"strongest" ROTC programs in my area

sjbd94

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Im looking to stay some what close to home (around 5 hours car trip from SE North Carolina) and was wondering what are the biggest and best ROTC programs in my state and surrounding areas. I know the the SMC's have the best ROTC programs and I am considering those, but for the sake of this question I am just interested in colleges with normal ROTC progrmas. If you could let me know some of the better ROTC programs in the South Eastern United States for each branch I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
 
Another point of view

Im looking to stay some what close to home (around 5 hours car trip from SE North Carolina) and was wondering what are the biggest and best ROTC programs in my state and surrounding areas. I know the the SMC's have the best ROTC programs and I am considering those, but for the sake of this question I am just interested in colleges with normal ROTC progrmas. If you could let me know some of the better ROTC programs in the South Eastern United States for each branch I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!

Others may disagree but I wouldn't ask this question this way. First I'd look at colleges that have programs of study that interest you and you have a strong possibility of being admitted to, in locations that resonate with you, with costs that you can afford and lastly have ROTC programs.

The engine that drives this 4 year train ride is not ROTC. Others have posted about the changing nature of the staff and students who lead the ROTC programs. Also "best" is not the same for each potential cadet because we all have different short/long term goals. Do read and talk to anyone you can about their varying ROTC experiences all the while remembering that school fit will be of key importance.

Ask a million questions about what you are passionate about, the ins and outs of programs you'd like to participate in, placements, scholarship opportunities, campus life, academic expectations, who/how many go home on weekends and make many visits so you can see the campuses firsthand. These campus visits are an investment that should reap future rewards.

Enjoy the process.
 
^^^ Agreed
(And I don't think SMC's have the best ROTC programs)
Duke University
Georgetown University
University of Virginia
College of William and Mary
Davidson College
Vanderbilt University
Washington and Lee University
Johns Hopkins University
Emory University
Wake Forest University
Furman University
University of Richmond
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Loyola University Maryland
Sewanee-The University of the South
University of Maryland-College Park
George Washington University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Georgia
Clemson University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Towson University
University of South Carolina
University of North Carolina
Old Dominion University
 
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Others may disagree but I wouldn't ask this question this way. First I'd look at colleges that have programs of study that interest you and you have a strong possibility of being admitted to, in locations that resonate with you, with costs that you can afford and lastly have ROTC programs.

The engine that drives this 4 year train ride is not ROTC. Others have posted about the changing nature of the staff and students who lead the ROTC programs. Also "best" is not the same for each potential cadet because we all have different short/long term goals. Do read and talk to anyone you can about their varying ROTC experiences all the while remembering that school fit will be of key importance.

Ask a million questions about what you are passionate about, the ins and outs of programs you'd like to participate in, placements, scholarship opportunities, campus life, academic expectations, who/how many go home on weekends and make many visits so you can see the campuses firsthand. These campus visits are an investment that should reap future rewards.

Enjoy the process.

I agree. You are a student first before you are a cadet.

And bigger does not necessarily mean better. And better for who? Not everyone is well-served by a large unit. There are some advantages to a smaller tight-knit unit, just like there are advantages to smaller schools. And in a large school, ROTC can be one of those experiences that makes it less impersonal.

I don't mean to start a debate between the large and small units, but all potential cadets need to reflect upon what is really important to them from their own personal experience.
 
What schools have the best AROTC and NROTC programs in PA, NJ or NY? Why and why not? Also, what is the approx. size of the units?
 
Well ive heard that bigger more known ROTC units have better chances of doing more activities and have more "buying power" you might say. It is good that NC state is on the list, that is one of the schools that is with my reach to gain acceptance to and i plan on applying to it in the fall. I can afford it regardless of wither or not i get an ROTC scholarship. But if i am lucky enough to get a scholarship i will look into the programs in SC (USC and clemson). Some of those colleges are far from my academic reach, haha. But thanks for the info, btw how are those schools judged as far as making them better than another RTOC program?
 
ROTC

Met a bunch of good folks from NC State serving in the USAF--Good Luck!
 
good to know! do u know if any of them are on the forums? I would love to talk to one! I do plan on doing the AFROTC spend a night thing later this fall hopefully!
 
There's a small school in up, up state New York that was ranked #2 in the nation in percentage of students that participate in ROTC by Washington Monthly. With over 100 cadets we get our share of Airborne, Air Assault, and Mountain Warfare slots. We send Cadets on CULP and CTLT trips. We are 1 hour away from Fort Drum and have a close relationship with some of the units there, which means our cadets get to interact with the people they will be when they graduate. We are just North of the Adirondacks and have tons of local land to train on. We are at a supportive University that values what we bring to the campus. Are we a big school - No. Are we an SMC - No. Do we produce quality officers, just like every other ROTC Battalion - Yes. Your question is not going to be answered on this thread, your question is going to be answered by visiting the campuses, and looking at the websites, and talking to cadets and cadre during you campus visits.
Gojack gave you a good list to start with. Most important thing though, as was mentioned above, academic fit is far more important than a great Battalion. You won't be going to airborne school if your grades suck.

Did that help
 
schools have the best AROTC and NROTC programs in PA, NJ or NY

AROTC, NY, NJ, PA
Clarkson University
Princeton University
Bucknell University
Cornell University
Dickinson College
Lehigh University
Fordham University
Drexel University
University of Scranton
Syracuse University
Pennsylvania State University
Niagara University
University of Pittsburgh
Canisius College
Rutgers University
Seton Hall University
 
I don't think that the SMC's have better ROTC programs. Their programs are different in that it is more of a 24/7 type of structured environment. In a traditional ROTC program most of your time will not be in the structured ROTC environment. You will have more freedom. It may be fair to say that an SMC ROTC program is better for you but probably not accurate to say that the SMC'c are better or worse. You need to thoroughly investigate the SMC you are interested in to be sure you know what you are getting into.

It is good that you are looking and thinking about this now but do not neglect preparing for your ACT/SAT tests. Those scores will give you more options. Options are always a good thing.
 
My AROTC DS did a search on which colleges offered AROTC and his intended study of major....this list = 40 colleges at the time. He narrowed it down to 20 due to random criteria (location, etc).... came up with 20 schools. He was looking nationwide so your list will be smaller and more manageable. Of those 20 he surfed the internet and looked into the major program and possibility of admittance. Got that list down to 10. We visited 5 schools. Funny thing: When he walked into the AROTC building he felt right at home. I don't mean to say each is a carbon copy of the next, but he responded well to the professionalism, atmosphere, and surroundings. He stood up a bit straighter when he was in the building. I could see an emotional and physical reaction as we walked around campus. Some places just didn't fit him. He found 2 great campuses for his major, both 'fit' him well...but one was just a bit better. And, he really took to his cadre and battalion.

My USNA DS attacked the problem in the same way, but he hadn't decided which branch of service. He researched schools with ROTC prgrams and 2 choices of majors. We ended up visiting 6 schools. And he made appointments with all ROTC officers of all branches. This helped him focus as to which branch he felt was a better fit. By the end of it all he was torn between AROTC and NROTC. Decided on NROTC as a back up to USNA. It was a tough decision, but ds learned so much about his intended majors and the different programs.

We had the luxury of visiting a lot of schools...ROAD TRIP..... if you can, try to see campuses and meet with professors or directors in your major and ROTC officers, NCOs, cadets. You will find out alot about what you want and who you are. And, the more people you speak with, the more questions you have answered, the better your interview skills will become!

Good luck!!
 
I agree with what has been said. For me, an SMC is the route that I hope to take. Of course, the structure appeals to me and that was a factor in finding a college that fits me the best. But I am really attracted to VMI for its academics, especially with the Arabic program. It is all about academic fit and, for me, I think that is at a SMC. For you it could be at a traditional school.

You mentioned that you wanted to stay in your region, and that you had an interest in a Corps of Cadets with civilians. North Georgia College and State University is an SMC that you might like.
 
yah im not 100% sure what i want, Im going to apply to VT, Texas A&M, NC State, and VMI early decision to just see what i get accepted to. That will make the choice easier. I really am more interested in big schools, although i have looked at north Georgia. If i only get accepted to one of these schools i would probably go to that one. But if i get accepted to multiple ones it is going to be a very hard decision. I can only go to VT if i obtain an ROTC scholarship though. But for Texas A&M if you do the corps of cadets you get in state tuition, only if VT had this! It will really come down to if I want freedom and the "college experience" or if I want to have the full military experience. This i am not sure about and there are positives and negatives to both. But hopefully the choice will be much easier once I see where I am accepted.
 
This i am not sure about and there are positives and negatives to both.

If you are planning on Active Duty(AD) then the SMC's have the added advantage of guaranteed AD upon graduation. Other ROTC program graduates are not guaranteed AD, and with budget cutbacks that guarantee may become very important to get an AD slot. Particularly if you are not in the top of your class.
 
I know I am taking this into consideration especially since as you said they are cutting back the military. Would this be a present in the army though, as I haven't heard they are cutting there troop levels as much as the airforce? How is it determined if you are granted a commission?
 
How is it determined ?

Reduction in Force (RIF) is usually done by raising the bar for the board(s).
For example, if currently the top 60% of an ROTC class is offered AD, they will raise that to the top 50-40-30% - what ever it takes to reduce the number of AD 2LT's to match the Armies needs. USMA and SMC grads are guaranteed AD - so in a major RIF other ROTC accessions can be cut dramatically. For those on AD, the bar for the promotion board(s) are raised as well, and it's "up or out".
 
I believe the AD guarantee is currently only relevant to the army. AF or Navy they want you AD. I suppose this could change though with the current cut-backs. It is 5 years before you will commission, so I wouldn't worry about which branch is or is not cutting right now as it will likely be irrelevant to your commissioning. OML (your performance) will determine if you commission or not and if you get your career choice. The key is to do well in all things but especially your academics.
 
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