3-Year Scholarship Question

NoodlersDad

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I'm confused about the reasoning of why 3-Year scholarships are issued vs 4-Year. I've read that 3-year scholarships are for college freshman that have applied and I've also read that 3-Year's are offered to applicants who aren't as highly academically qualified as the 4-Year candidates. Any insight would be appreciated. My DS is a high school senior and awarded a 3-year to his top three schools.
 
I'm confused about the reasoning of why 3-Year scholarships are issued vs 4-Year. I've read that 3-year scholarships are for college freshman that have applied and I've also read that 3-Year's are offered to applicants who aren't as highly academically qualified as the 4-Year candidates. Any insight would be appreciated. My DS is a high school senior and awarded a 3-year to his top three schools.

There are a few reasons.

There are a fixed number of 4 year scholarships that are awarded to each Battalion, the rest are 3 year. There is a lot more then just academics that go into the scholarship award process, they really look at the whole person score. It is possible that someone with lower academics will receive a 4 year based on the complete application.

Sometimes they want to make sure the new student/cadet will succeed their freshman year.

A lot comes down to budget, they have just so much money to allot to scholarships so the split between 4 and 3 year.

There is always a chance if a new cadet does well in both academics and ROTC their first semester, the Battalion may offer an upgrade to a 3.5 year scholarship at the end of the first semester if they have the funds available.

Over the last couple years they have give out more 3 year scholarships then in previous years. This is because of budgets and a new focus on seeing how cadets perform their first year.

There is an attrition rate among cadets their first year. If the Army awards all 4 year and a percentage of those cadets leave the program after the first year, the Army has spent money for the first years tuition with nothing in return. Seeing how a cadet performs and then upgrading if possible saves a great deal of the budget.
 
My DS (also a 3yr. Recipient) received a call from one of the schools where he received a scholarship (it is a large battalion). The ROO said that they received half as many 4yr scholarship recipients this year as compared to last year.
 
I wonder if it has any bearing on the tuition cost of the schools he selected.
 
I wonder if it has any bearing on the tuition cost of the schools he selected.

This can also be a factor.

In the past there have been cadets that received a scholarship to an in state school, they requested a transfer to an out of state or private, because of the higher tuition cost the scholarship was switched from a 4 year to a 3 year.

The thing to tell your son is this, arrive at school ready for the APFT, get a good/above average score on the first APFT. Don't overload on classes the first semester and get a good GPA. Doing this will put himself in a good position for an upgrade in his scholarship if funds are available. Two of the three cadets that had 3 year scholarships at my son's school were upgraded to a 3.5, the other cadet had not yet passed the APFT and did not receive an upgrade.
 
Sounds like a plan. He's in top PT and ranked 4th in the State in wrestling. We are all very proud of him and very grateful for the Army and the taxpayers offering to put him through three years if college.
 
Sounds like a plan. He's in top PT and ranked 4th in the State in wrestling. We are all very proud of him and very grateful for the Army and the taxpayers offering to put him through three years if college.

Congratulations to your son.

Hard work will bring good rewards in ROTC, tell him to put in a lot of road work, good run times really help the APFT score, and the added endurance will make life a lot easier when they do the ruck runs and marches.

Best of luck to him, it's an exciting time.

When you have above 10 posts, send me a message if you have any questions from a parents perspective.
 
Noodlersdad, congratulations to your son on his scholarship!!
 
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Our DD got 4 years to our in-state, and 3 yr. AD to a Private school, her choice. I assume this was for financial reasons, but there is the possibility that the 4 yr. scholarship came from a Battalion that wanted her more than the 3 yr. AD school did.
 
There is always a chance if a new cadet does well in both academics and ROTC their first semester, the Battalion may offer an upgrade to a 3.5 year scholarship at the end of the first semester if they have the funds available.

Agree. DS was recently upgraded to a 3.5 year, and contracted. He scored well on his APFT and his grades were good. Also, the cadre ranked the MSI's based on peer reviews and the above factors, which seemed to influence the upgrade decisions as well.
 
3 yr to 4 yr

This past fall DS was upgraded to 4 yr AROTC from a 3 yr three weeks into first semester at an out of state SMC. Good PT scores, 110% effort, lots of passion for this path.
 
Awesome news. Hopefully this will be an option for my DS. Does anyone have any experience with their DS DD taking less than a full load the first semester due to having already taken some college courses in high school? I'm hoping that the school will allow him to take a lighter load the first semester because he has 9 hours already.
 
Does anyone have any experience with their DS DD taking less than a full load the first semester due to having already taken some college courses in high school? I'm hoping that the school will allow him to take a lighter load the first semester because he has 9 hours already.

Don't quote me, but I believe they have to be enrolled full-time (12hrs) in order to be eligible for the scholarship. It's quite common for kids to go into college already having some college credits under their belt. If it creates a problem for them to be registered for a full-time load, they will sometimes pick up a minor or a double major, depending upon their situation. My son is going to have to pick up a minor since he's going in with over 30 college credits.
 
If your DS maxes his AFPT upon arrival, shows up with hair in regs and gives 100% effort his chances of getting upgraded are very very good. At DS school several cadets were upgraded at semester. Some non-scholarship cadets were offered 3.5 yr scholarships. Good luck.
 
Awesome news. Hopefully this will be an option for my DS. Does anyone have any experience with their DS DD taking less than a full load the first semester due to having already taken some college courses in high school? I'm hoping that the school will allow him to take a lighter load the first semester because he has 9 hours already.

Definitely have to be full time (12 units) but remember, ROTC is (4) units usually.

If your son is ranked 4th in the state in wrestling, PT should never be a problem (unless he wrestles at 285's :eek:)
 
Don't quote me, but I believe they have to be enrolled full-time (12hrs) in order to be eligible for the scholarship. It's quite common for kids to go into college already having some college credits under their belt. If it creates a problem for them to be registered for a full-time load, they will sometimes pick up a minor or a double major, depending upon their situation. My son is going to have to pick up a minor since he's going in with over 30 college credits.

+1 to Future2LTMom. She's right on about the 12 hour minimum. My personal opinion is one should carry 15 academic hours a semester even with credits in the bank. Courses freshman year (or at least some of them) are for meeting requirements and are generally overview courses. They'll never be easier and taking 15 allows your student to establish good habits and get used to the workload up front. It aso allows them to knock out a course which is a prereq for the next course in the spring. I recommend taking it "easy" towards the end when the student is taking far more difficult courses, has BIG papers to write or BIG projects to do, has BIG responsibilities in the ROTC unit, etc. The demands of ROTC will never be easier than they are first semester when your kid is at the bottom of the totem pole. Just my 2 cents.
 
Does this 3 year scholarship to which you are referring only apply to Army ROTC or is there something similar in the Navy ROTC?
 
Definitely have to be full time (12 units) but remember, ROTC is (4) units usually.

If your son is ranked 4th in the state in wrestling, PT should never be a problem (unless he wrestles at 285's :eek:)

ROTC is not usually 4 units...it depends on the school...MS Is get 1 credit where I come from.

Contract says you need to be a full time student (except possibly in your last semester). The work around is that full time is whatever the school says full time is. If a student carrying 9 credits is considered full time then you are good to go. Although you want to try to get some credits in the bank if possible. I understand wanting to ease in, but don't ease in too much.
 
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