Couple questions

[dlee96]

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

[Jcleppe]

Originally Posted by dlee96

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

I wish I had a better answer but.....sometimes you just have to do all the research, discuss all the possibilities, weigh all the options, and then.....just jump into the deep end of the pool.

Many great things have happened when a risk is taken. It's a hard decision, and only you can make it.

[kinnem]

Originally Posted by dlee96

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

As jcleppe said, you have to weigh the risks and place your bet. Not that I would encourage this, but the first year is risk free. But once you step into that sophomore year you assume all the risks. One of the things to put in the plus column is the importance of getting a college education, not that there aren't other ways to be extremely successful in life with a lesser education. You have to weigh how important that Bachelor's Degree is to you. Also keep in mind that within certain restrictions $2,500 of loans for qualified education purposes can be deducted from your adjusted gross income for tax purposes... that is when you get around to paying back the loans.

Investigate every option for achieving a college education if that is what you want. Look at loans (which no one wants to do but may be necessary). Look at doing two years at a community college and then transferring to a four year school. Determine if you can work while you're in college to help defray the cost. Apply for financial aid (you might find there is a reasonable amount available to you). If you can do it without the ROTC scholarship then that's either your plan A or your Plan B (or C or D etc).

[goaliedad]

Originally Posted by dlee96

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

I don't know your academic particulars, but applying to schools where you are in the top 10% of admitted students certainly enhances your odds of FA outside of ROTC. Plus, especially for public schools, you are more likely to get the ROTC scholarship where you are at the top of the academic list for THAT PARTICULAR school.

There are lots of public schools with ROTC that have excellent academic scholarships available even for OOS students.

[Pima]

I agree with goaliedad, many colleges where you are top tier academically give amazing merit packages.

Our DS could have attended UMiami for almost free as an OOS student without his AFROTC scholarship because of his academic stats. I say almost free, because it would have been about 3K a yr out of pocket and FAFSA would have covered that amount.

He also was offered merit from all of his colleges he applied to when he was going through this process. They all ranged, but typically the safeties handed him the best packet, the reaches not so great.

A few things to investigate
1. Most colleges will require you to apply by X date if you want to be considered for merit.

2. Submit FAFSA January 1st. This will allow you to be in front of the ball when the acceptance letters come out since you will know what your EFC (expected family contribution) will be for your future.

I am not implying you should sacrifice your dream college, I am saying if fiscal issues is the big player in your education choices, you might look at colleges where you shine academically.

Finally, I know in our area many kids go to CC not because they weren't accepted to their dream college, but like you it is a financial decision. The kids at our CC can join ROTC at whatever 4 yr college is assigned. I.E. Here it is UMDCP for AFROTC. This does not lock them into transferring to UMDCP as a jr., I am not sure how it works if they transfer out of the area, but it does give them options to transfer to 4 yr colleges that UMDCP is serves and stay in the AFROTC program.

The money they saved by going CC for 2 yrs, taking no loans, working to make money, set them up to be able to take loans for their last 2 yrs. It also took them from paying 100K+ for 4 yrs to 60K for the same college degree.


There are many scholarships out there that kids don't know about. They can include anything from being American Indian to majoring in a certain major at a certain college. Go to Barnes & Noble, spend the afternoon and look in the college section, you will find the books that show you how to apply for scholarships. Like colleges, you are coming up on cut-off dates, so get on it now.

[Ohio2015Parent]

Originally Posted by dlee96

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

One suggestion I haven't seen offered - SMP, only for AROTC, and the support and options vary by your state of residence. DS has a merit scholarship, National Guard scholarship and AROTC university based set of grants for room and board. Even if he fails to contract(still waiting...) he will serve the National Guard and leave school with no loans. This is at a middle of the road in-state school where he is in the top 10% academically, as both Pima and Goaliedad discuss. Continue to research and as Jcleppe mentions, weigh the risks. Good luck.

[CoachBart]

Originally Posted by dlee96

After reading threads here on SAF, the general idea is to only apply to schools you know you can pay for w/o an ROTC scholarship. However, I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

Do not get the wrong idea w/ money, I am fervent in my desire to become an officer in the armed forces, but what should I do?

Look at North Georgia, its a senior military college. You get in state tuition and I would be suprised if you did not at least get opportunity for student loan which can be paid back by the Army if you dont qualify for financial aid. They also have a program called North Georgia National Guard Partnership Program were you can serve in the guard and pay for school. You get an honorable discharge when u graduate and accept a commission as an officer. They have some good vids on this stuff on their website. I will post it below.

http://www.northgeorgia.edu/Military...ge-Admissions/

[gojack]

Originally Posted by dlee96

I cannot afford a 4-year university w/o an ROTC scholarship.

^^^
North Georgia

Also some schools (i.e. Dartmouth, Vanderbilt)
will cover everything after your FAFSA & EFC (expected family contribution)
IF you get accepted.

Most schools offer merit scholarships, University of Alabama is particularly generous
(32 ACT/3.5 GPA = free tuition) with FAFSA and Pell grants (or a ROTC Scholarship) that covers everything.

Don't forget jobs, My DS is working as a RA in the dorm, that pays for his room and board.