Nrotc chances
- Thread starter polishpioneer1
- Start date
cvilltn - Among all the other comments that have been passed along I want to add 2 we haven't discussed:
1. Be sure to have a plan B
2. You might be surprised at what can be accomplished as far as attending a school your DS wouldn't otherwise be able to consider.
Besides applying to NROTC schools, 2 of which were in-state, my DS applied to a safety school in-state that did not have ROTC. Although it was out-of-state his first choice of school was the University of South Carolina in Columbia because he loved the campus and he thought highly of the NROTC battalion.
We did not get an NROTC scholarship, and he was wait-listed at the in-state schools that had NROTC. But he did get accepted at South Carolina and we were fortunate enough to get an academic scholarship, only available to out-of-state students, that brought costs down to near in-state tuition. So he is now participating in NROTC as a college programmer at his first choice school and the costs are still reasonable. He's thriving there and keeps saying that NROTC is really preparing him for success.
Also, at South Carolina, the NROTC alumni offer a scholarship to all out-of-state candidates who successfully complete orientation that brings tuition down to near in-state costs (same as our other scholarship). Of course my DS got this too, but unfortunately you cannot double-dip so we can only use one of them.
Point is, there are many ways to skin this cat and given your son's academics etc. I'd being willing to bet he could get some form of scholarship that would make it possible to attend one of the schools he is considering, even if its not a ROTC scholarship. Also, from other threads on this forum, I discovered Texas offers in-state tuition rates to all out-of-state ROTC students. I believe other states do this as well although I'm not aware of which ones.
I hope all your son's dreams come true!
The corps of cadets at Texas A&M does indeed offer in state tuition for A&M as long as you get a $100 scholarship. The corps makes sure that every out of state cadet gets a $100 scholarship. My DS and I visited there for their Eagle Scout scholarship overnight event when he deciding last April. Absolutely worth checking out. I can tell you for sure that VMI does not make this offer. But we were still able to get significant fin. aid from VMI in the form of loans and merit scholarship money that really helped cut the cost closer to in state. Norwich also make a generous fin. aid offer. I echo the advice, don't limit your options. Good luck!