How do candidates decide between USNA or NROTC?

The CO of the NROTC unit at my top choice civilian university called me and said my chances of acceptance would go from 10% to 99% if I changed my application from regular decision to early decision. Keep in mind I already have an NROTC scholarship in hand. Early decision is binding and I would forgo a chance of appointment to USNA if accepted to the civilian university; I have no LOA from USNA. I’m curious to know how other candidates decide whether ROTC or a SA is better for them. I’ve toured USNA at a CVW and liked it. The CO gave me 48 hours to decide so touring the university is not an option. Have any other candidates been in my situation before?

I don’t have an NROTC scholarship in hand, nor do I have an appointment to USNA, but I’ve been in a similar “ED vs RD” predicament. After interviewing at my #1 NROTC choice school, which happens to be very selective, my interviewer was adamant that if I applied ED his department would “pull for me” in admissions. This was very enticing, and I was torn. This civilian school is also the alma mater of four of my family members. I was pressured to apply ED to increase my chances, but I didn’t end up doing ED because it’s binding, and I didn’t connect nearly as well with this school than I did with USNA. This is a decision you have to make yourself. I’ve taken a chance and applied RD to this school, because I know in my heart that USNA is what I truly want. It’s too bad you have so little time to decide, but you need to ask yourself if you want that SA experience, or if you want a regular college experience. Both will help you commission as an Ensign/2LT. Do some soul searching, and I wish you the best of luck.

Only you can decide. = If USNA is your first choice and dream, you have to decide whether to "settle" and take the (almost ) sure thing with NROTC or go for the fences and hit a home run at USNA. Some people play it safe, some are more aggressive...but will you be happy with your decision if you "settle."

I want to make it clear --the comment about "settling" is not meant to disparage NROTC. Many chose NROTC as their first choice, with good reasons. NROTC and USNA are two very different pathways to the same objective, and only you can tell what is right for you.

I am curious however about the jump from 10% chance to 99% -- If OP is competitive for USNA, wouldn't the chances of getting into any school be better than 10%?

Honestly, it sounds like something someone would say to get closer to a quota. Only you can decide which way is right for you, but I would take (what sounds like) manufactured statistics with a grain of salt, here.

Agree with the advice offered above.
Also wonder this: If you do not get an appointment to the Academy this year, do you intend to re-apply next year or the year after that? This may help you put things into perspective.

Both paths lead to a commission, but there will be dramatic differences on your day-to-day "college" experience. Are someone who will excel at the highly-regimented structure of the USNA or would you like to spend the next four years in a "typical" college environment?

There are no right or wrong answers, only you know which type of environment that you would thrive in.

Thank you for your willingness to serve. Good luck.

@usna1234, you’ve gotten good perspective above. Other than the obvious “mainly college with a little military thrown in” vs. “mainly military with a little college thrown in” debate, make sure you fully understand how Early Decision works. One should apply for Early Decision only if they know that a particular school is their absolute, unequivocal first choice. So that if they’re accepted via Early Decision, they’re ready to fully commit to that school. If you’re not ready to do this — to declare an absolute, equivocal first choice — then you have no business applying Early Decision. Simple as that.

Old Navy BGO said:

I am curious however about the jump from 10% chance to 99% -- If OP is competitive for USNA, wouldn't the chances of getting into any school be better than 10%?

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I believe the CO was referencing to the fact that this particular school is an Ivy League and has an acceptance rate of 10% give or take. He told me I have a strong package for the school as is, but if I showed him a desire to attend by switching to early decision, he’d find a way to assure me acceptance.

If you would have asked me a year ago which route I wanted to go, without a doubt I would have said USNA is the place for me. However as I’ve matured, I am starting to see the benefits of going the NROTC route. Turning down the prestige of an Ivy League education would be hard to overcome. However, USNA is widely recognized as equivalent to Ivies.

@Norfolk63, My desire is to commission as an officer into the Navy. I’m starting to realize that I will take any path, NROTC or USNA, to fulfill this desire. I know this is a decision that only I can make. However, it is not an easy decision for any 18 year older to make. I’ve got a lot to think about. 40 hours until the CO calls me back for my final verdict!

This is a crappy position you’ve been put in. My son could very well be in a similar position. In fact he could be any day.

No one can advise you but if you we’re my son, I would hope you take the non-SA route and never look back. Purely for selfish reasons.

I don’t envy your decision. Meditate or pray on it. This is not a either or decision. The answer can only come within. I wish for you to be given the wisdom to trust your inner voice and the confidence to trust it.

What actually happens if OP changes/accepts to ED, is offered an appointment to USNA, and changes their mind and accepts USNA?

That would be bad juju at the very best. At the worst, the OP could find himself slapped with a legal battle and fees for at least the first semester.
Early decision is considered an honor-bound agreement and not a legal document. However, you do sign an agreement stating that you will attend the school if you are accepted.

Colleges share ED lists, so if a student applies to more than one college for ED, then both colleges typically will not accept the student.
Also, many High Schools will refuse to send transcripts to other colleges if a student applies to one college as Early Decision, until that college responds with a no.

What actually happens if OP changes/accepts to ED, is offered an appointment to USNA, and changes their mind and accepts USNA?

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If USNA learns of the acceptance of ED, they will pull his application. I assume they would also pull an offer of an appointment, but am not certain of this.

Also, anyone considering this idea should also consider that attending USNA having just lied to your ED school is really not a good way to start. (To be clear, the OP never suggested he/she was considering this).

usna1234 said:

The CO of the NROTC unit at my top choice civilian university called me and said my chances of acceptance would go from 10% to 99% if I changed my application from regular decision to early decision. Keep in mind I already have an NROTC scholarship in hand. Early decision is binding and I would forgo a chance of appointment to USNA if accepted to the civilian university; I have no LOA from USNA. I’m curious to know how other candidates decide whether ROTC or a SA is better for them. I’ve toured USNA at a CVW and liked it. The CO gave me 48 hours to decide so touring the university is not an option. Have any other candidates been in my situation before?

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You have received a good array of insights here.

Look for the long pole in the tent, and sweep everything else to the side for a moment.

Think about USNA. Do you want to go there? If you hadn’t had these other offers, would you still be focused there? If USNA is what you want, steer for that. Don’t risk losing it completely by accepting ED elsewhere. Even if you are not offered an appointment - THIS YEAR - you and your scholarship can surely find a good home at a school that feels right. You can then re-apply if you choose, or you may find a permanent home.

Or, do the ED, if ROTC at that school is the long pole in your tent, and let USNA go this year, because you don’t want to play games with Early Decision. You can also re-apply in this situation, though you’ll have different explaining to do to nom boards in the next cycle.

Think it through, make a decision and commit to the path. That could involve a professional and appreciative conversation with the ROTC PNS, which involves you saying how much you appreciate the outreach, but you have thought it through and are committed at this time to following through with pursuit of USNA. Or the opposite conversation.

Before leaving to go to my first XO job to a command with 850 sailors, a significant leadership milestone, my admiral boss told me “You will never have enough information as you want to make the perfect decision. You may only have 60% or less of what you need, but you should realize not making a decision or delaying is also a decision. Make the best decision you can with what you have, and understand you may make mistakes that you may or may not be able to fix. You will always learn from those if you are open to it.”

Capt MJ said:

“You will never have enough information as you want to make the perfect decision. You may only have 60% or less of what you need, but you should realize not making a decision or delaying is also a decision. Make the best decision you can with what you have, and understand you may make mistakes that you may or may not be able to fix. You will always learn from those if you are open to it.”

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Outstanding advice for life . The corollary, perhaps not as eloquent -- Once that decision is made, move forward and don't look back and second guess the decision.

usna1234 said:

Old Navy BGO said:

I am curious however about the jump from 10% chance to 99% -- If OP is competitive for USNA, wouldn't the chances of getting into any school be better than 10%?

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I believe the CO was referencing to the fact that this particular school is an Ivy League and has an acceptance rate of 10% give or take. He told me I have a strong package for the school as is, but if I showed him a desire to attend by switching to early decision, he’d find a way to assure me acceptance.

If you would have asked me a year ago which route I wanted to go, without a doubt I would have said USNA is the place for me. However as I’ve matured, I am starting to see the benefits of going the NROTC route. Turning down the prestige of an Ivy League education would be hard to overcome. However, USNA is widely recognized as equivalent to Ivies.

@Norfolk63, My desire is to commission as an officer into the Navy. I’m starting to realize that I will take any path, NROTC or USNA, to fulfill this desire. I know this is a decision that only I can make. However, it is not an easy decision for any 18 year older to make. I’ve got a lot to think about. 40 hours until the CO calls me back for my final verdict!

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You are going about this the right way. It sounds like you are leaning toward NROTC which is fine. I only posed the question because my Mid was in a similar situation with an NROTC scholarship in the hand in October and what turned out to be a Wait-List selection in late February. While he ultimately chose to re-apply to USNA after trying the NROTC scholarship for a year, he was not faced with the unfortunate decision you are being forced into. It may be me... I may be missing something... but it sure doesn't feel like the cards are being dealt off of the top of the deck here.

I have never understood how an ED (Early Decision) is binding. In what way is it binding? What if you make an Early Decision and simply change your mind and do not attend that institution? What is their recourse? For instance, you can accept your appointment to the Naval Academy, complete all the paperwork, receive your Permit to Report ... and simply not show-up. It happens all the time! I don't see how NROTC is any different. Sure, it's not a very fair way of dealing with things - but there is nothing legally "binding" about an early decision. You can have both an NROTC scholarship and a Naval Academy appointment - and you're free to make whatever decision you want. One does not preclude the other. Anybody who tells you that you have to forego one to get the other is not being straightforward with you.

Memphis9489 said:

I have never understood how an ED (Early Decision) is binding. In what way is it binding?

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I'll defer to the wisdom of those more familiar with admissions at "normal" colleges, but my understanding is that Early Decision is a committment that you will accept admission to that particular school, and no other. It is not "binding" that you will attend that school, but merely that you won't attend anywhere else.

On the other hand, accepting an offer to attend a college, and putting a deposit down, could be a binding commitment. Again, I will defer to those smarter than I am, but would expect that effective counsel for a college could put an end to those accepting multiple offers by drafting the acceptance in a way that it is a binding commitment to attend for 4 years.

Old Navy BGO said:

I'll defer to the wisdom of those more familiar with admissions at "normal" colleges, but my understanding is that Early Decision is a committment that you will accept admission to that particular school, and no other. It is not "binding" that you will attend that school, but merely that you won't attend anywhere else.

On the other hand, accepting an offer to attend a college, and putting a deposit down, could be a binding commitment. Again, I will defer to those smarter than I am, but would expect that effective counsel for a college could put an end to those accepting multiple offers by drafting the acceptance in a way that it is a binding commitment to attend for 4 years.

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We visited a large university with ED. If you applied ED and were accepted you had 30 days to make a deposit and signed something that you wouldn't accept anywhere else.

A lot of it comes down to integrity also. It's not looked well upon to accept at two schools or, as in another thread, accept an appointment at a SA and also put a deposit down at Plan B school) unless you've made it clear to Plan B school). Some schools will even rescind their acceptance if they find out.

The thing is you can apply to the Ivy with RD and USNA and get neither. Then you are screwed both ways. In that case, i hope there is 3rd alternative that while isnt the best solution, you can live with

Old Navy BGO said:

I'll defer to the wisdom of those more familiar with admissions at "normal" colleges, but my understanding is that Early Decision is a committment that you will accept admission to that particular school, and no other. It is not "binding" that you will attend that school, but merely that you won't attend anywhere else.

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Early Decision is a "handshake" and not legally binding. There is no legal recourse a university has to a student who made an "early decision" and ultimately decided to attend another school. I know of no such legal case where a university even pursued such action - because I'll bet it happens with a certain degree of regularity.

On the other hand, accepting an offer to attend a college, and putting a deposit down, could be a binding commitment.

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Binding in that you forfeit your deposit. It's like earnest money when you make an offer on a house. If you end up backing out of the deal and choose not to buy the house, you forfeit your earnest money. That's the understanding.

Again, I will defer to those smarter than I am, but would expect that effective counsel for a college could put an end to those accepting multiple offers by drafting the acceptance in a way that it is a binding commitment to attend for 4 years.

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Even athletic scholarships are only good on a year-by-year basis. People say that they got a "4 year scholarship" - but that is hardly ever the case. The scholarship is renewed one a year-by-year basis. There have been instances when an athletic program has terminated an athlete's scholarship without cause. In other words, the student wasn't involved in any disciplinary action and had no academic problems. The only "problem" is that he either got injured or ended up not being as talented of an athlete as they originally thought.

We visited a large university with ED. If you applied ED and were accepted you had 30 days to make a deposit and signed something that you wouldn't accept anywhere else.

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Still, no legal action is ever taken. Remember, we're talking about this in the context of MILITARY scholarships. We have an all-volunteer military. Despite any "agreement" a student may make to any institution (I'm talking about ROTC or a service academy), the candidate can back out at any time. Of course, once you're sworn in, that changes. Now you're in the military!

A lot of it comes down to integrity also. It's not looked well upon to accept at two schools or, as in another thread, accept an appointment at a SA and also put a deposit down at Plan B school) unless you've made it clear to Plan B school). Some schools will even rescind their acceptance if they find out.

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I totally disagree that there is something unethical about making a deposit to your Plan B school when your intent is to attend a service academy. There are things that can happen that are beyond your control that can prevent you from showing up on I-Day. You break a leg, for instance! You needed surgery two weeks before I-Day because of appendicitis. Now what?

In fact, both my sons (2013 grads) had their deposits in for the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) and still attended the Naval Academy. We lost the deposit. No big deal! I'm sure UT was glad to have our money.

I know of a kid who was a recruited baseball player for the Naval Academy who could not attend because of a rotor cuff injury he suffered his senior year in high school. So, he went to another university. There was the understanding that he should reapply to the Naval Academy after his freshman year and they would accept him. The coach still wanted him. So he did reapply. And he was accepted. And just weeks before I-Day, he was involved in a car accident that reinjured his shoulder. He couldn't attend the Naval Academy. Pretty sad story. He gave up on his service academy dream and continued on (and graduated) from the civilian university.

In fact, I would encourage every service academy candidate to maintain a Plan B option up to the final moment - even if it involves forfeiture of a deposit.