Transfer of Scholarship

DPod

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
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29
When I got the AROTC scholarship in the mail, it said that if you wanted to transfer it, the request had to be made by April 12th and you had to accept the scholarship first. George Washington Univeristy was one of the schools on my list, but I got the 3 Year AD to St John University instead. They wouldn't grant the transfer since GW was already on my list for scholarships, since tuition is $8k more (36,450 at St. Johns vs 47,290 at GWU), and since GW isn't even the host school for AROTC (Georgetown is). Is it worth taking a shot, or would I look ungrateful and have burned bridges at St. Johns? The AROTC scholarship is THE most important thing to me right now, and I'm got going to GW without it (couldn't afford GW without it anyway). Anybody have advice or words of wisdom? Thanks.
 
I'm confused, how do you know CC denied the transfer when you haven't even submitted a transfer request yet?

Or am I misreading you?
 
When I got the AROTC scholarship in the mail, it said that if you wanted to transfer it, the request had to be made by April 12th and you had to accept the scholarship first. George Washington Univeristy was one of the schools on my list, but I got the 3 Year AD to St John University instead. They wouldn't grant the transfer since GW was already on my list for scholarships, since tuition is $8k more (36,450 at St. Johns vs 47,290 at GWU), and since GW isn't even the host school for AROTC (Georgetown is). Is it worth taking a shot, or would I look ungrateful and have burned bridges at St. Johns? The AROTC scholarship is THE most important thing to me right now, and I'm got going to GW without it (couldn't afford GW without it anyway). Anybody have advice or words of wisdom? Thanks.

I have to say this is unclear to me. You make it sound like the transfer request has already been attempted and declined. I also have to assume that GW was a more preferred school on your list compared to St. John's which was also on your list. Finally, I have to assume you've been accepted to both schools. It might be wise to slow down and restate your story and question so that people who are not familiar with all the details can understand.

As I'm confident you haven't requested the transfer yet, and with the above assumptions in mind, then yes anything is worth a shot. I'm also not sure what bridges at St. John's you think you would burn, but if the transfer request doesn't go through and you want AROTC, then you would be going to St. John's. I doubt the cadre there cares that you preferred GW over St. John's. Their only connection to the school is that they are there temporarily running their ROTC program.

All that being said, if St. John's was on your original list of school's, implying you would be willing to go there, and if St. John's offers the major you're interested in, then why not just go to St. John's? You'll need to explain the reason for your transfer request in your letter (as I recall)... especially if you've been accepted to St. John's already.

In any case, if you attempt the transfer it probably won't be resolved prior to the May 1 acceptance deadline. Are you prepared to send non-refundable deposits to both schools on the off chance the transfer request goes through?
 
I have to say this is unclear to me. You make it sound like the transfer request has already been attempted and declined. I also have to assume that GW was a more preferred school on your list compared to St. John's which was also on your list. Finally, I have to assume you've been accepted to both schools. It might be wise to slow down and restate your story and question so that people who are not familiar with all the details can understand.

As I'm confident you haven't requested the transfer yet, and with the above assumptions in mind, then yes anything is worth a shot. I'm also not sure what bridges at St. John's you think you would burn, but if the transfer request doesn't go through and you want AROTC, then you would be going to St. John's. I doubt the cadre there cares that you preferred GW over St. John's. Their only connection to the school is that they are there temporarily running their ROTC program.

All that being said, if St. John's was on your original list of school's, implying you would be willing to go there, and if St. John's offers the major you're interested in, then why not just go to St. John's? You'll need to explain the reason for your transfer request in your letter (as I recall)... especially if you've been accepted to St. John's already.

In any case, if you attempt the transfer it probably won't be resolved prior to the May 1 acceptance deadline. Are you prepared to send non-refundable deposits to both schools on the off chance the transfer request goes through?

The second situation is correct. I haven't attempted the transfer yet. They said the deadline to start the process is April 12th. I prefer GW because simply put, its a high quality, challenging school that has one of the best international affairs programs. Good point on having the transfer resolved prior to May 1st, didn't consider that. I guess if I don't take a shot, I'll never know what happens, and I already know how that feels (didn't apply to USMA :bang:)
 
If push comes to shove, and you don't get the transfer, you can always then decline the scholarship if you are that fixed on going to GW.

I prefer GW because simply put, its a high quality, challenging school that has one of the best international affairs programs.
In that transfer letter, make sure you really drive those points home.

Remember, there are opportunities to compete for on-campus scholarships as well. So if you don't get this one, it isn't the end of the world. Remember, the end goal is to commission right? The money is nice, but it's not the end goal.

In any case, I would recommend getting in contact with the cadre of Gerogetown now if you haven't already. Let them know that you are interested in their program. This way, the cadre will at least know you are interested in competing for a scholarship by the time school starts (if you don't get the scholarship transferred).

I wish you the best of luck with the transfer! Get things rolling - the 12th is quickly approaching!!
 
If push comes to shove, and you don't get the transfer, you can always then decline the scholarship if you are that fixed on going to GW.


In that transfer letter, make sure you really drive those points home.

Remember, there are opportunities to compete for on-campus scholarships as well. So if you don't get this one, it isn't the end of the world. Remember, the end goal is to commission right? The money is nice, but it's not the end goal.

In any case, I would recommend getting in contact with the cadre of Gerogetown now if you haven't already. Let them know that you are interested in their program. This way, the cadre will at least know you are interested in competing for a scholarship by the time school starts (if you don't get the scholarship transferred).

I wish you the best of luck with the transfer! Get things rolling - the 12th is quickly approaching!!

Thank you. I think I will try for the transfer. I have connections to a gw alum who is an army officer, as well as a Senator who i work for, who would write me letters of support.
 
Would a letter from someone important or relevant (i.e. a State Senator) supporting the transfer of my scholarship help my chances?
 
When I got the AROTC scholarship in the mail, it said that if you wanted to transfer it, the request had to be made by April 12th and you had to accept the scholarship first. George Washington Univeristy was one of the schools on my list, but I got the 3 Year AD to St John University instead. They wouldn't grant the transfer since GW was already on my list for scholarships, since tuition is $8k more (36,450 at St. Johns vs 47,290 at GWU), and since GW isn't even the host school for AROTC (Georgetown is). Is it worth taking a shot, or would I look ungrateful and have burned bridges at St. Johns? The AROTC scholarship is THE most important thing to me right now, and I'm got going to GW without it (couldn't afford GW without it anyway). Anybody have advice or words of wisdom? Thanks.

If you ask for the transfer and it doesn't work, I don't believe you get the scholarship back at St John's, so don't worry about burning bridges. You might want to confirm this with CC first.

Next pearl of wisdom, if you cannot afford GW without the scholarship, I highly recommend not giving up the bird in hand (St. John's) if asking for the transfer requires you give up the bird in hand.

The second situation is correct. I haven't attempted the transfer yet. They said the deadline to start the process is April 12th. I prefer GW because simply put, its a high quality, challenging school that has one of the best international affairs programs. Good point on having the transfer resolved prior to May 1st, didn't consider that. I guess if I don't take a shot, I'll never know what happens, and I already know how that feels (didn't apply to USMA :bang:)

Having been around this board for a while, you aren't the first person to recognize that program at GW. In past years, it has been sold out on the FIRST board even when there were more scholarships available.

Here is another thing to consider - transfers into GW will only be available only if someone gives up a scholarship at GW either by requesting a transfer (like you) or taking a SA appointment. SA applicants tend to hang onto their ROTC scholarships until they report in the summer in case they are injured during spring sports (you cannot show up in summer injured). And as to transfers out of GW - there aren't many schools that people list as #1 above GW if they want International Affairs (the non-technical scolarship).

Additionally, scholarship transfers within a Brigade are prioritized above those between Brigades. SJU is not in the same Brigade as GW. Your application would be behind anyone who requested from that Brigade.

Bottom line - the transfer is far from a sure thing - probably more like a <25% chance.

Thank you. I think I will try for the transfer. I have connections to a gw alum who is an army officer, as well as a Senator who i work for, who would write me letters of support.

Per the above, I think you need to do some more research about the possible outcomes that may not fit your first priority of being able to afford the school you attend.

Would a letter from someone important or relevant (i.e. a State Senator) supporting the transfer of my scholarship help my chances?

If the State Senator has 4 stars...
 
If you ask for the transfer and it doesn't work, I don't believe you get the scholarship back at St John's, so don't worry about burning bridges. You might want to confirm this with CC first.

Wait..... I lose the St. John's scholarship if it doesn't transfer? I thought that I accept the St. John's scholarship and send it with the letter requesting the transfer and if it doesn't transfer, I still get to keep the St. John's. If I would lose the one the St. John's, that would change things dramatically. Thank you for your help by the way.
 
Wait..... I lose the St. John's scholarship if it doesn't transfer? I thought that I accept the St. John's scholarship and send it with the letter requesting the transfer and if it doesn't transfer, I still get to keep the St. John's. If I would lose the one the St. John's, that would change things dramatically. Thank you for your help by the way.

Goaliedad wrote a great post. I'm not sure he's correct that you lose the scholarship at St. John's if you request a transfer, but I'm not sure he's incorrect either. I've been expounding on my "life rules" on the forum a lot lately. Here's one: "Do I need the best? Or do I just need good, or good enough?". Although perhaps not as highly rated as GW, I'm confident St. John's has a good, if not very good to excellent program. Just like ROTC, I'm sure you'll find that what you get from the program is directly related to how much you put into it, as opposed to the program itself. And after your military service, where you went to school will be far less important than the fact you were an officer. Do your grad work at GW, when where the degree comes from really counts. You might even be able to do it on the military's dime. I think it's time to consider that the universe is directing you to St. John's for some reason, and embrace that. Just my opinion. YMMV.
 
Goaliedad wrote a great post. I'm not sure he's correct that you lose the scholarship at St. John's if you request a transfer, but I'm not sure he's incorrect either. I've been expounding on my "life rules" on the forum a lot lately. Here's one: "Do I need the best? Or do I just need good, or good enough?". Although perhaps not as highly rated as GW, I'm confident St. John's has a good, if not very good to excellent program. Just like ROTC, I'm sure you'll find that what you get from the program is directly related to how much you put into it, as opposed to the program itself. And after your military service, where you went to school will be far less important than the fact you were an officer. Do your grad work at GW, when where the degree comes from really counts. You might even be able to do it on the military's dime. I think it's time to consider that the universe is directing you to St. John's for some reason, and embrace that. Just my opinion. YMMV.

Thank you for the epiphany-inspiring post. I came to the same realization you did - all signs are pushing me to St. Johns. St. Johns offered me 21k a year ON TOP of the ROTC scholarship. GW offered zip, nada. It was an honor to be admitted to GW in it's most selective year yet (only 2,350 of the 22,000 applicants were admitted - 10.68%), but it isn't worth the extra cost and frustration. Thank you. Just accepted the ROTC scholarship to St. Johns and scanned it over!
 
Thank you for the epiphany-inspiring post. I came to the same realization you did - all signs are pushing me to St. Johns. St. Johns offered me 21k a year ON TOP of the ROTC scholarship. GW offered zip, nada. It was an honor to be admitted to GW in it's most selective year yet (only 2,350 of the 22,000 applicants were admitted - 10.68%), but it isn't worth the extra cost and frustration. Thank you. Just accepted the ROTC scholarship to St. Johns and scanned it over!

Wow! I'm surprised you were even considering the transfer given the package St. John's offered. Obviously they want you very much! So I say, tongue in cheek, congratulations on choosing the obvious!!! :biggrin: Wishing you a great college and ROTC experience, and an inspiring military career! :thumb:
 
Thank you for the epiphany-inspiring post. I came to the same realization you did - all signs are pushing me to St. Johns. St. Johns offered me 21k a year ON TOP of the ROTC scholarship. GW offered zip, nada. It was an honor to be admitted to GW in it's most selective year yet (only 2,350 of the 22,000 applicants were admitted - 10.68%), but it isn't worth the extra cost and frustration. Thank you. Just accepted the ROTC scholarship to St. Johns and scanned it over!

One more thing, not that I think it should change your decision, but you need to investigate the details of St. John's offer. It might very well be that it can only be used for tuition, in which case you might need to think about using the ROTC scholarship for room and board. Or perhaps they might change the offer, or it already helps cover room and board. Keep in mind that any monies you receive that go toward room and board will be subject to income tax. As one of the more frequent posters here always says, "The devil is in the details". It all depends on how their scholarship is written. It might also be worth a call to the bursar's office to make sure you understand it all.
 
One more thing, not that I think it should change your decision, but you need to investigate the details of St. John's offer. It might very well be that it can only be used for tuition, in which case you might need to think about using the ROTC scholarship for room and board. Or perhaps they might change the offer, or it already helps cover room and board. Keep in mind that any monies you receive that go toward room and board will be subject to income tax. As one of the more frequent posters here always says, "The devil is in the details". It all depends on how their scholarship is written. It might also be worth a call to the bursar's office to make sure you understand it all.

I will be sure to double check with the bursar, but I was told by the PMS that they will allow me put it towards my room and board, and will put the remainder in a check to me after each year.
 
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+1 Thompson,

I have never heard of them cutting checks back to a cadet, especially in this fiscal world for the military. Basically many in the AD world would call that as a fraud, waste and/or abuse issue.

Now maybe the college will do it, thus the college is going to use the ROTC funds 1st, and than college will pay the remaining, if there is anything left over from that 21K, they may cut you a check.
 
+1 Thompson,

I have never heard of them cutting checks back to a cadet, especially in this fiscal world for the military. Basically many in the AD world would call that as a fraud, waste and/or abuse issue.

Now maybe the college will do it, thus the college is going to use the ROTC funds 1st, and than college will pay the remaining, if there is anything left over from that 21K, they may cut you a check.

Certainly if the PMS told him that, he meant the latter. I'm not sure I would trust him as a reliable source on that though. But depending on the scholarship it is possible that the school might cut a check (doubtful but possible). The devil is in the details, right Pima?
 
very true kinnem.

It just seems strange to me it work that way. I know some AFROTC cadets that got money back, but wasn't from their scholarship. What actually occurred was they had to take a stafford loan to make up the difference, between the scholarships (AFROTC and Merit) and the bill owed. The college than cut them a check back.

I would read both the ROTC paperwork very closely and the merit paperwork.

Not saying it can't happen, just saying as a taxpayer, with a child that is an O1, and was a spouse of an ADAF officer, now retired for 20+ yrs, to me, if AROTC is doing this, and not the college merit money being cut, I would consider this FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE.

If I was a parent at the college, I would also consider this FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE. It makes no sense to me that they would lessen their endowment for every student that has more merit money than the school costs. A free ride is one thing, paying them several thousand to attend is different.

FWIW, our DS's college has a great scholarship program for high end caliber students, they paid all costs, and gave them an Ipad, laptop, books, and a monthly stipend. That was concurrent, with ROTC. I have no issue with that, because it wasn't a check back in the end and they didn't cut a check since both ROTC and the school were paying for the books. They submitted the original receipt...their choice to give it to ROTC or the college, but only one would pick up the books since both required the original receipt. Many cadets use the college and not ROTC due to the fact AFROTC capped at 900 per yr.

Just my opinion, and honestly good on you for getting this golden opportunity, because as you can see via other posters it is a rarity to get a free ride, but more so when you are getting a monthly stipend, book allowance and get to keep whatever is left in the account come May. Can we all say car payments on SJU's dime?
 
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Certainly if the PMS told him that, he meant the latter. I'm not sure I would trust him as a reliable source on that though. But depending on the scholarship it is possible that the school might cut a check (doubtful but possible). The devil is in the details, right Pima?

The 21k i'm referring to is the "Academic Excellence Scholarship" the school awarded me, not uncle sam's money. The ROTC would pay tuition and fees and then the school's 21k would go towards room and board, and then they'd cut a check for the leftovers of the school's 21k. I should definitely double-check with the bursar on it though.
 
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