Moving forward with plan B (ROTC) while waiting for SA

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jketron

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My son has a Army ROTC Scholarship to TAMU. Is there any reason not to accept the college offer now and start moving forward while waiting for a possible SA appointment?

We have already accepted the Army ROTC offer, the school is aware. I'd like to tell the school we accept too and start scheduling events like the New Student Conference.

Is there any reason to not do this?
 
jketron said:
My son has a Army ROTC Scholarship to TAMU. Is there any reason not to accept the college offer now and start moving forward while waiting for a possible SA appointment?

We have already accepted the Army ROTC offer, the school is aware. I'd like to tell the school we accept too and start scheduling events like the New Student Conference.

Is there any reason to not do this?
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Only reason for waiting would be that most schools enrollment deposit is non-refundable. So, if you aren't worried about a few hundred bucks, then go for it.

Otherwise, you may want to wait until after you know for sure about SA appointments. Or, you could just call TAMU admissions and explain your situation. Tell them your DS is going to attend barring a SA appointment, and given that, would be it be OK to get signed up for new student events before we know for sure? Obviously, if your DS gets an appointment and decided to go that route, you can just let TAMU know.

Based on many posts I have read on this forum previously, it seems many schools are pretty good about working with students in your DS's position. Congrats on the ROTC scholarship, and good luck with the appointments!
 
My kiddo is in the same boat. She has told them that she has accepted the scholarship but is waiting on SAs before proceeding and they said that was fine. She didn't register for NSC or pay for housing yet and I just keep thinking, hoping, praying it all works out and we aren't scrambling last minute but also prepared for it HA!
 
Honestly, even for a family with "just" an ROTC scholarship, it's still kind of a waiting game. My DS has a 3-year AD scholarship, and with the FAFSA delayed this year, it will be a while before we see actual aid packages from various schools. There's also a chance the scholarship could be upgraded after March board. Probably not a super chance, but a chance, and obviously that would be a game-changer.

Until you see actual cost of attendance from each school, kind of hard to make a final decision and write a check. Plus, DS is still wrestling with the school choice. So, I expect it will be late April at earliest before we have a final direction.
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
Honestly, even for a family with "just" an ROTC scholarship, it's still kind of a waiting game. My DS has a 3-year AD scholarship, and with the FAFSA delayed this year, it will be a while before we see actual aid packages from various schools. There's also a chance the scholarship could be upgraded after March board. Probably not a super chance, but a chance, and obviously that would be a game-changer.

Until you see actual cost of attendance from each school, kind of hard to make a final decision and write a check. Plus, DS is still wrestling with the school choice. So, I expect it will be late April at earliest before we have a final direction.
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I’m so disappointed in FAFSA right now. Your last paragraph is spot on. W/ an NROTC prep scholarship we can thankfully move forward, even if no SA appointment is given. But… I feel for the families who are stuck waiting, unable to make a decision. These seniors (the ones who IMO got the biggest shaft due to COVID - especially if they were in a shut down state) want to celebrate/commit to their college. Now so many have to wait & many of our most vulnerable (those barely able to navigate higher ed for whatever reason) will be left behind because of this 💩-show. FAFSA said they are processing them mid-March but I have serious doubts that will happen.
 
Boymomof3 said:
I’m so disappointed in FAFSA right now. Your last paragraph is spot on. W/ an NROTC prep scholarship we can thankfully move forward, even if no SA appointment is given. But… I feel for the families who are stuck waiting, unable to make a decision. These seniors (the ones who IMO got the biggest shaft due to COVID - especially if they were in a shut down state) want to celebrate/commit to their college. Now so many have to wait & many of our most vulnerable (those barely able to navigate higher ed for whatever reason) will be left behind because of this 💩-show. FAFSA said they are processing them mid-March but I have serious doubts that will happen.
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Yeah, lots of schools including The Citadel have already moved decision day to June 1 this year, and I imagine it could go later.

I also agree about COVID. My DS and his class got screwed by COVID shutdowns. Standardized test scores are down because of it, which I think it the only reason he didn't get a 4-year scholarship (still hoping for upgrade) and now we have to wait for the federal government to get its act together so we can actually see what it will cost to attend School A vs. School B vs. School C.

High school Class of 2024 really did get kind of a raw deal from society. BUT, it's taught them to deal with adversity, roll with the punches, etc. Got to look at it as glass half full rather than glass half empty.
 
jketron said:
My son has a Army ROTC Scholarship to TAMU. Is there any reason not to accept the college offer now and start moving forward while waiting for a possible SA appointment?

We have already accepted the Army ROTC offer, the school is aware. I'd like to tell the school we accept too and start scheduling events like the New Student Conference.

Is there any reason to not do this?
Click to expand...
My DS has a 4 yr ROTC to TAMU and we are still waiting on SA. We went ahead and paid and scheduled everything just in case. He also has a USAFPrep offer now so plans A on hold. Plan B and Plan C still going forward. I look at it as though anything could happen and I want him to be prepared.
 
COHO said:
My DS has a 4 yr ROTC to TAMU and we are still waiting on SA. We went ahead and paid and scheduled everything just in case. He also has a USAFPrep offer now so plans A on hold. Plan B and Plan C still going forward. I look at it as though anything could happen and I want him to be prepared.
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Same. DD was told they pick their units at NSC so she wanted to schedule early in the summer.
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
High school Class of 2024 really did get kind of a raw deal from society. BUT, it's taught them to deal with adversity, roll with the punches, etc. Got to look at it as glass half full rather than glass half empty.
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💯! Our 2024 has had so many opportunities re: failures & then redemptions that I feel he is more prepared to lead. “Dude/Dudette - I get it. I’ve been there. This is how I managed the situation.” 2024 parents could go on and on! Good luck 🍀!
 
DrMom said:
Yes, accept everything else prior to the deadline...buy the t-shirt and continue waiting
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We already accepted the AROTC and now I've move forward with the school too. I'm not concerned with losing the fees. T-shirt order is next!
 
Exactly...Maybe you lose the fees but it is a few hundred bucks for peace of mind and if you hear before 1 May, you can get the fees back. Also, your kid may decide he or she is completely fired up for A&M....where it is warm and they wear cool boots versus going to USMA where it is very cold and perhaps far away from where you all live.
 
DrMom said:
Exactly...Maybe you lose the fees but it is a few hundred bucks for peace of mind and if you hear before 1 May, you can get the fees back. Also, your kid may decide he or she is completely fired up for A&M....where it is warm and they wear cool boots versus going to USMA where it is very cold and perhaps far away from where you all live.
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He is already super excited for Texas A&M, t-shirt is on the way! Its actual refreshing to have done this. It makes waiting for the SA's easier.
 
COHO said:
My DS has a 4 yr ROTC to TAMU and we are still waiting on SA. We went ahead and paid and scheduled everything just in case. He also has a USAFPrep offer now so plans A on hold. Plan B and Plan C still going forward. I look at it as though anything could happen and I want him to be prepared.
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Mine has a usafa prep offer too!!
 
crhath said:
Mine has a usafa prep offer too!!
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And that is tough...right...your kid needs to think: What do I want to do when I grow up? If he or she wants to fly jets--then he or she must go to USAFA. That one year of prep might seem like eternity--but it is not--it is a golden opportunity to grow and prepare --and frankly--spend one extra year somewhere fabulous that will be a big part of his life. One of my kids had to pick between USAFA and USMA--and it was a lot of soul searching.
 
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