4 year but not?

zachcleigh

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
162
When I applied for the army ROTC scholarship, I had 0 college credits. Zip. Nada. I received a 4 year scholarship. However over the summer.. Before ever reporting to my unit, I managed to test out of a few classes at my university. Specifically 32 credits worth, so by definition I guess I'm now a college sophomore.

Based on that prior information, my questions are :
1. Will I be downgraded from a 4 year to a 3 year scholarship for getting ahead on my own dime?
2. Will there be any benefits to being a sophomore such as increased starting cadet standing/rank (thinking this probably helps with oml)?
And 3. Will I be payed an ROTC second year stipend? Or would I still be payed as if I was a first year?

Thank you so much in advance!
 
1. No you will not be downgraded. You're still expected to attend for 4 years.
2. No benefits to being a sophomore as far as the nit is concerned. Of course, having that many credit hours under your belt is an advantage for the flexibility you'll have in college.
3. You'll be paid a freshman stipend.
 
Lucky you, you get to take fewer credit hours so you can get that higher GPA, and PT more.
But yeah that's about it.
Good on you.
 
The current plan is 3. I've sat down an worked through the numbers. For me to triple major at the rate I'm going will require 13.4 credits a semester for 8 semesters. Not including ROTC classes so I'd have to add whatever credit amount those have per semester.

Does anybody know if that would have any effect on oml?
 
The current plan is 3. I've sat down an worked through the numbers. For me to triple major at the rate I'm going will require 13.4 credits a semester for 8 semesters. Not including ROTC classes so I'd have to add whatever credit amount those have per semester.

Does anybody know if that would have any effect on oml?
Not saying it can't be done but ROTC is predicated on 4 years. It's not just the academic classes... it's the summer training, the labs, etc. When yo get to school this autumn you should try to work out a plan with your cadre.
 
Not saying it can't be done but ROTC is predicated on 4 years. It's not just the academic classes... it's the summer training, the labs, etc. When yo get to school this autumn you should try to work out a plan with your cadre.
This is why the Army scholarship app asks how many college credits you have; if you list more than 15, it brings up a big box saying you're disqualified, because you must be a freshman cadet to earn a scholarship. You earned yours after high school, but it's still the same scenario, must be in college four years. My son actually has 33 credits, but starting freshman year on the 22nd. He just won't have to take so many classes per semester. As the others have said, this allows him the opportunity to study more for the classes he does have, and excel at other things, to earn points for the OML, so that hopefully he can get the branch that he wants.
 
You should also realize that certain classes are offered only 1x a yr with a mandatory pre-req. It is not uncommon for a student to test out, be it jump start or AP. Colleges know this. My DS entered with 33 credits, he was a Govt & Politics major, dual with an International Relations. Although credit wise he was a sophomore, he did not have the classes required for his major to jump to being a sophomore. The same was true for my DS2 (Bio-Chem).
~ I.E. Chem I is offered in the fall, but Organic Chem is not. You test out of Chem I, but because Orgo is not offered until spring you can't move forward. Or you test out of Chem, but not Calc. Even if you test out of Chem, you can't take Orgo without the Calc under your belt. Thus, you are still in the same spot you started before testing out when it comes to graduating within 3 years.

It does happen where a student can test out an entire year, but colleges know that jump start and AP loading is very common now and they are in the business of making money too. If every student graduated early it would reduce their income, in turn they would have to either hit up their endowment funds to bridge the financial gap, hire less adjuncts for classes or increase tuition rates....usually all 3. To minimize this aspect they place in qualifiers like I stated before so you do land up staying for all 4 yrs.
 
Another DS with 33 credits but is a 'freshman' for Army ROTC Great for him since his degree plan has him only having to take 3 or 4 classes a semester for degree + the 2 - 3 ROTC courses. That gives him more opportunities for enjoying college, being involved in ROTC teams, Fraternity, Community Service.
 
The only 2 problems I see with it are the potential that the classes don't line up because of scheduling or seasonal offerings, Like Pima said, and the academic rigor.
As long as luck plays out for those 2 factors, I believe I can do it.
Of course for the moment.. This is all just talk. We'll see how it all plays out in 4 years.
 
Masters is not an option. A Scholarship can only cover one degree, so unless your school will confer the two degrees simultaneously your scholarship will end when you earn your bachelors.
 
Or consider fast tracking your Master's.
From ROTC info I've seen ROTC will only cover courses needed for a first BA/BS to get double majors have to choose courses that can fill elective slots. Very few colleges and programs allow Master's degree courses as electives for the undergrad. So just remember while time wise can work make sure have Scholarships/grants that will cover the costs for those courses not needed for the ROTC degree. Also make sure have full time credits even if non-ROTC degree courses are removed from your total that semester as ROTC may require that distinction in the certification of credit hours. I don't know on that for sure would love to find out for sure on the regs for this perhaps someone like @clarksonarmy knows?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top