would be selected on a "first come, first served" basis so "get your packets in early, it's to your benefit", I would agree. But they didn't. Expectations of the applicants has to be honored in my judgment.

Totally agree with the "epic" nature of this thread. Your post probably added another 1000 views in just 15 minutes (your thoughts are highly, highly valued here).

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Good morning, clarkson! You're probably right, but I think we may ultimately see a twist to CC's original plan. I'm probably going to be flamed for this, but if I were CC, I would delay announcement of the Jan. results and wait to see (1) how many scholarships they'll have for this year, and (2) how the packets submitted to the March 8 board shape up. Then, once CC knows how many scholarships they can offer, the two boards could hold an unplanned joint meeting to coordinate and then issue a joint announcement and take the top folks from both boards. I say this because I think it wouldn't be fair at this point to hand out all the scholarships to those who were board-ready by December 27, when the stated deadline for applying was 10 January. Of course, this puts the scholarship announcements from the Jan. board at around the third or fourth week of March or so.

I suppose we'll know whether this might be a likely scenario if word leaks out that the members of the Jan. 4 board are making unscheduled plane reservations for Louisville, Ky in the coming weeks.

I know there is a certain appeal to the statement "Hey, I had my packet ready way early! Why should I suffer because others didn't?" However, if CC had made it clear that awardees would be selected on a "first come, first served" basis so "get your packets in early, it's to your benefit", I would agree. But they didn't. Expectations of the applicants has to be honored in my judgment.

Totally agree with the "epic" nature of this thread. Your post probably added another 1000 views in just 15 minutes (your thoughts are highly, highly valued here).

Someone mentioned blending these two boards earlier in our discussions, I don't know, it doesn't seem right to me - the March board deadline for all documents is 2/28(the FB page told a poster no change in that date). Fair doesn't always enter the equation, but making changes to the January boards decisions by blending the March boards decisions doesn't make sense. If the Jan boards are awarded by March 1-4, they have 30 days(April 1-4) to return. The March boards could release by April 10th - still time for most applicants to decide with the May 1 deadline for most schools and I believe the SA's. It puts the March board close to that line, but workable.

And yes, anytime I see Clarkson post somewhere I do read the thread - no matter where on the forum. Also, I did see a Scott Toth giving good info on the CC Facebook page....

 

[paradoxer]

At the same time

Good morning, clarkson! You're probably right, but I think we may ultimately see a twist to CC's original plan. I'm probably going to be flamed for this, but if I were CC, I would delay announcement of the Jan. results and wait to see (1) how many scholarships they'll have for this year, and (2) how the packets submitted to the March 8 board shape up. Then, once CC knows how many scholarships they can offer, the two boards could hold an unplanned joint meeting to coordinate and then issue a joint announcement and take the top folks from both boards. I say this because I think it wouldn't be fair at this point to hand out all the scholarships to those who were board-ready by December 27, when the stated deadline for applying was 10 January. Of course, this puts the scholarship announcements from the Jan. board at around the third or fourth week of March or so.

Since there are no promises as to how many scholarships are available with any given board I don't think it's dishonorable for those who boarded last to have fewer awarded. Sort of like when DD asks to go out to eat at the first of the month and gets a "yes" answer but when DS asks on the 25th and gets a "no" because there was more month than money. They have a ballpark number they are working with at this point and then the last board may be more or less given the best information at that point. We can speculate all day but this doesn't seem problematic to me from an application stand point.

 

[patentesq]

We can speculate all day but this doesn't seem problematic to me from an application stand point.

My DS had a DP who was HYPER about meeting that 12/27 deadline. It created a stir in the patentesq household as I recall.

 

[paradoxer]

Agree

My DS had a DP who was HYPER about meeting that 12/27 deadline. It created a stir in the patentesq household as I recall.

You must meet the deadlines and you must get reviewed by the board if you meet them but there is nothing that I've read that guarantees what will happen after that.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

My DS had a DP who was HYPER about meeting that 12/27 deadline. It created a stir in the patentesq household as I recall.

I can completely understand. My DS had his application board ready July 2010. From a selfish stand point, I say, let the March applicants possibly learn a hard lesson in putting off their paper work until Jan 10/Feb 28 for documents to be submitted. However, I'm not a selfish person by nature(and neither is DS, he is thinking of declining if he's offered ROTC since he has other options when some don't). I don't think CC will make this decision based on morals, it will be a logistical/financial decision - as perhaps it should be in this current economy.

off to sell the lotion(bath&body) so have a good day everyone.

 

[USMA90]

Latest rumor is that things could start happening as early as tomorrow. Don't see the 2 boards melded. Results and offers will be separate. Keep your fingers crossed, there maybe light at the end of the tunnel and it just may not be a train barreling down the track!

 

[Ksmom]

Good Morning fellow stalkers/parents in waiting - welcome to our new posters! Whewww, that was a long read to get caught up from yesterday. I love this forum and this thread in particular. All the information and opinions are fantanstic. I can't believe I didn't figure out that CC was on facebook before now... I follow DS's top 2 school/battalion choices on there; I will be 'liking' that page as soon as I log off from here.

@Patentesq - your advice about the waiting being a chance to figure out what our DS really wants is right on the mark. Two months ago he said if he didn't get the scholarship offer he would probably enlist this summer. This time has given us a chance to investigate the options, have honest discussions with him about money and the cost of college. We were able to map out a do-able plan to send him to his first choice school, he plans to enroll in ROTC with or without Army funding. His goal is to serve in the Army, Mom really wants him to get the degree first, so I think we'll both be happy.

Off for a new day here in Kansas...chalking one more mark on the wall while we wait for news.

 

[patentesq]

We were able to map out a do-able plan to send him to his first choice school, he plans to enroll in ROTC with or without Army funding.

You TOTALLY just made my ENTIRE day!!!!!!!! patentesq is smiling now!!

 

[patentesq]

This video reminds me how much braver, calmer, and more reflective our DD/DS's in AROTC can be than their parents sometimes, including me (although the DD/DSs do exhibit signs of stress sometimes).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro

I am actually learning life lessons from my DS! Love it.

 

[NewCollegeParent]

Advice from the more informed

I've been stalking a bit and have learned alot from many of your comments. Thank You. I had assumed my son had just been moved to the next board, but after reading this sounds like its anybody's guess. Here is our scenerio, my son is interested in ROTC for the purpose of servining his country and learning leadership skills. The scholorship is a nice bonus (OK, a really nice bonus). He has sellected his school as Georgia Tech, period. If he does not get accepted at Tech, then he will go to a local college with the intent of transferring to Tech in year 2 or 3. (Engineering being 5 years effecively). We are blessed to have a merit based scholorship in GA that covers tution as long as you maintain a 3.0 grade point.(Likely to be changed due to the state budget). Frankly it will be easier to keep the GPA at the back-up school (Tech is an academic meat grinder). He has a ACT of 27 and a weighted GPA of 3.85. With this he probably has about a 25% chance at getting accepted at Tech. My question is this? IF he gets accepted at Tech and IF he was to get a ROTC scholorship tied to Tech, would he be able to use that scholarship at the back-up school for a couple of years then transfer to tech. Both schools are in the same ROTC Battalion and both have ROTC offices and classes on location.

Sorry for the long set up, but would apprecite the advice. Don't want to speak with the recruiter at this point because I don't want to set any alarms until the scholarship stuff is finalized. Frankly the delay makes it easier for us, since we won't hear from Tech until March 18. But we want to do some advanced planning. Lacrosse season kicks of tonight for my son so that is a great distraction as we wait. Good luck to everyone.

 

[clarksonarmy]

The transfer question has been a function of cost lately, so if you are transferring from a school where cost is high to a school where cost is low, it's usually not a problem. Transferring from one Brigade to another is a little challenging. If you are talking about from one school to another in the same Battalion, that will be the least problematic, but still may be a challenge if the costs don't line up.

I know a really good engineering school (4 year program), with a decent DIII lacrosse program, and an awesome ROTC Battalion if you need other options.

 

[NewCollegeParent]

Thanks, both are state schools. Georgia tech is less than 9K and theback up school is about 7K. Sounds like we just need to wait until the options are in front of us. Who in ROTC would we run that question by and how could we best be assured of the answer? Is it the local people or CC? THanks for the offer on the LAX school, just curious who you had in mind. We actually came to the conclusion tha 9K for the quality of education at GT is going to be hard to bea. They have a club LAX team which will give him the option to have fun playing without some of the added stress coming from NCAA coaches.

 

[patentesq]

Transferring from one Brigade to another is a little challenging.

I would expect that transfers will become even more problematic if ROTC enrollment goes down and some Brigades find themselves having to justify their existence.

The problem that NewCollegeParent raises with respect to state budgets is a good one. We're witnessing Phase II of the Great Recession right now (government bailed out the banks, etc. in 2009/10, and now it's the public's turn to bail out the government), and our ROTC DD/DSs are not the only ones feeling the pinch (as reflected in the following story published today on CNN): http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/16/news/economy/budget_cuts_hit_students/index.htm

The other thing to consider is that procedures that may have been in place in ROTC during happier times of larger budgets (ie., 2001 to the present) may not be the procedures going forward. After all, in the latest budget, we're seeing Pell Grants on the chopping block. http://www.cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2011/02/16/obama%E2%80%99s-budget-affects-federal-grant-recipients

 

[deant]

I little discouraging to say the least. I thought I was being a good father by telling the boy if he got everything in early he would have all his options early and would have time to think about them. Well looks like I was wrong.
On the good side for us he has been accepted to the CGA. So the pain of not knowing if he could get into the Army nursing program has been dulled.
Keep the faith all.
Dean