AROTC Scholarship Transfer Issue

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s_frats

5-Year Member
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Mar 27, 2012
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My DS was offered a 4 year AROTC scholarship late January to a colleges that were:eek: not in his top choices but was encouraged to make an appeal for transfer. He made the appeal for and was notified by email that the 4-yr scholarship transfer was approved late last week. He replied to CC accepting the transfer for the 4-yr scholarship. Two days later he was notified that the scholarship would a 3-year vs. 4-yr scholarship. Has anyone run into this issue and were they able to re-claim original scholarship?
 
s_frats said:
My DS was offered a 4 year AROTC scholarship late January to a colleges that were:eek: not in his top choices but was encouraged to make an appeal for transfer. He made the appeal for and was notified by email that the 4-yr scholarship transfer was approved late last week. He replied to CC accepting the transfer for the 4-yr scholarship. Two days later he was notified that the scholarship would a 3-year vs. 4-yr scholarship. Has anyone run into this issue and were they able to re-claim original scholarship?
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I hadn't seen this, which is different from saying it doesn't happen. Seems like they would have notified you of this change as part of the transfer notification and not after.... or at least informed you somewhere in the process. I expect the school he transferred to was more expensive than the original school, which would explain the change.
 
Yes, I've read of this occurring a few times on this Board. It isn't about the Transfer... it is about the fundamental policy of awarding scholarships, generally speaking, in the form of 4 Yr. to less expensive schools, and 3 Yr. AD to more expensive schools. The 4 Yr. to expensive schools happens but is not common.

My daughter was awarded last year with both options in her Award letter out of the 3rd (an only) Board -- 3 Yr. AD to a moderately priced private (tuition + fees = $34,000), and 4 Yr. to UCLA (tuition + fees = $12,000). Both were for Technical ADM3. She accepted the 3 Yr. AD and declined the 4 Yr. If you add up the tuition/fees the Army will pay, that's $102,000 for the 3 Yr. AD and $48,000 for the 4 Yr. The 3 yr. AD is still twice as expensive as the 4 Yr. to the Army.
 
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Thanks for the reply! The school that was in the transfer appeal is actually about 30% less expensive as the original offer. What concerned us most was the fact that they approved the 4-yr transfer, he accepted and they then came back and said it was 3-year. Seems to be a very odd circumstance. But at no time was my DS warned that when making a transfer request his scholarship could be reduced.
 
s_frats said:
My DS was offered a 4 year AROTC scholarship late January to a colleges that were:eek: not in his top choices but was encouraged to make an appeal for transfer. He made the appeal for and was notified by email that the 4-yr scholarship transfer was approved late last week. He replied to CC accepting the transfer for the 4-yr scholarship. Two days later he was notified that the scholarship would a 3-year vs. 4-yr scholarship. Has anyone run into this issue and were they able to re-claim original scholarship?
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The Army can be a bit confusing in the way they word things. The first email probably stated that the transfer of the 4 year scholarship had been approved. That would lead most to think that it meant the the new scholarship would be a 4 year as well. What it really meant was that the existing 4 year was being transferred to the new school, the second notice told what the new scholarship would be, a 3 year.

When scholarships are transferred they are restricted to what is available at the new battalion, a 3 year may have been the only scholarship available. Another reason could be that when your son's application went before the PMS at that school before it went in front of the board, the PMS marked down that they would offer a 3year. Each PMS will make a check mark next to either 3 year or 4 year for each applicant that lists their school, this is done before the application goes before the board.

The whole process can be a bit confusing sometimes, add in transfers and it gets even more confusing.

The best thing your son can do now is contact the new battalion and ask about his options.
 
Jcleppe said:
The Army can be a bit confusing in the way they word things. The first email probably stated that the transfer of the 4 year scholarship had been approved. That would lead most to think that it meant the the new scholarship would be a 4 year as well. What it really meant was that the existing 4 year was being transferred to the new school, the second notice told what the new scholarship would be, a 3 year.

When scholarships are transferred they are restricted to what is available at the new battalion, a 3 year may have been the only scholarship available. Another reason could be that when your son's application went before the PMS at that school before it went in front of the board, the PMS marked down that they would offer a 3year. Each PMS will make a check mark next to either 3 year or 4 year for each applicant that lists their school, this is done before the application goes before the board.

The whole process can be a bit confusing sometimes, add in transfers and it gets even more confusing.

The best thing your son can do now is contact the new battalion and ask about his options.
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The 1st letter of notification states ” I am pleased to inform you of the approval of your conditional scholarship transfer request to ... The level of your conditional scholarship offer is 4-year. This scholarship is effective starting Fall 2012.” It is within the second letter that 3-year is stated. Has anyone heard of CC reinstating the original scholarship if there is a mishap in an appeal such as this?
 
s_frats said:
The 1st letter of notification states ” I am pleased to inform you of the approval of your conditional scholarship transfer request to ... The level of your conditional scholarship offer is 4-year. This scholarship is effective starting Fall 2012.” It is within the second letter that 3-year is stated. Has anyone heard of CC reinstating the original scholarship if there is a mishap in an appeal such as this?
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I have not heard of anyone getting their original scholarship reinstated, which doesn't mean much because I haven't heard of anyone trying. I would contact Cadet Command and ask about that one. Would you be looking to have the original scholarship to the original school reinstated, would your son be willing to go to that school.

As far as the letter you received, the key word was "Conditional" The transfer may have been conditional on several things which resulted in the 3 year. Conditional could also meant simply that it is conditional on meeting the requirements of the scholarship, like I said the Army can be confusing sometimes. Your son will also find that things can change rather quickly in both ROTC and the Army, sometimes without much explanation.

I wouldn't wait too long in contacting Cadet Command, the original school that offered the 4 year and the school he got the transfer too.
 
Before you give up on getting the 4-year transfer to your son's preferrred school you should contact the PMS at that school and see what they can do for you. Your son wants that school. The PMS wants your son. See what he/she can do to try and fix the problem. In my experience these things are not cut and dried. And in this situation you have a case to be made that the reduction to a 3-year is a mistake and not consistent with the original communications.
 
”
I am pleased to inform you of the approval of your conditional scholarship transfer request to ... The level of your conditional scholarship offer is 4-year. This scholarship is effective starting Fall 2012.”
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Jcleppe, confusing is a mighty generous term in this case. Misleading or mistake seems more appropriate.
I would talk to the PMS and CC.
 
Packer said:
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Jcleppe, confusing is a mighty generous term in this case. Misleading or mistake seems more appropriate.
I would talk to the PMS and CC.
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Your right, Misleading is probably a better word.

Sounds like my younger son's experience with CULP this year. First letter...."Your going to Slovakia"....second letter...."Your going to Bosnia"...then "Slovakia"....final letter..."Bosnia"

Fill out this passport application...no wait this one....oops do the first one.

Older son's orders to Ft. Rucker...June 24th...call to arrange moving and travel....ooops, now it's June 10th....change everything and hope it doesn't change again.

This all goes to show, that with the military, nothing is final until you receive the official paperwork....of course then it could all change again.

We had a student at my son's old high school this yer that had his status change to show he was awarded a 4 year scholarship, talked to the ROO at the school and while he was not supposed to confirm said yes it was a 4 year. The letter arrived in that mail a week or so later, it stated that the scholarship was a 3 year. The best expalnation he was given was that nothing was final until the official paperwork is completed and the official paperwork said 3 year.

It would not surprise me that this happens more then what we see posted on this forum.

I still agree with Packer, make the calles to everyone involved as quickly as possible.
 
Yeah, I'd contact the PMS. I believe that budgets are controlled at the Brigage level (somebody correct me if that isn't the case), so your preferred school Battalion PMS would probably need to make a case to their COL at Brigade.
 
DS received confirmation that his 4-yr scholarship transfer was approved! So relieved to have this resolved. He is waiting to hear from the ROO at the school but does anyone know what happens after transfer approval?

Thanks to all who post on this forum with such valuable information! I stumbled across this site late in the process - wish I found it earlier.
 
s_frats, how did they notify your DS? We are in the middle of the transfer process and have heard nothing, so are a bit frustrated.
 
laxmom8 said:
s_frats, how did they notify your DS? We are in the middle of the transfer process and have heard nothing, so are a bit frustrated.
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laxmom8, He received an email from CC stating the approval of the transfer request. His transfer was unique as the original request was sent Feb. 8th and ran into a few snags along the way. As a follow up, after the request he did email CC to confirm the receipt of the transfer.
 
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