If you join an NROTC unit this fall, you're going to have to apply for the scholarship. You can't be a College Program midshipman and not be actively pursuing a scholarship (the advanced standing application isn't submitted until the summer after sophomore year). Are you going to be a true freshman this year, or are you a returning/transferring student? When you arrive in the fall, the unit will have you apply for the National scholarship (assuming you have less than 30 credit hours), due annually in January. The National is largely based on high school performance and standardized test scores, and about 85% of recipients will be Tier 1/2 applicants. The 3-year/2-year side load scholarship and advanced standing boards don't look at high school transcripts/standardized tests scores at all, and instead focus on college performance. You MUST be selected for at least advanced standing prior to the start of your junior year, or you will be disenrolled.
Here is the selection data from the Summer 2015 Navy Side load/advanced standing board (stats are reflective of the group of individuals who were SELECTED for scholarship/advanced standing, not the entire pool of applicants; the board is national):
3-year:
Nominations: 303
Selects: 66
Avg. GPA: 3.48
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 89.4%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 30.3%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 93.9%
2-year:
Nominations: 199
Selects: 29
Avg. GPA: 3.48 (not a typo, same as 3-year)
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 100%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 82.8%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 89.7%
Advanced Standing:
Nominations: 195 (all 2-year side load non selects are automatically considered)
Selects: 118
Avg. GPA: 3.18
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 57.6%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 34.7%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 56.8%
So here are the big takeaways:
-The Navy values technical majors
-If you want to pursue a Tier 3 major, that's OK, but you need to EXCEL if you expect to earn a scholarship
-Apply for ALL scholarship opportunities; don't just pigeonhole yourself into advanced standing
-Calc and Phys completion and grades mean something
Hope that helps. Good luck.