Anxious mom seeks advice

momneverquits said:
AlwaysAProudParent said:
May I ask when you completed you application for Rutgers. I feel your pain as I'm in NJ also and Rutgers especially the Engineering school is extremely competitive
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AlwaysAProudParent said:
May I ask when you completed you application for Rutgers. I feel your pain as I'm in NJ also and Rutgers especially the Engineering school is extremely competitive.
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My DS completed it back in November. It seems engineering all around is tough to get into. He just got an email from VMI saying there’s only a few slots left for his 1st choice major before they give out appointments in 2 weeks and they listed other choices for him to consider. So I suppose that if he doesn’t choose another major he won’t get an appointment. Sometimes I feel like he's in a weird dating match game.
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I will be honest. I know several kids of friends of mine in the engineering school at Rutgers That SAT should is the average.
 
Momneverquits. Why not attend an ROTC College with any major and reapply to Academy with ROTC and MOC Noms if don’t get what he wants this year.

His stats look great and with his stats and greater care in reapp, his probability appears very high for class of 2023 to an Academy. All SAs offer Aerospace some via ME. He probably can find out btw Sep-Jan as reapplicant. This will take the stress off your son and to your family.
 
^ solid advice from @CrewDad . I think this is a pretty good way to develop "plan B" and calm your nerves at the same time. And who knows? Plan B might be plan A in disguise and after the first semester, your child may be so happy where s/he is, that it was the best placement afterall. I'm trying to adopt this philosophy too as the days tick on and we are still waiting on my DD's USNA application which is CPR since December. Good luck....so hard to wait!
 
CrewDad said:
Momneverquits. Why not attend an ROTC College with any major and reapply to Academy with ROTC and MOC Noms if don’t get what he wants this year.

His stats look great and with his stats and greater care in reapp, his probability appears very high for class of 2023 to an Academy. All SAs offer Aerospace some via ME. He probably can find out btw Sep-Jan as reapplicant. This will take the stress off your son and to your family.
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Agree. In fact, that’s exactly what my son told me he would do.
 
Thank you all for advice. Just wondering, does the choice of major or the fact that my son didn’t get his 1st choice major at 2 of the colleges he applied to have any bearing on where the scholarship, if he gets one, would be placed? Or is it based on space available?
 
CrewDad said:
Momneverquits. Why not attend an ROTC College with any major and reapply to Academy with ROTC and MOC Noms if don’t get what he wants this year.
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That's what my oldest did, and their AROTC scholarship covered most of the costs of their year at the local university before USNA.
 
@momneverquits. If Major within same Tier no sweat. If between T1-T2 it is more likely you will be fine but should consult with the school he plans to take the scholarship to. Worst case scenario take another major available within the same Tier. Freshman year all or most take the same Engineering core! And you plan to be there hopefully 1 year. You can worry about Year 2 next year. Take it one step at a time. You don’t have to plan all 4 years. Enjoy the remaining Spring with your son and family! Pat your son on the back and tell him he’s amazing! And mom’s very proud!
 
momneverquits said:
CrewDad said:
Momneverquits. Why not attend an ROTC College with any major and reapply to Academy with ROTC and MOC Noms if don’t get what he wants this year.

His stats look great and with his stats and greater care in reapp, his probability appears very high for class of 2023 to an Academy. All SAs offer Aerospace some via ME. He probably can find out btw Sep-Jan as reapplicant. This will take the stress off your son and to your family.
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Agree. In fact, that’s exactly what my son told me he would do.
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I'm a BGO in New Jersey and one of my kids went to Rutgers. This one was not an Engineer (although his USNA brother was) and got into Rutgers with much more modest credentials than your son. Quite frankly, as a BGO and Naval Officer, my hot button for candidates is a desire to serve.

IF HE DOES NOT GET AN NROTC Scholarship AND Rutgers turns him down for Engineering, follow this path - If his biggest desire is to be an Engineer, that is fine but if its being a Naval Officer more than anything, I'd advise considering another major at Rutgers (Rutgers because its more affordable) but try to keep it in the Math/sciences for NROTC/Navy purposes. Talk to Rutgers admissions (again this is if they reject him for engineering) to see if they will accept him in another major. Then speak to the PNS - Professor of Naval Science about joining the unit as a non-scholarship midshipman. From that point - work hard and try to get a scholarship for the remaining years and also reapply to USNA if he still wants it. A close friend/work collegue's son joined the Rutgers unit without a scholarship and got commissioned via that path.

If he wants Engineering more than anything, another alternative is to start next year at your local County College and try Rutgers/other school/USNA from there. The advantage is that he can most likely get in and take the Engineering courses AND, he might get it free under the "NJ STARS " program (look into it). Another Engineering alternative that is also somewhat local and reasonably affordable is New Jersey Institute of Technology/NJIT (Full Disclosure - I teach there) where he can start his Engineering studies at a fairly solid institution. No NJROTC there but they do have AFROTC on campus.
 
OldRetSWO said:
momneverquits said:
CrewDad said:
Momneverquits. Why not attend an ROTC College with any major and reapply to Academy with ROTC and MOC Noms if don’t get what he wants this year.

His stats look great and with his stats and greater care in reapp, his probability appears very high for class of 2023 to an Academy. All SAs offer Aerospace some via ME. He probably can find out btw Sep-Jan as reapplicant. This will take the stress off your son and to your family.
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Agree. In fact, that’s exactly what my son told me he would do.
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I'm a BGO in New Jersey and one of my kids went to Rutgers. This one was not an Engineer (although his USNA brother was) and got into Rutgers with much more modest credentials than your son. Quite frankly, as a BGO and Naval Officer, my hot button for candidates is a desire to serve.

IF HE DOES NOT GET AN NROTC Scholarship AND Rutgers turns him down for Engineering, follow this path - If his biggest desire is to be an Engineer, that is fine but if its being a Naval Officer more than anything, I'd advise considering another major at Rutgers (Rutgers because its more affordable) but try to keep it in the Math/sciences for NROTC/Navy purposes. Talk to Rutgers admissions (again this is if they reject him for engineering) to see if they will accept him in another major. Then speak to the PNS - Professor of Naval Science about joining the unit as a non-scholarship midshipman. From that point - work hard and try to get a scholarship for the remaining years and also reapply to USNA if he still wants it. A close friend/work collegue's son joined the Rutgers unit without a scholarship and got commissioned via that path.

If he wants Engineering more than anything, another alternative is to start next year at your local County College and try Rutgers/other school/USNA from there. The advantage is that he can most likely get in and take the Engineering courses AND, he might get it free under the "NJ STARS " program (look into it). Another Engineering alternative that is also somewhat local and reasonably affordable is New Jersey Institute of Technology/NJIT (Full Disclosure - I teach there) where he can start his Engineering studies at a fairly solid institution. No NJROTC there but they do have AFROTC on campus.
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I got to tell you that if you son wants to be an engineer, he should really look at Purdue. Getting into their engineering program isnt hard. However, staying in is as they have a lot of weed classes.
 
pleber16 said:
You just have to have a nomination. Does not have to be senatorial or congressional. These are the sources: https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Nomination-Sources.php
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Regarding nominations, the NJROTC nomination is sufficient. DD had a nomination from her NJROTC Commander when she applied to USNA several years ago and received an appointment to the academy so your DS is good on that count. And if he has not heard from USNA yet, there is still time on that end as well. In my DD's case, the academy was her plan C, but she didn't know results of Plans A and B until the first of April so she held onto the academy appointment until April before declining it - which is to say that there may well be others with appointments who will decline them come April when they hear from other schools and open up additional spots at USNA.
 
user987 said:
Another note is that your son will have the opportunity to apply for 3 year and 2 year NROTC scholarships while in college. Strong performance in academics and in the NROTC unit will be required, but it is certainly doable. The question then becomes are you willing to take the gamble paying OOS tuition for a year or two in hopes that he receives a scholarship? That's a personal risk-reward decision.
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This is what my daughter did...she will contract this week. She had gotten a partial scholarship (private university) and a loan, and joined the ROTC program this past fall as an MS2. So she is on the hook for at least one year of a small (all things considered) student loan.
 
Just an update. Very happy to say DS got an appointment to Virginia Military Institute for Mechanical Engineering (1st choice major) and a financial aid package of about half the COA, the best offer he's gotten so far. He is on a waiting list for Rutgers but knowing that he wants the military lifestyle like that of the Naval Academy, I have a feeling he is going to go with VMI. We are visiting there next week. We are also visiting Texas A&M, (I booked the trip before he got the appointment), thinking it would be good for him to see the difference between both schools. Still waiting to hear from USNA as well as NJROTC scholarship. But I have to say this mom is feeling less anxious. It helps to get good news, or ANY news for that matter! ;)
 
momneverquits said:
Just an update. Very happy to say DS got an appointment to Virginia Military Institute for Mechanical Engineering (1st choice major) and a financial aid package of about half the COA, the best offer he's gotten so far. He is on a waiting list for Rutgers but knowing that he wants the military lifestyle like that of the Naval Academy, I have a feeling he is going to go with VMI. We are visiting there next week. We are also visiting Texas A&M, (I booked the trip before he got the appointment), thinking it would be good for him to see the difference between both schools. Still waiting to hear from USNA as well as NJROTC scholarship. But I have to say this mom is feeling less anxious. It helps to get good news, or ANY news for that matter! ;)
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Once they get into a school they want, everything else is gravy
 
momneverquits said:
Just an update. Very happy to say DS got an appointment to Virginia Military Institute for Mechanical Engineering (1st choice major) and a financial aid package of about half the COA, the best offer he's gotten so far. He is on a waiting list for Rutgers but knowing that he wants the military lifestyle like that of the Naval Academy, I have a feeling he is going to go with VMI. We are visiting there next week. We are also visiting Texas A&M, (I booked the trip before he got the appointment), thinking it would be good for him to see the difference between both schools. Still waiting to hear from USNA as well as NJROTC scholarship. But I have to say this mom is feeling less anxious. It helps to get good news, or ANY news for that matter! ;)
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Congratulations !!! My son is a cadet at VMI, it's a great school.
 
momneverquits said:
Just an update. Very happy to say DS got an appointment to Virginia Military Institute for Mechanical Engineering (1st choice major) and a financial aid package of about half the COA, the best offer he's gotten so far. He is on a waiting list for Rutgers but knowing that he wants the military lifestyle like that of the Naval Academy, I have a feeling he is going to go with VMI. We are visiting there next week. We are also visiting Texas A&M, (I booked the trip before he got the appointment), thinking it would be good for him to see the difference between both schools. Still waiting to hear from USNA as well as NJROTC scholarship. But I have to say this mom is feeling less anxious. It helps to get good news, or ANY news for that matter! ;)
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Congrats!!!! VMI is a great school, and VMI is an extraordinary family.

My DS will be a senior (a Firstie) next year at VMI. Will graduate VMI summer 2019 with a BS degree in Physics and commission as a 2LT in the Army. VMI is a great choice but a challenging path...

Like your DS, my DS applied to SAs and good civilian schools. Got accepted with good scholarship money into Purdue, Texas A&M and Case Western. (Other schools were USAFA, USMA, and VMI ... Was accepted into USAFA but denied entry by Flt Surgeon, ... Kept on wait list for USMA till very late in the process ... was awarded 4 yr AROTC scholarship) . . . Could have used AROTC scholarship at either Texas A&M or VMI ... He chose VMI ... The choice was his ... Was a very personal decision ... We visited 5 schools including Texas A&M and VMI like you plan to do ... Texas A&M was great (nice town, great support, the Corps, big school @~65,000) ... But VMI spoke to him (small school ... 1600 total student body, small town (Lexington), everyone in the Corps, military focus)... At the start of the process USAFA was clear #1 ... Had visited many times ... Went to USAFA Football games as infant and toddler ... Selected for USAFA Summer Seminar ... My wife and I along with several family members are USAFA grads ... But with Flt Surgeon denial had to make a different choice ... He clearly wanted a "SA-like" education and experience ...VMI met that need ... Great comarderie with "Brother Rats" -- classmates ... although high attrition ... usually about 500 enter each year as freshmen, and 4 years later about 300-350 graduate, so a 30%-40% attrition rate ... School has great labs, great professors, small classes ... Town of Lexington and nearby Staunton are great ... But aren't large towns like College Station... VMI Mech Engineering department has a good reputation ... So does does VMI Civil Engineering ... Will be curious to hear how your visit to VMI turns out ... Haven't heard too many reacting in a luke warm manner ... Usually it is either a definite "Yes" or a definite "No" ... The place speaks to people ... Best wishes to you and your DS.
 
Great news!! DS was awarded NROTC scholarship!! Now I don’t have to sell the house right away ;) Here’s the thing (and I s a good thing): it was placed at Texas A&M, his 1st choice school, but he just put the request through for placement change to Virginia Military Institute, his 2nd choice school. We visited there yesterday and he loved it! Very impressive place indeed. Beautiful and stoic. We are still visiting Texas this Thursday and Friday and I’m glad we are because I know there’s a chance his request won’t be approved. I asked him if he wants to wait until he experiences Texas to put the request through but he said he didn’t realize how close to the service academy lifestyle VMI really was. Either way he said he’s grateful and so am I. Wished we had visited these schools earlier but his sights were so set on USNA (which we still haven’t heard from btw). This has been and continues to be quite the learning experience for both of us!
 
Congratulations on the NROTC scholarship. Your DS should be proud as this is quite an accomplishment. He has some great options ahead of him and still a chance at a USNA offer. No guarantee, but NROTC scholarship transfers do happen. A few years ago my DD had a NROTC 4 yr and successfully transferred it to another school. She ended up declining the NROTC after accepting an appt to USNA. DS also successfully transferred a NROTC MO scholarship. In both cases they heard relatively quickly that there transfer requests were approved.

Congratulations and good luck. Please keep us posted on his final decision.
 
DS still CPR for USNA. I know April 15th is the deadline but it’s a Sunday; can’t receive mail on a Sunday. How else do candidates get notified? Email? Portal? Phone call? He just wants this to be over so he can fully commit to one place. Registration papers sent to VMI. Happy and grateful for Plan B working out. Just want to know where he’s going so we can make plans. My husband had to give his place of work dates for vacation requests this summer. I gave him 2 lists: one for VMI and one for USNA. ;)
 
Been there ... DS was kept on the string with USMA until very late in the process (it was past 15 Apr when he finally received his TWE ... might have even been May) ... He got to the point to where he had mentally committed fully to VMI (probably late March since he had his 4 yr AROTC scholarship and his medical waiver had come through by then from Cadet Command) and I'm not sure he would have accepted the USMA appointment had it come through. Best wishes!
 
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