ROTC Freshman grade issue

guayb15

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Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
97
Hello all,

I am a freshman in college on a 4-year AROTC scholarship. I am contracted, and I just received my grades from my first semester...
Engineering Calc B-
Calc 1 F
Sociology B
Physics C

GPA 1.78

I am transferring schools and changing majors which has been approved.

Is there any back lash or consequences from CC for my GPA? My major switch is to a much easier STEM major so my GPA will not (hopefully haha) be remotely close to this again.
 
Uh, I think you have to maintain a minimum of 2.5 to keep your scholarship. Talk to your cadre immediately.
 
Agree with Darlen. 2.5 minimum is on your contract. Contact your ROO stat!

When you say approved, who are you referring to? The college or the PMS?
 
Seen this before. Sadly this brings into stark relief the fundamental difference between ROTC and SAs. Hate to see good students having to go through this.
 
My 4-year contract states "I agree to maintain, at a minimum, a cumulative academic grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 or equivalent scale."

If you do not, you will be on the hook for a semesters tuition. You MUST raise it above 2.0 for the next semester, or you loose your contract.
This is the protocol I was told by my PMS.
 
Kronk is correct, the minimum GPA to keep the scholarship active is 2.0.

Don't forget that your ROTC credits are included in your GPA.

If you are under the minimum you will most likely need to pay for the first semester's tuition. Talk to your cadre about what type of probation you will be on and make sure they are holding your scholarship for next semester.
 
Remember - - 4 year scholarship cadets can drop the scholarship prior to the second year with no obligation.
Read the Cadet Command Regulation or ask one of your Cadre. I don't recall it including payback of any tuition/fees if the cadet is not in their second year or further. They can be disenrolled or put in a leave status that would prevent ROTC from paying further tuition.

Not absolutely sure it is the current version of AR145-1 http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r145_1.pdf
 
AROTC Parent is correct, you may choose to not enroll at any point up until first day of sophomore year with no payback or obligation, so far as I know.
 
Your both right, the cadet can leave anytime during the first year with no obligation to repay the scholarship.

The issue with this cadet is that he will not be meeting the requirements of the scholarship contract by not keeping a GPA of 2.0 or higher. This means that his scholarship will not be considered activated even if they already paid the tuition. It is likely he will be required to pay for the first semester's tuition because he did not meet the contract requirements for GPA. There is a good possibility he will be put on academic probation, whether he pays back the tuition will be up to Cadet Command.
 
Thanks for all the good replies.

So what I'm reading is I will be put on academic probation, and may or may not have to pay back my R&B for my first semester.

I contacted my ROO but havnt heard back. Most likely will tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone
 
You will have to pay for the spring semester...your scholarship will be suspended because you didn't meet the GPA requirement. 2.0 is the GPA you need to retain your scholarship, or get it back for the fall of next semester.

Need to talk to your cadre ASAP, and then your schools financial aid folks to figure out how you will pay for your spring semester. The good news is you are still eligible to receive your stipend and book money even if your scholarship is suspended.
 
This is off topic for a second, but... this issue has also been asked for AFROTC, and a response showed there is another caveat. Just wondering if AROTC has it too.

If failing that class impacts their graduation date.
~ The OP fails Calc 1, and can re-take it in the spring, but if the next level course is only offered in the spring, that would mean, they are behind the power curve.
~ IE if Calc II is offered in the spring only and required for graduation, come fall they would be at a standstill because CalcII would not be offered.

In this case they would have the right to disenroll the candidate, not only because they dropped below the cgpa, but now they are asking to delay their graduation date.

~~ My DS2 is not in ROTC, but a STEM degree. 1 mis-step and he is not graduating on time, because the higher courses require pre-reqs and the pre-reqs are not offered every semester.

Clarkson,

How is it he will keep his stipend and book allowance? Is it because it is suspended?
 
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Thanks for all the good replies.

So what I'm reading is I will be put on academic probation, and may or may not have to pay back my R&B for my first semester.

I contacted my ROO but havnt heard back. Most likely will tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone

Make sure you take necessary steps to avoid this in the future, as I'm sure you will. If you face academic probation again it can be grounds for disenrollment from the program. Also know that you will be digging out of this hole for many semesters to come and that can affect your chances of making Active Duty and the branch of your choice.

Also, don't get too hard on yourself. This stuff happens and it's a learning experience for you, bounce back stronger than ever and you will be fine.
 
Thanks for all the good replies.

So what I'm reading is I will be put on academic probation, and may or may not have to pay back my R&B for my first semester.

I contacted my ROO but havnt heard back. Most likely will tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone

Make sure you take necessary steps to avoid this in the future, as I'm sure you will. If you face academic probation again it can be grounds for disenrollment from the program. Also know that you will be digging out of this hole for many semesters to come and that can affect your chances of making Active Duty and the branch of your choice.

Also, don't get too hard on yourself. This stuff happens and it's a learning experience for you, bounce back stronger than ever and you will be fine.

I seldom disagree with Bull, but I have to say you're probably not being hard enough on yourself.

You need to examine how you use your time and be honest with yourself about your priorities. The only reliable way to get an F in a course is to give up on it. And you didn't get any A's. Do you attend all of your classes? Do all required homework? Turn in all assignments on time? Do you get enough sleep? Did you bring an X-box to school? If you are playing baseball, as you once indicated, is it dominating your time? These are issues you have to face no matter where you go to school or what your major is. To get out of the GPA hole you've dug you will have to figure out how to get A's and commit yourself to it.
 
I'm kind of in-between Bull and EDelahanty on this.

I agree with Bull in that you shouldn't lose confidence in your ability to excel (not just get by). Keep your chin up in that you can crawl out of the hole.

I also agree with EDelahanty that you need to take a thorough and detailed analysis of your habits. Find out what is broken in your process. This isn't high school anymore. What you could skate by on wits and intelligence before doesn't work now. However, if you didn't have the talent and potential, you would not have earned the scholarship in the first place.

Fix the process but don't hate yourself for messing up.
 
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I seldom disagree with Bull, but I have to say you're probably not being hard enough on yourself.

You need to examine how you use your time and be honest with yourself about your priorities. The only reliable way to get an F in a course is to give up on it. And you didn't get any A's. Do you attend all of your classes? Do all required homework? Turn in all assignments on time? Do you get enough sleep? Did you bring an X-box to school? If you are playing baseball, as you once indicated, is it dominating your time? These are issues you have to face no matter where you go to school or what your major is. To get out of the GPA hole you've dug you will have to figure out how to get A's and commit yourself to it.


Yes I agree; there are kinks that need to be worked out. One of my major problems was baseball; taking up most of my time and energy. I was up for PT and didn't get back to my room until 1800; only eating one meal a day. I lost 25lbs since the start of the semester. I was in a very unhealthy (mental and physical) place. That's why I'm changing schools because this is my dream and my goal and I needed to change my routine/place in order to do so.

I will and am taking the steps needed to succeed. Thank you
 
Looks like you figured it out. Now follow your plan and don't let setbacks deter you.
 
Guyab,
Based on your experiences it appears you have a lot to offer as commentary, and possible warning advisories, for any incoming AROTC or others re: cheaper school, sports, host vs. satellite, STEM and sports.

You chose a cheaper school for AROTC, SUNY Oswego vs. private Syracuse Univ., so if you have to pay semester tuition, lot more affordable, than private. That is in keeping with longtime posters recommendations.

You played fall baseball for a spring D3 sport, while trying to carry a tough STEM, by your classes appear to be engineering major, and do AROTC at a host Syracuse 40 minutes plus drive in good weather. That is a tough path for anyone, and the spring season had not even begun.

Lot of posters always asking the balance of sports and ROTC. And as most have pointed out, can be, and is done, but it takes a lot of coordination and dedication. I really think today D3 sports demand a time commitment similar to D1. The academies and SMCs seem to know the balance it takes to do sports and ROTC. Civilian colleges make it a little harder, not impossible, just harder. And at some point someone will tell you the old refrain "you cannot serve two masters."

Bull Edelahanty Gokings Clarskon and all others gave you good posts. Lot of life left ahead of you. We hope to hear you are moving ahead fine. Decompress during the holidays, get refocused, and good luck to you!
 
Clarkson,

How is it he will keep his stipend and book allowance? Is it because it is suspended?

That's how it works. When the scholarship is suspended the Cadet continues to receive stipend and book money.
 
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