rotc, AD, college gpa

CM11

5-Year Member
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Sep 15, 2013
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Im going to go to a Ivy with my army rotc scholarship (non-stem). It will be, obviously harder to get top grades there than at stateu. So it would stand to reason that going to a harder more competitive college would negatively impact my GPA. If I want to serve active duty, is this something I should be concerned about?
 
Well why no change to STEM - specifically a technology degree? That gives you something to fall back on. Also think what are your plans after AD, as you will likely retire after 20 years, then what?
 
Well why no change to STEM - specifically a technology degree?

Because I'd like to major in something that I am interested in...Spending four years studying something I dont like and have no interest in sounds like a bad idea to me.


That gives you something to fall back on. Also think what are your plans after AD, as you will likely retire after 20 years, then what?

Hopefully do something I am interested in and enjoy...planning on a career that is in a field I dont enjoy seems like a bad idea to me.


My question was: will going to a harder school negatively impact my ability to go active duty.
 
Because I'd like to major in something that I am interested in...Spending four years studying something I dont like and have no interest in sounds like a bad idea to me.




Hopefully do something I am interested in and enjoy...planning on a career that is in a field I dont enjoy seems like a bad idea to me.


My question was: will going to a harder school negatively impact my ability to go active duty.

I'll leave it to AROTC experts to answer your real question. I did want to point out that you shouldn't assume good grades are harder to get at an Ivy. I recently read an article that grade inflation is rampant at Ivies. Don't jump to conclusions. Instead do your research and wherever you end up, work hard. That's all you can control anyway.
 
I'm a senior at an Ivy and I got accessed active duty FA. Right now I have a 3.2 GPA.

My opinion: your school will make it harder to get active. GPA represents the largest single component of accessions, and no weight is given to school difficulty. However, if you manage your time effectively, there's no reason why you can't come out with decent grades.
 
Im going to go to a Ivy with my army rotc scholarship (non-stem). It will be, obviously harder to get top grades there than at stateu. So it would stand to reason that going to a harder more competitive college would negatively impact my GPA. If I want to serve active duty, is this something I should be concerned about?

You cannot generalize grading between Ivy's, or any class of school for that matter. Some Ivy League schools are know for rampant grade inflation. However others, notably Princeton, has an institutional, widely publicized and debated, policy of grade deflation.

Bottom line, you can only control the things that you can control. My DS is in AROTC at an Ivy where grades are notoriously deflated. Was he disappointed when a 90+% in Arabic landed him with a B+? Sure, but that is simply the way it is. He makes up for it with things that he can control like keeping his AFPT well above 300. Worrying about branching before you have even started your MS1 year is a complete waste of energy.
 
Im going to go to a Ivy with my army rotc scholarship (non-stem). It will be, obviously harder to get top grades there than at stateu. So it would stand to reason that going to a harder more competitive college would negatively impact my GPA. If I want to serve active duty, is this something I should be concerned about?

Don't be too quick to assume that getting top grades at a StateU is easier, it all depends on the school and the student.

That being said, as stated in previous posts you could be attending a school with grade deflation which could impact you GPA.

The school you attend and the degree of difficulty in grading does not have any effect on your OML, a 3.3 is counted the same no matter where you go.

While it's true you shouldn't start worrying about accessions before you start school, it's not wrong to consider the things that will effect you when the time comes.

I agree with you, don't jump to a major based on what you might do in the future, be smart in your decisions but study what your interested in and do your best with what you select.

I guess to answer your question directly, if the school you attend is known to deflate grades and the average GPA is low, then yes, this will have an effect on your OMS score that will in the end determine whether you get active duty or not.

Best advice is to really hit the books hard and do your best, keep a high APFT and be active in your Battalion.

Best of luck.
 
Like others have been saying here, going to an Ivy has zero, repeat zero correlation with difficulty and/or grade inflation.

Look up Harvard's grade inflation. The AVERAGE non-STEM graduates there with an A overall GPA. It's been documented and researched - hell there's a documentary floating around about it.

So yeah, good for you, and choose a subject based on what interests you. Don't assume it'll be any easier or harder than anywhere else. Apply yourself and you will be okay - that applies to any school.
 
Ivy League Smyvie League.... Remember, there are engineering students at Cal Poly SLO and Recreation and Leisure Studies students at Sac State all competing on that same "level playing field" for the AD assignment. The Army wants leaders that don't look for excuses or alibis. They want leaders that meet the challenge.
 
I agree with you, don't jump to a major based on what you might do in the future, be smart in your decisions but study what your interested in and do your best with what you select.

Best advice is to really hit the books hard and do your best, keep a high APFT and be active in your Battalion.

J,

You never disappoint.

CM,

The school that accepted you would not have accepted you unless they thought you were qualified and expected you to succeed. You need to learn now that you should follow what you love and to commit to the decision you make. At times you will need to grind through it, but the more you grind now, the less you'll grind later.

Best of Luck!
 
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