January 4, 2011 AROTC Board

[paradoxer]

Mistake

Patentesq, haven't you learned anything yet??? Of course, CC will change the process again for next year

Kidding aside, I'm also curious to see how the allocation plays thru. DSs 1st choice school is instate, 2nd is OOS(but they don't know he has the full-ride and that financial aid will use that first)3rd and final school is instate(but he hasn't even applied there, yet. Hope this isn't our biggest mistake EVER)

My DS only applied to one instate school, although listed three on application; hope that isn't a yikes as well.

FWIW, Not sure what you meant about OOS school and financial aid but if choice two is where he is awarded an ROTC scholarship the award package may change considerably.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

My DS only applied to one instate school, although listed three on application; hope that isn't a yikes as well.

FWIW, Not sure what you meant about OOS school and financial aid but if choice two is where he is awarded an ROTC scholarship the award package may change considerably.

Thanks for the heads up, but I've already talked to the Financial Aid at both schools. Merit scholarship pays first, ROTC fills in if needed toward tuitition, room and/or board. Stipend and books really don't seem to come into play for freshman year, depending on tax situation will be in play for sophomore year. At the OOS he has the full ride so ROTC really wouldn't pay anything except stipend and books. At his 1st choice, merit covers tuition, school pays for room for all contracted, so ROTC would only pay board(+books&stipend). Looked into all of this months ago and as each merit award came in we re-verified with Finaid. He'd be cheap for them but it comes down to do they even want him....

Yeah, thinking about calling #3 school to see if he can still apply......

 

[paradoxer]

Very Interesting

Thanks for the heads up, but I've already talked to the Financial Aid at both schools. Merit scholarship pays first, ROTC fills in if needed toward tuitition, room and/or board. Stipend and books really don't seem to come into play for freshman year, depending on tax situation will be in play for sophomore year. At the OOS he has the full ride so ROTC really wouldn't pay anything except stipend and books. At his 1st choice, merit covers tuition, school pays for room for all contracted, so ROTC would only pay board(+books&stipend). Looked into all of this months ago and as each merit award came in we re-verified with Finaid. He'd be cheap for them but it comes down to do they even want him....

Yeah, thinking about calling #3 school to see if he can still apply......

I don't believe most schools would turn down ROTC money and spend their own funds and yet you've found two that do this. Just goes to show you, Always Ask.

 

[patentesq]

Just an administrative note- while 978 replies on one thread (and I might add without one warning/edit/ nasty off topic argument breaking out) is really pretty impressive, but it is making it kind of tough to sort and search this thread. Perhaps it is time to start a new thread just from the ease of use standpoint? There is so much good stuff buried in here now. Just a thought.
For those of you still waiting to hear from Cadet Command- Good luck.

Bruno, one of the values of this thread is that it is essentially a live recording of what thoughts people go through during a major budget fight in Congress (complicated with the threat of a looming government shutdown). From an historical perspective, it may be a useful resource for those who may be experience a similar budget fight in the fall of 2011 and subsequent years (which I expect will be even fiercer than this year).

I'm fine with whatever you think is best. Perhaps, though, we should add a category to the "Hottest Threads" list on the home page to include a "Too Hot To Trot" category.

Finally, one of the major reasons this thread being relatively cordial is that everyone respects the valid thoughts of others around here, and they let others have the microphone.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

I don't believe most schools would turn down ROTC money and spend their own funds and yet you've found two that do this. Just goes to show you, Always Ask.

Completely agree. However, these merit awards are state funds(since both are state schools) so I don't 100% believe the education cuts coming might not change some of the policies or funding levels. Also, both of these are good but not high demand schools(one will admit with conditions ACTs of 17) so DS looks like a rock star to them. The other has selective admissions, but is still not talked about much. But absolutely, financial aid representative are a gold mine of information, everyone should call and talk with them(or visit when on campus). I have learned huge amounts by asking them what might seem to be "stupid questions". A lot of why they are stacking/allowing the scholarships to co-exist is COA, if it total doesn't exceed COA its okay, exceed COA and everything changes.(COA=cost of attendance).

 

[paradoxer]

Dead Horse

Completely agree. However, these merit awards are state funds(since both are state schools) so I don't 100% believe the education cuts coming might not change some of the policies or funding levels. Also, both of these are good but not high demand schools(one will admit with conditions ACTs of 17) so DS looks like a rock star to them. The other has selective admissions, but is still not talked about much. But absolutely, financial aid representative are a gold mine of information, everyone should call and talk with them(or visit when on campus). I have learned huge amounts by asking them what might seem to be "stupid questions". A lot of why they are stacking/allowing the scholarships to co-exist is COA, if it total doesn't exceed COA its okay, exceed COA and everything changes.(COA=cost of attendance).

So it's my understanding that ROTC scholarship funds are no longer to be considered part of COA (new with Obama). Did you address this with the schools as well?

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

So it's my understanding that ROTC scholarship funds are no longer to be considered part of COA (new with Obama). Did you address this with the schools as well?

They talked a little about that, but no one seemed real familiar with the details, I guess its a new policy? Mainly, the merit money is theirs, they can change the policies if new funding issues arise - that was pretty much their main point. I have his letters of award of the merit scholarships, but the official award letters won't be out until April, so I've got in writing, but not....just like with ROTC, I'm prepared they could change the game. Actually, ROTC has the easier to meet GPA, 2.5 sure beats a 3.0 or 3.3(1st choice merit requirement). Not that minimums are going to get AD (if its even possible with a 4.0 will be the question) So, like everything else - you can only control your attitude and choices - the rules are written by someone else. I think like Pima always points out, the waiting and rule changing never stops in the military establishment, get used to it or get out.

 

[dunninla]

Hey, I was just wondering

 

[dunninla]

when this thread would get to

 

[patentesq]

99 pages?

 

[dunninla]

100 PAGES

 

[patentesq]

100 PAGES

We're all JEALOUS, dunninla!!!!!!!

 

[dunninla]

 

[cjs]

Thanks for the heads up, but I've already talked to the Financial Aid at both schools. Merit scholarship pays first, ROTC fills in if needed toward tuitition, room and/or board. Stipend and books really don't seem to come into play for freshman year, depending on tax situation will be in play for sophomore year. At the OOS he has the full ride so ROTC really wouldn't pay anything except stipend and books. At his 1st choice, merit covers tuition, school pays for room for all contracted, so ROTC would only pay board(+books&stipend). Looked into all of this months ago and as each merit award came in we re-verified with Finaid. He'd be cheap for them but it comes down to do they even want him....

Yeah, thinking about calling #3 school to see if he can still apply......

Why would you say that stipend and books don't come into play for Freshman year?

My son passed his AFPT back in August 2010 and became a contracted cadet. Book money was paid quickly and stipend started quickly after that. He has been getting his stipend since September.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Why would you say that stipend and books don't come into play for Freshman year?

My son passed his AFPT back in August 2010 and became a contracted cadet. Book money was paid quickly and stipend started quickly after that. He has been getting his stipend since September.

First I HAD TO POST TO BE ON PAGE 100.

cjs, it matters in the "yes, you get paid", but I haven't had a financial aid representative count that money in the award discussions I've had for DS's freshman year. The most they have said is that depending on tax rules/DS filing status etc... he may have to report as "income" in 2012-13 FAFSA. Just as technically since he hasn't been awarded a ROTC scholarship we didn't have to "claim" it on the current 2011-12 FAFSA.

I certainly hope if my DS is offered AROTC he gets his contracting done ASAP to and starts collecting stipend and book allowance

oh, and now who's gonna fight for the 1000th post

 

[cjs]

Thanks for the heads up, but I've already talked to the Financial Aid at both schools. Merit scholarship pays first, ROTC fills in if needed toward tuitition, room and/or board. Stipend and books really don't seem to come into play for freshman year, depending on tax situation will be in play for sophomore year. At the OOS he has the full ride so ROTC really wouldn't pay anything except stipend and books. At his 1st choice, merit covers tuition, school pays for room for all contracted, so ROTC would only pay board(+books&stipend). Looked into all of this months ago and as each merit award came in we re-verified with Finaid. He'd be cheap for them but it comes down to do they even want him....

Yeah, thinking about calling #3 school to see if he can still apply......

Have you checked with anyone on how ROTC handles these situations?

I will tell you, your son will have to pick to use the scholarship for either tuition or room and board. That choice stays the same for the entire school year.

If your son is planning on using the scholarship to Room and Board, you submit the bills of the Room and Board and then your son will get reimbursed. The reimbursement will come directly to the Cadet via direct deposit or check. I will warn you, the reimbursement comes late. This fall semester my son was reimbursed right before Christmas, after he was finished with the semester. The PMS had meetings with the kids to keep them updated and to let them know if they had financial issues to come speak with him. This was an extremely long delay and typically starts around mid November.
This wasn't his school as kids that I know at other schools in other areas also had the same thing going on.


Woo Hoo, just checked his account. The reimbursement was funded today!!! Yes, now we don't have to worry about that if there is a government shut down!!!! I wonder if that is why they were so quick this time around.

 

[patentesq]

The statements out of Washington are becoming more and more annoying by the day. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/23/dems-dare-gop-federal-shutdown/ Money will freeze up, including federal money to the states, pell grants, etc., so some of us will be waiting longer for financial aid award letters. If we assume also that many Jan. 4 boarders get bumped to the March 8 board, then things will get very complicated.

This statement in the above article is by far the most annoying: "Remember that Democrats widely believe that a shutdown would work to their political advantage and help Obama’s effort to portray Republicans as immature and radical in advance of the 2012 elections."

Do these folks seriously think this is a game? And why are they on recess this week? Grrrrrrr.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Have you checked with anyone on how ROTC handles these situations?

I will tell you, your son will have to pick to use the scholarship for either tuition or room and board. That choice stays the same for the entire school year.

If your son is planning on using the scholarship to Room and Board, you submit the bills of the Room and Board and then your son will get reimbursed. The reimbursement will come directly to the Cadet via direct deposit or check. I will warn you, the reimbursement comes late. This fall semester my son was reimbursed right before Christmas, after he was finished with the semester. The PMS had meetings with the kids to keep them updated and to let them know if they had financial issues to come speak with him. This was an extremely long delay and typically starts around mid November.
This wasn't his school as kids that I know at other schools in other areas also had the same thing going on.


Woo Hoo, just checked his account. The reimbursement was funded today!!! Yes, now we don't have to worry about that if there is a government shut down!!!! I wonder if that is why they were so quick this time around.

Glad the reimbursement got thru before a shut down.

Yeah, we've talked with ROTC and finaid at both schools, reimbursement isn't ideal, but it does seem to be a fact of life at most schools. Books seem to be in the same boat. It will be a pleasure, however, to have these problems IF DS is offered AROTC scholarship

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

The statements out of Washington are becoming more and more annoying by the day. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/23/dems-dare-gop-federal-shutdown/ Money will freeze up, including federal money to the states, pell grants, etc., so some of us will be waiting longer for financial aid award letters. If we assume also that many Jan. 4 boarders get bumped to the March 8 board, then things will get very complicated.

I was on phone with finaid yesterday about DDs verification paper work, mentioned shut down casually in the conversation - she was very quick to point out how VERY VERY BAD this would be for award letters etc... so be prepared for late award letters if indeed the children in DC can't get their act together and compromise....

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

I was on phone with finaid yesterday about DDs verification paper work, mentioned shut down causually in the conversation - she was very quick to point out how VERY VERY BAD this would be for award letters etc... so be prepared for late award letters if indeed the children in DC can't get their act together and compromise....

1000

did you know you have to wait so many seconds before you can post again, and yes, they do count it down if you keep hitting submit?????