About a week ago I mentioned that the Army ROTC, starting with this year's applicants for Scholarship, will pay more attention to, and have more requirements concerning, the Academic Discipline Mix (ADM) of the applicant.
Background:
The Army ROTC has four ADMs plus Nursing:
1: Engineering
2: Hard Science and Math
3: Social Sciences, Finance
4: Humanities
I wrote here that a PMS told me in April that starting with this coming year's Awardees (entering college Fall 2012), a cadet may not change their ADM from lower to higher numbered category without Battalion approval. That apparently was news to most.
Additionally, I ran across a post (#26 in the thread) from 2009 that generally supports the fact that the Army has been headed in this STEM direction for at least two years, probably three. here it is: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com...tion+board+candidates+majoring+STEM#post79245 So, how does this affect this year's applicants? Know that if an applicant likes equally the subjects of English (ADM4) and Biology (ADM2), and isn't sure what to pursue in for college, that choosing Biology makes an application a lot stronger in the Board review than does English (or History, or Philosophy, or Sociology, or Music, -- all ADM4s, etc.). Assuming an equal attraction to both, the applicant is well advised to pick and pursue Biology as the intended major.
If an applicant simply isn't interested in any STEM subject, that's fine too, but understand that does affect the chances of receiving a scholarship, and plan accordingly.
If an applicant has been told by someone not familiar with the new protocol to "Just put down Chemistry on the ROTC Application, and when you get to college just do Econ for a major", understand that bad advice is based on old information and that that tactic will not work going forward.
The Navy ROTC has long been transparent about this preference for STEM majors. In fact, 85% of all Navy ROTC scholarships are mandated to be for STEM majors. The Air Force ROTC has been the same, with Engineering being preferred, then technology, etc. exactly like Navy though I don't have the exact data for % of scholarship money going to Engineering vs. Tech vs. non-Tech scholarships.
Looks like Army ROTC is emulating these other two ROTC programs in its increasing preference for STEM majors.
Background:
The Army ROTC has four ADMs plus Nursing:
1: Engineering
2: Hard Science and Math
3: Social Sciences, Finance
4: Humanities
I wrote here that a PMS told me in April that starting with this coming year's Awardees (entering college Fall 2012), a cadet may not change their ADM from lower to higher numbered category without Battalion approval. That apparently was news to most.
Additionally, I ran across a post (#26 in the thread) from 2009 that generally supports the fact that the Army has been headed in this STEM direction for at least two years, probably three. here it is: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com...tion+board+candidates+majoring+STEM#post79245 So, how does this affect this year's applicants? Know that if an applicant likes equally the subjects of English (ADM4) and Biology (ADM2), and isn't sure what to pursue in for college, that choosing Biology makes an application a lot stronger in the Board review than does English (or History, or Philosophy, or Sociology, or Music, -- all ADM4s, etc.). Assuming an equal attraction to both, the applicant is well advised to pick and pursue Biology as the intended major.
If an applicant simply isn't interested in any STEM subject, that's fine too, but understand that does affect the chances of receiving a scholarship, and plan accordingly.
If an applicant has been told by someone not familiar with the new protocol to "Just put down Chemistry on the ROTC Application, and when you get to college just do Econ for a major", understand that bad advice is based on old information and that that tactic will not work going forward.
The Navy ROTC has long been transparent about this preference for STEM majors. In fact, 85% of all Navy ROTC scholarships are mandated to be for STEM majors. The Air Force ROTC has been the same, with Engineering being preferred, then technology, etc. exactly like Navy though I don't have the exact data for % of scholarship money going to Engineering vs. Tech vs. non-Tech scholarships.
Looks like Army ROTC is emulating these other two ROTC programs in its increasing preference for STEM majors.
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