Navy ROTC... getting worried.

NavyFB52

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
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11
I was wondering when the typical time is for NROTC to award the majority of their scholarships? I've had my application in since last July and I'm still waiting. I don't really have a back up plan and I'm really hoping for this scholarship. I've been told I'm almost guarenteed the scholarship from every recruiter I've talked to, but now I'm starting to doubt that. Can anyone tell me if they think I have a good shot at making it?

I'm ranked 9/237 at my high school.
4.4 weighted GPA
Taken all AP/Honors classes offered.
ACT: Math-32, Science-32, comp.-30
3 sport athlete: Starting middle-linebacker in football (co-captain), Varsity swimming, Varsity track (co-captain)
Community service: Volunteer at a youth camp, Big Brothers Big Sisters
I also have a recommendation from an Admiral who was the head of Naval Education for 15 years. In addition, he wrote directly to the Selection Board and said I was the "best candidate he's seen."

Any input would be great, I'm just starting to get very anxious.
 
I was wondering when the typical time is for NROTC to award the majority of their scholarships? I've had my application in since last July and I'm still waiting. I don't really have a back up plan and I'm really hoping for this scholarship. I've been told I'm almost guarenteed the scholarship from every recruiter I've talked to, but now I'm starting to doubt that. Can anyone tell me if they think I have a good shot at making it?

I'm ranked 9/237 at my high school.
4.4 weighted GPA
Taken all AP/Honors classes offered.
ACT: Math-32, Science-32, comp.-30
3 sport athlete: Starting middle-linebacker in football (co-captain), Varsity swimming, Varsity track (co-captain)
Community service: Volunteer at a youth camp, Big Brothers Big Sisters
I also have a recommendation from an Admiral who was the head of Naval Education for 15 years. In addition, he wrote directly to the Selection Board and said I was the "best candidate he's seen."

Any input would be great, I'm just starting to get very anxious.

You look great, but then we weren't at your interview and don't know how that was scored. We don't know which AP courses were taken and what your grades were in each course. We don't know what school you attended and how it ranks against schools nationwide. We also don't know which schools you listed. In any case there are never guarantees unless you're told by someone who actually sits on the boards and knows the competition you're up against.

Shame on you. You are smarter than this. Get a backup plan in place. Hopefully it's not too late to apply for other scholarships. Also, get the FAFSA done. Hopefully an NROTC scholarship will come through but you may not know that either way until late March or early April.
 
You didn't list the schools you included on your application.

While you look to have great stats, there are many, many others that have stats similar to yours. It is really a numbers game sometimes, more qualified highly applicants then scholarships available.

Is NROTC the only program you applied.

A plan B is always a good idea, even when someone say's your a shoe in. In this process, nothing is ever a shoe in.

I really wish recruiters would stop saying kid's are almost guaranteed of a scholarship. These recruiters see only the applicants they talk to, sometimes a very limited number. This board always has every year many applicants that were told they were a lock, scrambling to come up with a plan B.
 
You didn't mention what you will be majoring in. NROTC awards 85% of scholarships nationwide to technical majors. Only 15% of the total are awarded to non-technical majors.

Be prepared to wait and to have deposits in at colleges. Colleges require a yes/no answer to admittance by May 1, and this past spring my daughter was notified of her NROTC scholarship on April 29!

Have other plans in place just in case. Good Luck!
 
Yeah, I feel so stupid for not spending more time on a plan B. I've been accepted to all my schools, but I can't spend 30k a year. I'll probably end up at a community college (due to money) if I don't get NROTC, which is really disappointing for my personal standards.

For more info..
My interview went fine... The officer was impressed, but it was rather short and casual in my opinion.
I plan on majoring in Math to fit the Tier 1 and 2.
My School choices were:
1- University of Colorado
2- University of Wisconsin
3- University of Illinois
4- University of Missouri
5- University of Nebraska
I've made straight A's throughout high school.. AP classes include Calculus, Bio II, Chemistry, English comp. ect..

Thanks for all the help!
 
Yeah, I feel so stupid for not spending more time on a plan B. I've been accepted to all my schools, but I can't spend 30k a year. I'll probably end up at a community college (due to money) if I don't get NROTC, which is really disappointing for my personal standards.

For more info..
My interview went fine... The officer was impressed, but it was rather short and casual in my opinion.
I plan on majoring in Math to fit the Tier 1 and 2.
My School choices were:
1- University of Colorado
2- University of Wisconsin
3- University of Illinois
4- University of Missouri
5- University of Nebraska
I've made straight A's throughout high school.. AP classes include Calculus, Bio II, Chemistry, English comp. ect..

Thanks for all the help!

I think by definition (in most cases) one of those must be in-state. While attending a community college is a viable option and even smart in many cases, if it's at all possible (should worse come to worse) couldn't you try to swing attending the in-state school, enroll in NROTC as a college programmer, and compete for an in-school scholarship? Perhaps some financial aid will come through on the FAFSA that makes it feasible. Also apply to every merit scholarship you're eligible for at each of these schools, as well as any other scholarships you can find under nearby rocks. DO NOT give up. You can always fall back on community college... but until its too late keep working other ways to attend college. If nothing else it will help to make you a better midshipman and officer... they don't give up either (at least until there is absolutely no other alternative... you still have alternatives).
 
Agree with Kinnem. You do have choices - lots of them. Not a straight line perhaps - but choices and options exist.

Sent you PM
 
Which of these schools is in-state for you? Just asking, because my daughter is at U of Illinois and is enjoying her first year.
 
You have been accepted to all. IS shouldn't be 30K a yr, maybe 20. FAFSA as a freshman would be 5.5. If one of these are IS, and since you already have been accepted, chances are in the next few weeks you will get their merit offer. For VA, if you want school merit the cut off application date is Nov/Dec.

You could find yourself with a nice merit package. Did you do the PSAT? If so and you scored in the 95% colleges love applicants like you.

I don't know if you are located near a military base. AF bases have Officer Civilian Spouse Clubs. They offer merit scholarships that can range from 500 to 5000 one time shot. The boards don't meet until March and they do award to non-military children. However, it really is a community scholarship. The GC will have the applications.

Go to Barnes and Noble, they have books that are all about scholarships. By state, by major, by even if your are Polish.

Do I personally think you have a great NROTC scholarship chance? Yes, but I would also still move forward with plan B issues because tuition is only 1 part. OOS can cost 35-40K per yr when you add in Room and Board, and now the question is how do you pay that 20K for R &B?
 
OOS can cost 35-40K per yr when you add in Room and Board, and now the question is how do you pay that 20K for R &B?
Holy Cow, 20k for R&B? Is it that high in VA? Most of the schools we looked at it was about 1/2 that.
 
I am wrong you are correct. It ranges around 12K+ but look into if they guarantee housing after freshman year.

However, going back to my point. OOS will probably run you more than 30K. UMDCP is @42K this yr. Expect it to be around 44 next yr. VT as an OOS with R & B is around 35-37K.

The point is this yr. next yr if they increase by 7% you are not looking at 30K OOS, you are looking at 40K.

DS entered UMDCP in 08 and it was 28K and change. It is now 41K and change for fall 2012.

DD entered VT in 10 as an IS for 10/11, it was @15K, it is now 19.6 for 12/13.

Some schools can and will jack up their prices. Don't expect that the tuition for 12-13 is going to be the rate for 13/14.

That was my point, with yrs the costs increases. In 07 for FAFSA it was 7500 for Jrs. In 12 it was 7500 for jrs., yet the cost to attend has gone up alot. You need to think about how to make up that difference. 7500 in 10 and it was 15K, that is only 7500 out of pocket. At 19.6 now, it is over 12K out of pocket.
 
Which of these schools is in-state for you? Just asking, because my daughter is at U of Illinois and is enjoying her first year.

U of Illinois is my in-state school, even though I'm personally not a big fan of the school. I haven't received any major merit-based scholarships from anywhere yet, except like 5k/year to Missouri. I'm applying for many local scholarships, but they're not going to make a huge dent in the cost. I'll be able to cover room and board as long as i'm accepted.
 
IS in Virginia is MORE than 20k. At least it is at UVa and William and Mary. VT is a little cheaper.
 
U of Illinois is my in-state school, even though I'm personally not a big fan of the school. I haven't received any major merit-based scholarships from anywhere yet, except like 5k/year to Missouri. I'm applying for many local scholarships, but they're not going to make a huge dent in the cost. I'll be able to cover room and board as long as i'm accepted.

It's still a bit early to be hearing about too many merit based scholarships. Don't give up hope or searching for more scholarships. Search online for any national scholarships that might apply. There are books on this topic. I don't know if I said it on this thread or another but mt son didn't hear about his merit based scholarship from his college until sometime in April. It ain't over until May 1. The fat lady doesn't even begin to warm up until mid-April.
 
There has been a fair amount of discussion on this forum about the strategy of school selection for NROTC, and I think that your experience demonstrates how critical it is. It seems obvious to me that you are a very competitive candidate for a scholarship, and I am not surprised that recruiters have expressed confidence that you would get one. However, you may have stacked the odds against you by listing only large state universities for all five of your choices.

This is somewhat counterintuitive, as you might expect that the Navy would prefer to give you a scholarship at a relatively inexpensive public university, which even with OOS tuition would cost far less than any private university. However, I suspect that almost all of the slots at state universities are going to be awarded to in-state candidates. You may have superior stats, but if there is a qualified candidate who is a resident of Wisconsin, he is likely to get an available UW slot ahead of you. This is simply a matter of cost-efficiency - the Navy doesn't want to spend $20K on you when they can fill the slot for $10K. Even for your own in-state public school, the competition is going to be stiff, because there are a lot of candidates from a large state like Illinois, all of whom have to put the University of Illinois on their list; and there are not necessarily as many scholarships that will be awarded at large state universities, because it is easier for the detachment to attract qualified non-scholarship students who can afford to pay their own way.

By contrast, there are qualified candidates who can gain admission to their state university, but would not be competitive at some of the private schools. Based on your stats, you may have been an attractive candidate to fill a slot for detachments like Rice and Tulane, which have to choose from a smaller pool of candidates with superior academic credentials.
 
I see the point you're making about the Navy not wanting to fork out so much money on just one candidate for OOS tuition. I still feel my stats are superior to many other NROTC applicants. I think my application demonstrates I have the skills to be a better Naval Officer than many other candidates and I'd like to believe the Navy wouldn't pass that up just to save a few thousand tax-payer dollars. After all, isn't that the goal of the Navy ROTC program? To produce the best Naval Officers possible, in the end. Maybe every other applicant is more qualified than myself, but I couldn't see that being the case. I was wondering if anyone knew when the majority of the scholarships are awarded? I'm still very optimistic about receiving the scholarship, but I hope i'm notified soon. If not, I'll probably end up going to a community college and the Navy would miss out on the oppurtunity of a great leader. I'm just hoping the result isn't the later and I end up disappointed.
 
I don't know the stats for NROTC regarding how many get OOS, but to put it into perspective for you from an AFROTC scholarship, only 5% of all scholarships awarded get that golden ticket. Chances of getting an AFROTC scholarship of any type is 1 in 5.

You have great stats, but remember a large majority of USNA candidates will apply for NROTC scholarship too, most BGO's will want them to apply as their plan B. Just like college admissions, when the NROTC offers the scholarship they go on the belief there is a high chance you will accept. For NROTC there is a limited pot of money they can spend.

In this day and age of sequestration hanging over the DOD's head for their budget. ROTC is part of that budget.

There is a lot more in the equation than you are placing in your thought process.

I don't believe anyone is saying you won't get a scholarship, they are only illustrating why you might get only IS.

FWIW, I don't follow your train of thought. If you get only the IS, you would opt to go to your CC? Maybe I read your post wrong.

Even more disconcerting if I read it correctly is you talk about being a great Navy officer, but if you don't like what they give you, you are willing to pick up your toys and leave. I am betting if you talk to the Admiral he would tell you that you aren't always going to get what you want, but you will always get what the Navy needs. I don't know about where you live, but in our area you can be in ROTC as a CC student, you just travel to the host college. If you truly want to be a Navy officer the scholarship should not be a part of your decision.
 
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While DeskJockey's rationale makes sense, I have not seen it in writing.

For what it is worth. Target numbers for YG17 NROTC Navy option scholarship:

LREC (tier 3): 60 offers
ISR* (Immediate scholarship reservation - High potential and minority): 150 offers
ASR* (Alternate scholarship reservation - JNROTC): 110 offers
MSISR* (Minority Serving Institutions scholarship reservation): 170 offers
CNSB - 4 year unrestricted line scholarships: 1207 offers (less above which equals 717)
CNSB - 4 year Nurse option scholarships: 26 offers

Notes: Projected enrollment is 900 (implied yield 52.2%),
Does not include Marine option numbers,
"*" allow for more Tier 3 majors (assuming up to 15% of 1207)

Source: NSTC Notice 1533 12/12/12

Document also includes "Side-load" target scholarship numbers for YG15,16 and 17

YG 15: 202 2-year
YG 16: 51 3-year and 119 2 year
YG 17: 93 3 year and 119 2 year


Keep your nose up "52".
 
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Something else to keep in mind... regarding OOS vs. IS (out of state vs. In-state). Many states have what they call tuition "reciprocity" agreements.

Here is how it works for Minnesota:
Minnesota has tuition reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, South Dakota, and North Dakota. So, a student from Minnesota is treated as being IS for schools in these states (given IS tuition rates, or within a few $$ of IS rate). A student from WI (or the Dakotas) would be treated as being IS for Minnesota ("you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours...") as well.

I was also told that for ROTC scholarship purposes, the boards know this (regarding reciprocity agreeements) and would treat a MN applicant as IS for WI and the Dakotas if they listed these schools on their application.

I am sure there are other blocks of states that have similar agreements too.

Just wanted to give you yet another snippet of information.

:thumb:
 
I see the point you're making about the Navy not wanting to fork out so much money on just one candidate for OOS tuition. I still feel my stats are superior to many other NROTC applicants. I think my application demonstrates I have the skills to be a better Naval Officer than many other candidates and I'd like to believe the Navy wouldn't pass that up just to save a few thousand tax-payer dollars. After all, isn't that the goal of the Navy ROTC program? To produce the best Naval Officers possible, in the end. Maybe every other applicant is more qualified than myself, but I couldn't see that being the case. I was wondering if anyone knew when the majority of the scholarships are awarded? I'm still very optimistic about receiving the scholarship, but I hope i'm notified soon. If not, I'll probably end up going to a community college and the Navy would miss out on the oppurtunity of a great leader. I'm just hoping the result isn't the later and I end up disappointed.

You may be absolutely correct in your description of yourself. However, the Navy doesn't need every person who applies and would make a qualified officer. At most, they need sufficient numbers to lead their forces, which are dwindling and might very well dwindle further.

Further, they don't need to offer scholarships to every one of the said applicants. They need only enough to attract other highly qualified applicants who would consider doing the program without the scholarship. Some of those participants will receive a scholarship while in college after the Navy has been able to observe how they do in the program. Many will complete the program never having received a scholarship. Additionally around 25% will become officers through OCS having never participated in NROTC, attending school on their own dime.

So although, you might clearly be officer material, it doesn't necessarily mean you will, or even should, receive a scholarship. I hope a scholarship comes through for you, but I think you might misunderstand the program a bit. I also think a little humility might be in order, especially since you have absolutely no insight into the qualifications of the other candidates.
 
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