NROTC Scholarship and Gap Year

NROTC,

The problem with internet forums is you cannot read intonation.

I am pretty sure my post said.
1, Nothing in any of your posts would in the AF or AROTC world get you a deferment for Gap.

Am I incorrect wasn't that your original response that AFROTC allows it. Isn't that how this thread diverted in the 1st place? You brought AFROTC into the conversation, not me, not kinnem, YOU!!

2. Your issue with me asking why is this a discussion?

Are you not going NROTC?
~~~ If so this is moot since there is no place in the acceptance form to ask for deferring. AFROTC and AROTC does have it, but in your own words NROTC doesn't.

NROTC doesn't allow conversations?
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Yes they allow it, and you can have it until the cows come home, but it doesn't change the fact that they don't allow what you are looking for. THUS, this is moot. That was my point.

I am truly sorry you are taking my response as harsh, but I will not apologize regarding my opinion. You have said you don't have a plan and you want an academic break.

I want a break from paying my mtg and car loans for a yr, but this is the real world and I signed on a dotted line just like you.
And what did you think it was that I wanted? ("I would love to say I am not sure what you want from us, but I am pretty sure I know what it is, and nobody is giving it.")
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You will have to figure that out on your own. Here's a hint: Anybody posted yes yet regarding your situation?

You should contact HQ NROTC, we should have stated that in every post, and not our opinions.

I will apologize for not doing that. I don't know your circumstances. I am betting NROTC would defer a recipient if their parent is stage 4 cancer terminal.

I am also betting if you say the same to them as you have to us....academic burn out, no plan for a yr. Chances are they will say, submit your request and we will get back to you when it is processed.

Again...read between the lines.

OBTW, just curious since you did not answer my questions I posted.

Did the folks pay the non-refundable deposit for the college already?
Did the school agree to defer your admission to next yr.
~~~ You said they support and promote GAP, but never said they acknowledged you would do GAP this yr. and will now be class of 18
~~~~~~Don't you just hate it when posters don't answer direct questions?



I know I am the biggest wench in the world. I am mean. I am pompous. I am condescending. I bring no value to the conversation in your mind. Did I hit all of your opinions regarding me? I get it. Just remember, I also am the real world person that won't coddle you. My harsh personality will be your driving force to shove it in my face.

I am more than happy to have you come back tomorrow and say SUCK IT PIMA.

If that occurs, my goal was achieved...you fought for it. You stood on your own 2 feet and took a stand. That is what leaders are made of.

Old song...Cruel To Be Kind.

Ask your folks they'll know the chorus of that song
 
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Tough Crowd

Tough crowd. I would call the Candidate Guidance Office in Pensacola. Worst case is they tell you it’s not an option. They’re there to help you and shouldn’t drop an attitude on you.
The following guidance suggests that deferring your scholarship is at least a possibility. From the NCSU NROTC site: If you ARE NOT admitted to the school where you were placed and your scholarship is unable to be reassigned, there is still one course of action that may be available: you can ask the NROTC scholarship candidate guidance office about the possibility of deferring your scholarship for one year. I have not heard how often this is successful, but then again many people don’t know to ask about it. In the intervening year, your best bet may be to work on required core courses at a local community college and then re-apply for admission to your scholarship assigned school for the following year.
Also, you can google NSTCINST 1533.2A. That’s the overall NROTC instruction. It talks at length about several options to go on a Leave of Absence. However, they all appear to apply after you have matriculated and none of them seem to fit your request.
 
My apologies to anyone that I offended.

Jcleppe,

Was it necessary?

That is an opinion. Did I go overboard? Probably.

My opinion is I was tired of what I felt was :bang::bang::bang::bang:

The fact is we were in the weeds. NROTC wanted guidance, but was unwiling to read/accept that just because AF/AROTC allows it doesn't mean NROTC will.

NROTC kept saying they had no plan in place. They were tired of academics., so on and so forth. I allowed my emotions to overcome my rationality.

I was being a parent and thinking a deposit lost. Thinking a child that has no plan in place for the GAP yr could mean a spot lost to the next candidate on the list.

I placed Navy above him. Look at my tag line.

I stated I was positive my post was harsh, but I stand by the fact of what I said. If my mean/harsh post ignited a fire to shove it in my face that I was wrong I am okay with it. I will have no problem being the motivation positive or negative.
 
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Ok I am lost on all this. Someone needs to defer because thier parent has stage 4 cancer?
 
The NROTC person said that deferrals are only possible for religious or medical reasons. I would be able to reapply next year... I don't really know what to do now.

I think some of you don't really know what a gap year is. This article that gave me the idea to try to take one:

http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html

Anyone who was critical of me should try to read it. (I am not going to Harvard but my school is similar and has a similar attitude toward gap years.)
 
To people who were thinking/implying it was selfish/immature for me to want and try to take a gap year: I just wanted to be more ready for NROTC and for college. There will be many opportunities but the 4 years will go by fast. I am just trying to make the best of it. If a gap year would allow me to be more successful in college, then my interests and the Navy's are not in conflict.

Does anyone know what the NROTC scholarship outlook is for next year? How do they view people who decline scholarships to take gap years? If they don't ever see that, what do they think about people who do PG years?
 
NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
To people who were thinking/implying it was selfish/immature for me to want and try to take a gap year: I just wanted to be more ready for NROTC and for college. There will be many opportunities but the 4 years will go by fast. I am just trying to make the best of it. If a gap year would allow me to be more successful in college, then my interests and the Navy's are not in conflict.

Does anyone know what the NROTC scholarship outlook is for next year? How do they view people who decline scholarships to take gap years? If they don't ever see that, what do they think about people who do PG years?
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The biggest question you will have is whether you will be allowed to apply for the High School Scholarship since you will no longer be in High School.

When the person at the Navy told you that you could re-apply next year, what type of application were they referring. Did they mean that you could join NROTC and then apply for the sideload scholarship? If that's the case then your chances are very slim that you would get a 4 year scholarship, there are some on this board that have waited 2 years to get a sideload scholarship and it was VERY Competitive.

With the competition getting stronger every year and the fact that you will have been out of school for a year I would imagine it would be extremely unlikely that you would get another scholarship, given that you declined the first one you received.

If a Gap year is that important to you and you can afford school without the scholarship then the answer is easy. If you need the scholarship and want the benefits (Summer Cruises) that come with it then you really have to weigh your options.

A lot of factors go into getting a scholarship, one big one is your desire to be in the Navy, you have to look at it like they do, the Navy gave you a scholarship because of your stats and your desire, if you decline that offer to take a year off for other then religous or medical reasons, how will the board look at you the second time, they already took a chance on you and you gave it back, why take a second chance when there are others that are chomping at the bit to start their journey right now.

Not saying a Gap year is bad or good, though it doesn't work for everyone and is no way a guarantee that it will make you a better student. For every student that takes a Gap year and returns to school and does well, there is one that does not.

This is a decision you will need to make all on your own, just make sure you understand all that you are giving up.
 
Packer said:
I know quite a few kids that decided they wanted to take a break after finishing high school. They were definitely going to go to college but thought they would do something else for a year before starting college. A fairly high percentage of them never got around to going to college and most of the ones I still know will say they made a mistake. Not saying this would happen to you but sometimes life gets in the way.
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This. x10000000
 
N Hopefully, I'm younger then the ones that tried giving you advice so maybe you will read what I say and take heart (like a big bro suppose to do).

1. I haven't lived a long time, but when I was looking at schools there was a similar article. Think of it as...advertising. Advertising = trying to make $$ off suckers.

2. You don't need a gap year. You are ready. At least the NROTC thinks so (they gave you a scholly), isn't that enough confidence for you!

3. If you did want a gap year, you shouldn't have applied to college or the NROTC scholly till after the gap year.

4. Mean big bro talk - They owe you nothing and have a right to say ok sure you can reapply next year when you get back. Life is tough now in the real world, if you mess up in ROTC they have a right to kick you out and make you payback the $$$. It hasn't happened to me, but I've met those that it did. Some are still screwed up and never rebounded, some have a great life and loving what they are doing.

5. College is awesome. More than a gap year. Heck college on a ROTC scholly is the life. (You will have to figure this out on your own, I'm not typing it for all)

6. Listen to Pima and Kinnem, they really do want the best for you, navigate you in the right direction. Answer her questions, don't be afraid. Yeah Pima may sound tough (and sometimes overly too nice) but I'm sure my mom is worse on mean, aka not sweet talking life decisions.

Lastly - Forget the gap year bro. Enjoy HS. Enjoy your friends and teachers. Enjoy your lil bros or sisters if you got em. Work and save money! Take a vaca in the summer while your getting ready for college. Its going to be awesome bro.



NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
The NROTC person said that deferrals are only possible for religious or medical reasons. I would be able to reapply next year... I don't really know what to do now.

I think some of you don't really know what a gap year is. This article that gave me the idea to try to take one:

http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html

Anyone who was critical of me should try to read it. (I am not going to Harvard but my school is similar and has a similar attitude toward gap years.)
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NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
To people who were thinking/implying it was selfish/immature for me to want and try to take a gap year: I just wanted to be more ready for NROTC and for college. There will be many opportunities but the 4 years will go by fast. I am just trying to make the best of it. If a gap year would allow me to be more successful in college, then my interests and the Navy's are not in conflict.

Does anyone know what the NROTC scholarship outlook is for next year? How do they view people who decline scholarships to take gap years? If they don't ever see that, what do they think about people who do PG years?
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NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
Is it possible to defer an NROTC scholarship for one year in order to take time off between high school and college?

I am thinking I might like to take a gap year to do interesting things and to take a break from academics for a while. I want to make the most of all the opportunities at college and I think a gap year would help a lot...

I have heard that it is done on a case by case basis, but I have not been able to find anything official. Does anyone know about this (if it is ever possible, who to contact, etc.)?

Thank you
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As you already have read the answer is no, but I am curious to hear what interesting things are to do in a gap year that you can't do during the summer while in NROTC. As far as I know they have a couple free summers right?
 
I appreciate the advice. Thank you all. (I can tell you guys think I'm crazy though)

The NROTC person said that I could reapply to the HSSP again and that he personally thought gap years were a good thing. I would be a much stronger applicant then I was when I first applied and I don't think they would hold it against me... but you guys seem to think they might.

I don't know what to do.
 
NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
I appreciate the advice. Thank you all. (I can tell you guys think I'm crazy though)

The NROTC person said that I could reapply to the HSSP again and that he personally thought gap years were a good thing. I would be a much stronger applicant then I was when I first applied and I don't think they would hold it against me... but you guys seem to think they might.

I don't know what to do.
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If you don't get the scholarship again, can you afford your school?
 
Honestly.

Your life, Your choice.

Our opinions do not matter.

P flying Nobody has a parent stage cancer.

NROTC,

We are not ignorant regarding GAP. We know what it is!
 
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1. I shouldn't read much into P_Flying's comment, but personally I like to believe she was being tongue in cheek and indicating a reason (and perhaps the only reason) she might think a gap year was valid.

2. @NROTC - I agree with jbsail. NROTC thinks you're ready. Also, I don't think "gaining maturity to be more ready for NROTC" or however it was you phrased it, really holds any water. Trust me, participation in NROTC will mature you quickly enough and in the ways they want you to mature. And college is a ball! I bet most folks here who went to college will tell you they were the greatest years of their lives. Take the scholarship and go to college. You can take the "gap" year after you graduate but before you report to whatever school is next for you after commissioning. You don't typically go in right away but will often have some months before you report. They can't take everyone at once and give priority to Academy grads.

EDIT: Wanted to add that NROTC is a life altering experience. If you think it isn't, you're sadly mistaken. It may not be life altering in the way you had in mind though.
 
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I am going to talk to relevant people tomorrow to see if it will be possible to take a gap year and to apply for NROTC Schol. again. I will have to decide by tomorrow at midnight and I will report back with my decision.
 
I hope that you are at least given the option. There is quite a bit to commend a gap year - and it doesn't matter all that much how you use that time, other than to do something besides school. It can be a very liberating experience, and if you do it I think you will come out of the gap year with a greater sense that you are in control of your life. I wish you success in whatever you choose to do.
 
NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
I am going to talk to relevant people tomorrow to see if it will be possible to take a gap year and to apply for NROTC Schol. again. I will have to decide by tomorrow at midnight and I will report back with my decision.
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Make sure you send your accept/decline by multiple methods, Fax, Email, and phone call if needed. It doesn't mean postmarked by the 1st.

I will say one thing, I think you just might set the record for the most expensive GAP year in history.

Your parents must have chewed their fingernails to the nub, either that or they are independently wealthy.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.
 
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Jcleppe said:
I will say one thing, I think you just might set the record for the most expensive GAP year in history.
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Where do you get that impression from? I suppose it could end up being expensive (~20k--but this wouldn't be a record), though the Navy Scholarship would pay for an awful lot of the college expenses. Assuming I can get it again.
 
NROTC_HOPEFULLY said:
Where do you get that impression from? I suppose it could end up being expensive (~20k--but this wouldn't be a record), though the Navy Scholarship would pay for an awful lot of the college expenses. Assuming I can get it again.
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I think he was referring to your assumption. If you don't get it again, and my own suspicion is you won't, you or your parents will be left with a pretty big financial burden to get you through college.
 
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