MNDad2015 said:
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you want to give AROTC a "test ride" at the taxpayers' expense to see if you like it or not. That's something that you should decide before even filling out the scholarship application. If you would have asked that question is the PMS interview, I'm sure the boxes as to whether he/she thought you'd make a good officer/deserve a scholarship would be NO.
I don't think MN saying that your intention is to leave, nor am I. However, what we are both saying is take the time to really, really think about this.
The problem is for many cadets that cost does not come into their minds because they have that scholarship in hand. They gladly accept a college's admission offer because now they can afford to attend due to that scholarship. However, they never think about what if I do leave ROTC, will I be able to afford to still attend that college?
That is a great amount of pressure to place on an 18 yr old who now realizes the military isn't his/her desire, but the school is home to them.
Trust me many cadets leave ROTC during those 1st two yrs, but some stay because not of the desire to serve, but because their hands are fiscally tied.
You don't want to be that kid. They tend be the ones very unhappy in the program, which creates a negative cycle for them.
If the scholarship is your way in to pay for that college, as MN stated, think about it long and hard, be honest with yourself, and talk with your folks, ask them if I got the scholarship, but lost it how will our family pay for it? Your parents may say, I will sell my kidney if that is what needs to be done, they may say, there is no way to do this unless you get loans and scholarships.
Neither parent is better or worse for their answer, their job is to do the best they can for the FAMILY with you in mind.
These are difficult fiscal times. I have no problem saying to our DS2, a SR in HS, but with his siblings in college right now; unless he gets merit or grants, going OOS or private is not on the plate when our IS public/private colleges have very respected reputations nationally. Even IS here is 13K for tuition alone. OOS for our DS on scholarship is 28K for just tuition, it is 40K for the kit and kaboodle.
It is up to him to decide if he gets a scholarship that has a caveat like ROTC, and decides to go OOS or private, he understands that losing the scholarship is not an option if he wants to stay there.
Personally, if you also watch the news, college loans are now the new tech/housing bubble because the rate of default is rising with each yr. I believe it is now at 7%. The higher it rises in default, the less likely banks will be willing to give personal loans for college education...not talking FAFSA, talking about private i.e. Wells Fargo, Citi, etc. So I wouldn't just assume the folks can co-sign a private loan for me to make up the difference if I quit ROTC.