Dropping Out of ROTC

Stanford17

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
5
Hello,

I dropped out of ROTC in college because I wanted to get into medical school. I won't bore you with details, but it was just too difficult to get a 3.8+ GPA at my grade-deflated university while completing all the requirements for ROTC. I decided that my number 1 goal was admission to medical school. I am now doing very well, have been doing research, 3.88 GPA, etc. so gaining acceptance into medical school seems to be a possibility.

I have been looking into the Military Health Professions Scholarship. I feel horrible about frankly failing my country by dropping out of ROTC in undergrad. I could write a huge essay, but I won't at the moment. I have looked very much into this scholarship and they make it clear that they do not have many requirements during medical school, so I won't have the same problem I had in undergrad. I am very serious about pursuing this.

I have just one concern. How badly will the fact that I dropped out of ROTC affect my chances of getting the Health Professions Scholarship? Will I be automatically disqualified? Will it be very unlikely? Are the two processes completely independent of one another?

Realistically, (assuming I am admitted to medical school) how likely is it that I will be able to work as a doctor in the military?
 
First....did you end up back at Stanford or are you still at the State School?
 
State school. It's not as bad as I first thought. The students are more serious in the upper level courses.
 
It's worth trying, most military acceptance applications have a section regarding past enlistment/commissioning programs. But that does not mean you won't get accepted. Did you leave rotc before you got to your junior/senior year?
 
I'm assuming you were not under contract, if you were even then it probably will not look "that" bad. You left early in the program. I'd think If your competitive you have a good shot. Good luck! :thumb:
 
Stanford- if you were not contracted then it shouldn't be an issue. If you were contracted then that transaction should have resulted in the creation of a DA Form 785. This form is a record of the circumstances of your seperation and will contain a recommendation from the PMS. You will not be barred from participating but in some circumstances you may have to fully satisfy any financial obligations you may have to the US.
 
What do you mean by "Contracted"? I know that at the beginning of sophomore year, midshipmen have to sign a contract, after which they cannot drop out without financial penalties. Is this the contract you are talking about? I left after my freshman year, so I never signed this contract. At the beginning of the year though, I signed some papers, although I cannot remember specifically what they were.
 
What do you mean by "Contracted"? I know that at the beginning of sophomore year, midshipmen have to sign a contract, after which they cannot drop out without financial penalties. Is this the contract you are talking about? I left after my freshman year, so I never signed this contract. At the beginning of the year though, I signed some papers, although I cannot remember specifically what they were.
Why does the term midshipman come up in a discussion about your prior time as an Army ROTC cadet?
 
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