Hello, I am just curious how how and if you can join NROTC as a sophomore specifically marine option but also normal NROTC as well. I know the process for AFROTC and it seems pretty simple for AFROTC as you just take both the sophomore and freshman classes together at the same time. If anyone could provide more information on joining NROTC as a sophomore and direct me where I can get more info it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Joining NRTOC/Marine option as a sophomore
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My son joined as a sophomore. He did his freshman year in the AFROTC then decided he really wanted to be a Marine. He had to fill all the application paperwork same as the freshman do plus he had to have a face-to-face with the ROTC officers at his college. If he had not done well on his interview, they could have turned him down. He attended New Student orientation over 4 days prior to school starting.
You can still apply for a scholarship but I believe it's past the deadline now so you would be what's called a college programmer. You prove yourself and work towards getting a scholarship or what is called advanced standing. My son did not have to take any of the extra navy classes this year, but if he gets a scholarship (or Advanced Standing) he will have to make it up the next two years. Advanced standing, in case you're unfamiliar with that, means that they will not pay any of his tuition but he will get a stipend every month. Both of these are very competitive for the college programmers.
You can still apply for a scholarship but I believe it's past the deadline now so you would be what's called a college programmer. You prove yourself and work towards getting a scholarship or what is called advanced standing. My son did not have to take any of the extra navy classes this year, but if he gets a scholarship (or Advanced Standing) he will have to make it up the next two years. Advanced standing, in case you're unfamiliar with that, means that they will not pay any of his tuition but he will get a stipend every month. Both of these are very competitive for the college programmers.
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thanks for the information, I am looking at the school I would be doing it at and found an email to request an application. How competitive is it to get advanced standing as college programmer and just to join as a college programmer? Is it more competitive for Navy or Marine? What are the average required GPA's to make it through the program as a college programmer for both Marines and Navy? Thanks!
If you Google those questions, you'll be able to find quite a bit of information posted online and in various forums. To get a scholarship or advanced standing as a college programmer, is quite competitive. My son was recently told they are handing out 40 marine option scholarships and 15 advanced standing nationwide. Or maybe it was 30. Lol
He was also told this is what he will be competing against for MO. I'm sure if you look you can find similar information for the Navy.
Average SAT: 1313
Average PFT: 287
Average GPA: 3.45
Average ACT: 24
The Navy puts a lot of emphasis on the degree you are going for. Not so much with the Marines. Even beyond academics, there is a difference in how they train and in their mindset. You need to research all aspects of this to decide which one may be a better fit for you. Chances are if you are not happy with your decision you won't do well enough to earn a scholarship. My guess is how competitive it is to even join may vary from college to college. At my sons school, there is only one sophomore marine option college programmer. And very few freshmen. I do not know if it has anything to do with how selective they are with admitting them, or if it's just that's how many wanted in.
Good luck with your decision.
He was also told this is what he will be competing against for MO. I'm sure if you look you can find similar information for the Navy.
Average SAT: 1313
Average PFT: 287
Average GPA: 3.45
Average ACT: 24
The Navy puts a lot of emphasis on the degree you are going for. Not so much with the Marines. Even beyond academics, there is a difference in how they train and in their mindset. You need to research all aspects of this to decide which one may be a better fit for you. Chances are if you are not happy with your decision you won't do well enough to earn a scholarship. My guess is how competitive it is to even join may vary from college to college. At my sons school, there is only one sophomore marine option college programmer. And very few freshmen. I do not know if it has anything to do with how selective they are with admitting them, or if it's just that's how many wanted in.
Good luck with your decision.
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Fully agree with Sampia. The numbers look about right but I'm pretty sure it was 30 scholarships and 15 advanced standing slots. Kids who get Navy Option sideload scholarships have better stats, on average, than the average USNA appointee. I've never seen average stats for Marine Option sideload scholarships.
Speak to the cadre at your school for more info on how to proceed.
Another course, if you want to commission as a Marine Officer is PLC. It's done over 1 (12 weeks) summer or 2 (6 week) summers while your in college. You train at Quantico and are basically doing OCS. You get paid while you are at Quantico.
Speak to the cadre at your school for more info on how to proceed.
Another course, if you want to commission as a Marine Officer is PLC. It's done over 1 (12 weeks) summer or 2 (6 week) summers while your in college. You train at Quantico and are basically doing OCS. You get paid while you are at Quantico.
DS received a 2year sideload scholarship for nrotc. He will commission in 7 weeks and head to sub school. Each year the number of sideloads and advanced standings change according to the current needs of the navy. There are a number of posters on this board that have received them and in general perform near the top of their unit in all aspects. I've seen in your past posts you are interested in aviation, 28% of nrotc grads go aviation so it is very doable.
what do they base selection for a scholarship of advanced standing on, is there like a percentage breakdown. Also sideloads mean scholarships granted during college right? Also terp I am very interested in aviation. 28% of nrotc going into aviation, does that include marine option as well, because that is comparable to AFROTC, which I am looking at as well. Would you say the chance for getting aviation in NROTC is higher though because I would imagine that even though the percentage is the same there is a lot less midshipmen who want to do aviation than cadets in AFROTC. Also if I joined as a sophomore I would have to prove myself in that one year because to go on as a junior you need a scholarship or advanced standing correct? Thanks for all the help so far everyone!
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Sideload does mean scholarships granted while you in school.
Yes, you need a scholarship or advanced standing to proceed beyond sophomore year.
I can't speak to the aviation stats. Although there is some way to get a "guaranteed" aviation slot in the Marines it's really conditional on a bunch of stuff. Marines don't really find out where they're going until sometime during The Basic School where every Marine goes after graduation from college or even USNA.
Yes, you need a scholarship or advanced standing to proceed beyond sophomore year.
I can't speak to the aviation stats. Although there is some way to get a "guaranteed" aviation slot in the Marines it's really conditional on a bunch of stuff. Marines don't really find out where they're going until sometime during The Basic School where every Marine goes after graduation from college or even USNA.
Yes you would need to show your "stuff" in 1 year in order to get a sideload or advanced standing. It is possible, but your up against the mids who started day 1. Getting an aviation slots depends on GPA and the ASTB scores. Do well on both and you normally are good to go. Pretty much doesn't matter what your major is. DS had aviation #1 choice but got nuc sub drafted. He did too well in calc. and physics and the selection board liked that. Scored in top 5% ASTB but its the needs of the navy. DS is very happy with his assignment.
Would you say the chances of being able to continue on to junior as someone who joins as a sophomore are higher or lower in NROTC vs AFROTC? I know way more about AFROTC than I do NROTC and it seems joining as a sophomore isnt that much of a disadvantage in AFROTC given how their system is set up.
My guess is that it would be easier to stay in the AFROTC. As I had mentioned elsewhere, my DS did his freshman year there. He never expected a scholarship because he is not doing a tech major. He is earning a degree called Information Assurance (cyber security) The Air Force has a field devoted to that. He would have been a cyber warfare officer. But he wanted something more physically and mentally challenging. From the very beginning it was obvious that the scholarship cadets are treated differently than non scholarship. The different field excursions he was not allowed to go on. But if I understood things correctly, he could have stayed all four years in the program.
As you know, with the Marines it is quite different. Even after four years in the AFROTC, I do not know if it is easier to commission. Perhaps post some questions directed to the Air Force group
As you know, with the Marines it is quite different. Even after four years in the AFROTC, I do not know if it is easier to commission. Perhaps post some questions directed to the Air Force group
For nrotc the scholarship and non scholarship are treated the same except for not going on summer cruise the 1st two years. I know it is possible to come in the 2nd year and get the scholarship or AS but how probable I have seen no data. It may help being a tier 1 and get a smoking GPA and impress the CO.