Senior Military Colleges with ROTC vs. Regular College with ROTC

ajwilliams96

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What would be the difference between attending a Senior Military College with NROTC vs. a regular civilian college with NROTC?
 
Here are some differences:

1. At the SMC, you will sleep on top of your bedsheets for four years and thus don't have to clean them as often.

2. At the SMC, you don't have to worry about your roommate showing up with a "Justin Bieber" poster for the room, because that likely is not authorized.

3. At the SMC, you will learn "How's The Cow".

4. At the SMC, you don't have to waste a lot of time deciding what clothes to wear for breakfast.
 
I'm an outsider so there are loads of folks far better qualified to answer your basic question than I. I expect that each of the SMC's has their own procedures or practices. As an outsider with no first hand or personal experience it appears to me that one principal difference would be the degree to which daily life proceeds for the SMC cadets. Our Fish at TAMU reports to me that while there is some variation their typical schedule is as follows:

0500 Wake up

0530 Fall out

0545 PT

0700 Chow

0800-1130 Classes (0800-1500 on Tuesday and Thursdays)

Whenever classes are over- study and other tasks

1630 Corps Afternoon activity

1830 Evening formation, Chow

1915-2115 Call to Quarters (Study time)

2130 Lights Out

On Tuesdays our Fish gets to “sleep in” until 0600, Mondays and Wednesdays everybody has Marathon Call to Quarters when we study during afternoon activity.

Hope this helps.
 
All SMCs are different from each other. The lifestyle of a cadet at VT or TAMU is much different from that of one at VMI or the Citadel (at least after freshman year).

So if I were in your position, I wouldnt be simply thinking of SMC vs. regular ROTC. Id look at each individual SMC vs. regular ROTC.

Good luck
 
I am new to this site and have been following this thread. I have what may seem like a very simple question but I can't get a straight answer. My son is applying to USNA but has a very small chance of getting in. He really would like a career in the Navy. Do you need an ROTC scholarship to be commissioned upon graduation from TAMU or VT? I know you don't need one at VMI but what about the other SMC.
 
I am new to this site and have been following this thread. I have what may seem like a very simple question but I can't get a straight answer. My son is applying to USNA but has a very small chance of getting in. He really would like a career in the Navy. Do you need an ROTC scholarship to be commissioned upon graduation from TAMU or VT? I know you don't need one at VMI but what about the other SMC.

You don't need a scholarship to be commissioned, but it is very useful, since you are guaranteed a commission if you get a scholarship.
 
You don't need a scholarship to be commissioned, but it is very useful, since you are guaranteed a commission if you get a scholarship.

I think it is better put..if you retain a scholarship. You must remain in good academic standing and pass the fitness tests along with obtaining advanced standing at the recommendation of the PMS no matter where you attend. Even getting a scholarship out of HS is not a guarantee of a commission.. It's a heck of a start, but there is opportunity to lose it if you are not wise.
 
All SMCs are different from each other. The lifestyle of a cadet at VT or TAMU is much different from that of one at VMI or the Citadel (at least after freshman year).

So if I were in your position, I wouldnt be simply thinking of SMC vs. regular ROTC. Id look at each individual SMC vs. regular ROTC.

Good luck

Okay. What about ROTC at TAMU vs. ROTC at a regular college?
 
What would be the difference between attending a Senior Military College with NROTC vs. a regular civilian college with NROTC?

According to DS(Rat at VMI).. NROTC time is NROTC time.. The Cadre aren't all over you like they are in barracks etc. It is totally separate from being in the "Rat Line". The classes are the same no matter what school you attend as far as NROTC requirements and they have their scheduled PT times separate from the Corps time, just like you would at any other college. DS is a Midshipman during NROTC,(the Rat identity is not addressed..at least that is his perspective) and the people that are normally (cadre) making him push and strain in barracks are right beside him doing Navy PT. NROTC at the SMC's tend to have a higher percentage of success in getting advanced standing than regular college and I have to believe it is due to the environment that they live in with the discipline etc that becomes part of life overall. Good Luck to you.
 
keep in mind that at a civilian college when you are in ROTC you attend class maybe once a week and wear a uniform perhaps once a week, otherwise you are just another college student. The SMCs are different in that it is total immersion; wearing a uniform every day, going to formations, living in barracks, doing PT etc.
VMI and The Citadel are even more different in that they are all military similar to the FSAs, whereas the others are cadet corps within a large university and the cadets go to class and mingle with civilian students and experience much of the other life of a typical college student. Cadets at VMI and The Citadel only go to class with other cadets, have parade every week and experience life just like the service academies just without the free education and required military service.
 
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