ROTC Benefits for VMI

[Strength and Honor]

I was awarded a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to VMI in November, I am
officially DoDMERB qualified and paid my enrollment deposit to VMI a
few days ago. I'm excited about attending the Institute, but had some
questions about where to go from here regarding having my scholarship
pay for VMI:

I plan on attending STP in the summer. Since I'll have to pay tuition
for the class, will the Army cover that cost, or will I have to pay
for it on my own?

I was reading the New Cadet Handbook, and they make it seem like you
have to buy your books as soon as you arrive on Post. Will I be
eligible to use my Army book stipend then, or will I have to cover
books on my own?

How is tuition actually paid by the Army? Will I literally have to
forward the check to Cadet Command, or does it even go through me?

Sorry I'm kind of clueless on the process! I understand that benefits
don't start until you pass the APFT though, and I've been preparing
vigorously for it (can currently score a 293).

 

[bruno]

I was awarded a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to VMI in November, I am
officially DoDMERB qualified and paid my enrollment deposit to VMI a
few days ago. I'm excited about attending the Institute, but had some
questions about where to go from here regarding having my scholarship
pay for VMI:

I plan on attending STP in the summer. Since I'll have to pay tuition
for the class, will the Army cover that cost, or will I have to pay
for it on my own?

I was reading the New Cadet Handbook, and they make it seem like you
have to buy your books as soon as you arrive on Post. Will I be
eligible to use my Army book stipend then, or will I have to cover
books on my own?

How is tuition actually paid by the Army? Will I literally have to
forward the check to Cadet Command, or does it even go through me?

Sorry I'm kind of clueless on the process! I understand that benefits
don't start until you pass the APFT though, and I've been preparing
vigorously for it (can currently score a 293).

Don't worry about it. VMI 's Finance Office knows the routine with ROTC scholarships better than probably any other school in the country- unlike a civilian college- a large % of their total student body are reveiving ROTC payments- they will know what is going on before you will and as long as you are in good standing they work with it.
As an Army Scholarship Cadet going to STP- the Mil Sci department will have you sign your contract while at STP, get issued your gear and generally be squared away before you even report in for matriculation, and if there are delays in kicking out your payments- they deal directly with the VMI Finance folks so you won't be left holding any bags.
BTW I don't believe they will be covering STP for you though- I'm pretty sure that cost is yours. it is however a worthwhile investment that you won't regret.

 

[VMI82]

I echo what Bruno said. I talked with Col Golden and with Senior NCO in NROTC about STP for DD and it is NOT covered by any ROTC program.

for more information on STP email or call Captain Ned Riester who runs STP.

IF you are out of state there 'may' be some relief. But the overall tab for STP is shockingly high at aprox. $4000.

I believe STP is a good concept but everyone I have talked to there has told me they believe it has become wayyyy too expensive.

Also, about books at VMI do the calculation and consider Amazon Prime textbooks. Amazon prices were lower on all but one text for DD ... and their rental prices were MUCH better.

(hey Bruno - speaking of VMI Bookstore -- remember "Red"?)

 

[Strength and Honor]

Thanks for the info. It puts my mind at ease a little knowing that the ROTC scholarship actually does what it is supposed to haha! However, I had no idea STP costed so much.... Can VMI merit scholarships be used to cover the cost? I have around $10k saved up in a college account, but I was planning to use it on Room and Board.

 

[Goarmymom]

I was awarded a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to VMI in November, I am
officially DoDMERB qualified and paid my enrollment deposit to VMI a
few days ago. I'm excited about attending the Institute, but had some
questions about where to go from here regarding having my scholarship
pay for VMI:

I plan on attending STP in the summer. Since I'll have to pay tuition
for the class, will the Army cover that cost, or will I have to pay
for it on my own?

I was reading the New Cadet Handbook, and they make it seem like you
have to buy your books as soon as you arrive on Post. Will I be
eligible to use my Army book stipend then, or will I have to cover
books on my own?

How is tuition actually paid by the Army? Will I literally have to
forward the check to Cadet Command, or does it even go through me?

Sorry I'm kind of clueless on the process! I understand that benefits
don't start until you pass the APFT though, and I've been preparing
vigorously for it (can currently score a 293).

I agree that STP is expensive, but my DS was so glad he did it, and would do it all over again. He said it was worth it to lessen the load during his first semester as a rat. Also, you pay for your books up front, wherever you decide to buy them, and your book stipend is direct deposited into your account. So it is to your advantage to pay the least possible price for your books, because the rest of the book money is yours to do with what you will!

 

[Jcleppe]

On the subject of books.

I am not sure at all how buying books at VMI works, if it's in any way like a Traditional College.

I echo Goarmymom's advice on finding the least expensive books, think used whenever you can. At my son's school they have found new and inventive ways to suck out as much book money as they can. For some classes they require a book that has a code attached for material online, the kicker here is that you can't buy these books used, and you can't sell them back.

If your allowed to buy off campus, Amazon was always a great resourse, just check prices. One other thing, after registration and before the semester starts they would post the books needed for each class, my son's soon found out after buying all the books listed their first semester that once the class started they found out they really only needed half or less of them. Check to make sure the books are in stock and you can either buy or order them online once the class starts to make sure you only buy what you actually need. There were some semesters my son's kept quite a bit of the book money through smart shopping.

To answer your question, you will most likely have to buy the books before you receive your book money so plan ahead.

 

[VMI82]

On the subject of books.

I am not sure at all how buying books at VMI works, if it's in any way like a Traditional College.

I echo Goarmymom's advice on finding the least expensive books, think used whenever you can. At my son's school they have found new and inventive ways to suck out as much book money as they can. For some classes they require a book that has a code attached for material online, the kicker here is that you can't buy these books used, and you can't sell them back.

If your allowed to buy off campus, Amazon was always a great resourse, just check prices. One other thing, after registration and before the semester starts they would post the books needed for each class, my son's soon found out after buying all the books listed their first semester that once the class started they found out they really only needed half or less of them. Check to make sure the books are in stock and you can either buy or order them online once the class starts to make sure you only buy what you actually need. There were some semesters my son's kept quite a bit of the book money through smart shopping.

To answer your question, you will most likely have to buy the books before you receive your book money so plan ahead.

I actually created an excel spreadsheet for DD to compare cost of her text books based on VMI's B&N website and compared them to Amazon. Amazon was hands down winner for all but one book. And that was by $3.

Amazon has a special Prime membership for students - free for 1st 6 months & then 1/2 ($39?)

DD and myself concluded that "renting" is the way to go given such low book allowance from NROTC

we will check with her Faculty Dept Head and see if they care a whit if DD uses a kindle v nook ... I'd be very surprised if they do

but at same time shake my head because we had 1 mainframe computer (Dr Balaz anyone?) and a few Trash-80 (TRS 80) from Radio Shack for the entire Post then. Heck, I think there were only 5 TI-55 programable calculators then ... and three of those were owned by Professors (Purple Hayes anyone?? Buehler??)

Now ... cell phones, laptops, e-readers

Like Doc Carroll said "VMI isn't what it used to be .... but then again, it never was!"