EOD/SEALmom
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 683
That's a powerful story and a great addition to this topic. Thank you so much!
EOD/SEAL Mom,
Your original thread just changed my DD's future as well, and for that, I thank you! It turns out our daughters do indeed know each other, and my DD has certainly bumped up her intensity since meeting other like minded, strong young women. I am working with DD to formulate a strong plan B, which includes applying for the NROTC scholarship when the process opens on 4/1/16. She is a junior this year. I was aware of the military colleges from speaking with other parents at the USNA CVW last fall, but I nixed nayed them because I didn't feel the academics were as strong as the schools in the scholarship program. Fee free to chime in with any disagreements you may have on that point. DD expressed interest in VMI, but the thought of having my DD called a 'rat' was more than I could bare to tolerate and Norwich is in the middle of nowhere and didn't get very good reviews from students online. My DD is interested in Mechanical Engineering, so I had DD focus on NROTC schools that had a good engineering program AND also offered a housing scholarship, which I learned about through this forum. The 5 schools that DD is focusing on are the University of San Diego, Illinois Tech, Rensselaer, Drexel, and Notre Dame. Notre Dame doesn't offer the housing scholarship, but DD might be eligible for other financial aid that would cover the cost of housing and having her close by is worth the housing cost if she doesn't get any additional scholarships. When DD brought up the whole Marine enlistment thing last night, it was the first I had heard of her interest in the Marines and I didn't take the news well. After the shock settled, we reviewed the list and Drexel doesn't have a Marine option, so DD might substitute Texas A&M or Villanova for Drexel. Neither school offers the housing scholarship, but I'll cross that bridge/argument at a later date. Unfortunately, DD will not be able to visit all the schools on the list prior to submitting the NROTC scholarship application due to her sports schedule, NASS, and summer Cadet training. USD is beautiful and close to the Marine base, so that is her top choice with ND a very, very close second.
Congratulations to your DD for getting into VMI.
I will contact you directly with all the million and one questions I have as I work through the process with my DD, if that is acceptable to you! To all the other readers of this thread, I am interested in your thoughts and opinions, as well. This forum has been an invaluable resource in helping guide my DD on the path that is right for her.
AJC, how do I PM you? Naturally, I do not wish to offend any alumni, and it's good to talk to a variety of people to get their opinions. Excellent point about the use of teaching assistants.
Navy Hoops, you are correct about Marquette offering the housing scholarship.
VT is an excellent school, without a doubt, but it does not offer a housing scholarship. Since most schools charge $12-15,000 for room and board per year, and a lot of engineering programs are now 5 years instead of 4, I am mindful of the $60,000-$75,000 cost savings choosing a school that offers a housing scholarship brings to the table. I'm not willing to cash in my retirement account or allow my DD to get buried in student loan debt if there are alternatives available.
Which leads me to the question, for all those activating plan "B", what criteria did you use to select your alternatives?
JUST FYI: The first animal on the Chinese zodiac is a Rat and it's a heckuva sign to be! Rats are viewed as clever, resourceful and brave, and make great leaders, given their ability to quickly grasp a situation and size up what is going on from everybody's point of view. Just sayin'!Good luck in yours and your daughters journey. I cannot speak for all SMC's but VMI academics is very demanding and top notch. If you search through here or Google there are several articles regarding VMI's academics. My son is a Civil Engineering major at VMI and loves it.
Don't be fooled by the term Rat. You will instantly love Rats and find yourself thinking off them all as one of your own.
Please feel free to PM me with any questions about VMI.
Also, I believe if she were to enlist she would be disqualified from applying for ROTC scholarship, but I could be wrong.