Hey, just got the good news from UMiami, and seriously considering attending there next year!
I just was wondering if anybody knew anything about the Army ROTC program (I think I remember hearing it operates off of FIU, but I'm not sure.) I don't know much at all about the battalion it operates off of.
Is it generally known as an alright program? I am trying to decide between Miami and VT, and while I know VT will be better for the ROTC, I think I like Miami as a whole school better, but I still need to find more info about their ROTC program as that could be a deal breaker.
Please let me know, either on here or by PM!
I definatly agree with Clarksonarmy on this one.
My son met with several PMS and ROO's throughout this process. The one thing everyone of them stressed was that you should pick your college first, as if ROTC did not matter.
One of the best converstaions my son had was with a PMS of a school he did not even put on his list (Too close to home). The Lt.Col. told him that too mant students pick colleges for the wrong reason, great football team, all my friends go there, the weather is warm, there is this one professor they've heard about, and last they have a good ROTC program. He told my son pick a school where you feel you will succeed, a school that you feel comfortable with and you feel that you will have a positive experience.
You will not succeed at ROTC if you don't succeed at school. My son had the option of going to a SMP and the USMA, he chose ROTC at a traditional university based on several factors. He had always dreamed of the traditional college experience and decided against the structure at the SMP and SA.
The experience has been good for him, he joined a fraternity freshmen year, made many friends both in and out of ROTC. He is a junior now and has an apartment with 3 of his frat brothers. Most of his ROTC friends live in apartments near him. It is true that there are more distractions at traditional schools, he has had to learn to balance it all, which in his opinion will serve him well in the future.
The SA's and SMC's will have a much more rigorous structure, SA's the most. The question you need to ask yourself is this, is this what my dream has always been, is this a place I have always seen myself attending. Remove ROTC from the equation and look just at the school and the experience you will have there.
I don't think my son could have picked a better place for himself. We didn't know all that much about ROTC when he chose the school, he learned as he went along. He has thrived at the school, he has been #1 on the ROTC OML for this year and last. GPA is the most important factor in the ROTC OML, if your not happy where you are going it can have a big impact.
I guess my point in all this is to take ROTC out of the process and pick the school you see yourself enjoying and thriving at.
As far as ROTC being better at SMP's I can add this. My son does not go to a Tier 1, or even a well known school, he attends a small State University in a neighboring state. 2 of the last 3 cadets to graduate and branch infantry finished #1 at Ranger School. Work hard, do well and you will succeed in ROTC at any school you decide to attend.
Good luck in whatever decisions you make.