Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

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momgonavy

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My son was admitted early decision to the VT College of Engineering and the Corps of Cadets. He was awarded an Emerging Leader Scholarship. When he returns he will learn he was declined for the 4 year NROTC scholarship. He is very committed to becoming a Naval Officer. I have tried to glean as much information as I could from earlier posts but I am confused. What are his scholarship opportunities for the remaining 3 years? What are his commissioning opportunities? He is a very hard working straight A student who keeps extremely physically fit. I have read that he should not join NROTC so he can reapply but this not seem to make sense as he will be in the Corps of Cadets in their dorm..
We are out of state but will be moving to Virginia later this year when/if our house sells to retire. I want him to realize his dream and we also want to be able to afford it. Our parent plus loans for our daughter to attend UVA are just coming due.
I would appreciate any input - I have zero experience with any of this. I have read about the myriad of program cuts coming. I know he will want to contact his unit directly but this parent would also be greatful for any heads up!
 
Im currently a senior in the VTCC and Air Force ROTC. The first thing your son should do is contact the admissions officer at the NROTC unit here. Ask for a realistic idea of what his chances would be to pick up an in-college scholarship if he joined NROTC. They're the best ones to ask since they have the best idea of what things will look like in the next few years.

Some other options are to look at Air Force or Army ROTC. The Air Force has changed their scholarship strategy this year, going to more in-college scholarships and fewer high school ones. At our detachment we just had 12 freshmen get awarded in-college scholarships a few weeks ago. If he'd be interested in a different service, then I'd immediately contact the Army and Air Force units to again ask for realistic chances. Make sure you ask for them to tell you straight. Be sure they know all the details about your situation so they can give the best advice.

Its a tough decision to make and a significant financial risk to take, when someone bets on receiving an in-college scholarship. Its definitely possible, but he better be committed to keeping his grades up and staying out of trouble. VT's engineering program is no joke and we see scores of freshman cadets each year who end up in over their head.

Good luck!
 
Is your present state in the Academic Common Market with Virginia? That could be a way of getting in-state tuition rates. If your state does not have a SMC, that can be a basis for arguing that only VA Tech has the program your son wants.

This is probably too late for your son, but I will point out that Texas A&M is also a SMC and practically guarantees out-of-state cadets the ability to pay in-state tuition. They do this by awarding "small" grants that automatically waive the out-of-state tuition difference with the school. Something to consider in case of not receiving a ROTC scholarship.
 
Thank you both very much. We can't take advantage of that program for instate tuition but between scholarships and loans we will find a way. And hopefully he can get a "side-load" along the way. Again, thanks for the ideas and support.
 
momgonavy said:
My son was admitted early decision to the VT College of Engineering and the Corps of Cadets. He was awarded an Emerging Leader Scholarship. When he returns he will learn he was declined for the 4 year NROTC scholarship. He is very committed to becoming a Naval Officer. I have tried to glean as much information as I could from earlier posts but I am confused. What are his scholarship opportunities for the remaining 3 years? What are his commissioning opportunities? He is a very hard working straight A student who keeps extremely physically fit. I have read that he should not join NROTC so he can reapply but this not seem to make sense as he will be in the Corps of Cadets in their dorm..
We are out of state but will be moving to Virginia later this year when/if our house sells to retire. I want him to realize his dream and we also want to be able to afford it. Our parent plus loans for our daughter to attend UVA are just coming due.
I would appreciate any input - I have zero experience with any of this. I have read about the myriad of program cuts coming. I know he will want to contact his unit directly but this parent would also be greatful for any heads up!
Click to expand...

I hope that you can make this work out. As an out of state parent of a Cadet at VMI , the tuition jump is enormous for non-Virginians. Virginia is going to require that your sons primary supporting parent lives in residence in VA for the year previous to the academic year so I'm afraid that you are stuck with being OOS for awhile unless you have the ability to move pretty quickly or have one parent establish a residence in Virginia now so that the next year (starting Aug 2013) you are able to qualify as Virginia residence. (You would need to check pretty closely to make sure you meet the residence criteria before going down that route).

Good luck- Va Tech is a great opportunity- my youngest brother graduated from Tech and the Corps and had a career as an Army engineer. The Corps of Cadets has grown a lot since then- I think that they are up to almost 1000 in the Corps now.
 
Thanks Bruno. We have had a long term plan of retiring to Virginia Beach so we will try to accomplish the move by early summer. At least then we will qualify for instate tuition (I checked).
Virginia Tech and the Corps is a wonderful opportunity for him. He will also do NROTC and hope for a scholarship along the way.
 
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