USMAPS and ROTC

Comrade Bork

5-Year Member
Joined
May 1, 2014
Messages
6
I recently got accepted to the USMAPS, and I had a question regarding my commitment to West Point. If I attend the prep school and do well there, is it possible for me to get an ROTC slot at another school there rather than become a cadet at West Point?
 
If you want to become a cadet at WP, you should attend USMAPS and do your best there. If you'd rather go the AROTC route (civilian or SMC), you should start there. Not sure why you would attend USMAPS then switch to ROTC, if I'm reading your question correctly.
 
I intend to attend West Point, but in a year's time things can change. If for some reason it would better suit me to attend another university on an ROTC Scholarship, I'm wondering if I could do so after completion of the USMAPS. I've been active duty for the last 3 years and would like to attend the Prep school so as to get back into a school mindset before jumping into college.
 
I do not know, and for most on these boards the answer will be pure speculation. ROTC Cadet Command is not USMA Admissions.

The stated purpose of MAPS is to prepare a potential cadet for success at the USMA. There is nothing in the charter that talks about preparing former enlisted for success in a civilian college. Recent statistics have about 90% of MAPS students gaining an appointment in the following year.

But if I were you, I would not expect to receive an ROTC scholarship out of MAPS and would expect that if I wanted ROTC I would have to apply as a college programmer on my own. You would have to list MAPS as a school you have or are attending on your ROTC Scholarship application.

Maybe it can happen and maybe a former MAPSter knows of cases like this. I'll be curious to know if anyone has had this happen.
 
I do not know, and for most on these boards the answer will be pure speculation. ROTC Cadet Command is not USMA Admissions.

The stated purpose of MAPS is to prepare a potential cadet for success at the USMA. There is nothing in the charter that talks about preparing former enlisted for success in a civilian college. Recent statistics have about 90% of MAPS students gaining an appointment in the following year.

But if I were you, I would not expect to receive an ROTC scholarship out of MAPS and would expect that if I wanted ROTC I would have to apply as a college programmer on my own. You would have to list MAPS as a school you have or are attending on your ROTC Scholarship application.

Maybe it can happen and maybe a former MAPSter knows of cases like this. I'll be curious to know if anyone has had this happen.

also, will OP's AD service obligation be complete by the end of MAPS? Does not MAPS add to the AD commitment? (I don't know, I'm really asking.... my suspicion would be yes and that you're not free to go to a civilian college. )
 
According to the instructions, I just have to ensure my enlistment goes through the end of USMAPS. I'm not sure if I would have to work on an ROTC Scholarship Green to Gold packet, or if the USMAPS facilitates an expedited process as long as I work with the desired university I wish to attend.

I'm just trying to find as many options/contingencies to pursue higher education and become commissioned. You know how life is.
 
The biggest issue will be what Kinnem stated. What does your contract state? If I remember right for Prior Enlisted members who went to NAPS, they maintained their pay grade and were not "discharge" until after NAPS and then reclassified as MIDS and fell under the the MID contracts. Not sure how it works for USMAPS, but probably similiar. Also, if you wanted to go ROTC, obviously the biggest question is how would you answer why didn't attend West Point since you had a golden ticket (assuming you finish in good standing at Prep). Also, do you have the funds to attend a school and do ROTC if not given a scholarship? Also, if you go ROTC there is no guarantee of Active Duty. Ensure to look at the ROTC threads for Army to see the current trends on selection rates for branches, etc.
 
USMAPS is not going to do anything to help you pursue ROTC. I suspect you might have a military instructor who likes you that might be willing to write some letters, but USMAPS isn't going to help facilitate anything. They are handing you essentially a guarantee to West Point (as long as you meet what is required). If your goal is to become an active duty commissioned Army officer and pursue a degree... you got it at your door step.
 
As I said, I very much intend to accept a USMA appointment if I get offered one. However, I would like to see what options are available to me if I need to decline for whatever reason. For all I know, I might just even see a better educational opportunity at another school, or have to move somewhere else for family reasons, or I might just simply decide that I don't want to attend USMA (I'm not eliminating any possibilities, I'd like to be prepared.)

As far as paying for the education, even if not offered a full/partial scholarship. I have earned my GI Bill, and can use that to pay for any schooling I need (up to 4 years).
 
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