Transferring National 4 YR to another University after MS1 year

Hello,

I will keep this brief, last February I was awarded the National AROTC 4 year scholarship to my top three schools. I decided to attend the **REMOVED** with this scholarship.

I am now midway through my second semester here at **REMOVED** and have come to the conclusion that this school was not the right choice for me. I would like to transfer my scholarship to VMI and enter the ratline.

VMI was 4th on my list of schools, although since I was offered to my top 3, I was never offered the scholarship to VMI

**REMOVED** cost of attendance is FAR lower than that of VMI, how likely will it be for this to be a possibility.

I have a 3.9 Mech. Eng. GPA with a 280+ APFT score. I also have session points from my program from Army 10 Miler and Bataan Death March.

Where do I even start to begin this process, what are the regulations for transferring to a higher cost school?

Thank you

cchinolla3 said:

Hello,

I will keep this brief, last February I was awarded the National AROTC 4 year scholarship to my top three schools. I decided to attend the **REMOVED** with this scholarship.

I am now midway through my second semester here at **REMOVED** and have come to the conclusion that this school was not the right choice for me. I would like to transfer my scholarship to VMI and enter the ratline.

VMI was 4th on my list of schools, although since I was offered to my top 3, I was never offered the scholarship to VMI

**REMOVED**'s cost of attendance is FAR lower than that of VMI, how likely will it be for this to be a possibility.

I have a 3.9 Mech. Eng. GPA with a 280+ APFT score. I also have session points from my program from Army 10 Miler and Bataan Death March.

Where do I even start to begin this process, what are the regulations for transferring to a higher cost school?

Thank you

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I would talk to your cadre about it and be honest and open about your reasons for transferring. Usually transferring is easy when you transfer to another school in the same brigade if it’s a different brigade, that may require more paperwork and approval. Talking to your cadre is the best bet. You won’t be the only one to do it but I would start talking now.

You make the request through your Battalion, to Cadet Command. I would tell you right now the chances of you being allowed to take that scholarship with you are slim. You will likely be allowed to transfer without the scholarship and compete for a campus based scholarship once you get to VMI.

Have you visited VMI? Have you contacted the school to apply? Do you even know whether you would be accepted or not? You need to work all the angles if you are going to try.

First step talk to your cadre. At our school I would start with ROO or MS instructor and eventually talk to the PMS. At VMI you need to be talking to admissions and probably the ROO to start, and eventually you will probably need to talk to their PMS.

I would always tell you the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Not sure what you think VMI can offer you that you aren’t getting at **REMOVED**. Hopefully it will be worth the cost if you decide to make the move.

Since Clarksonarmy is a ROO, really read his advice carefully, he knows the process and so it is likely he is right that you most likely will not be able to keep your scholarship. **REMOVED** and VMI are not in the same brigade. While your scholarship came from cadet command, the budget is brigade specific and then given to the school. I have read on the forum in the past that transferring within the same brigade is way more doable (still not guaranteed) than outside of the brigade.

Second thing I will add is my DD transferred from a nursing scholarship to a line scholarship, but stayed at the same school. She did this the end of her sophomore year, and was extremely sure and was told immediately that there would be consequences and that it likely would not be allowed (from her PMS), and she proceeded anyway because she could not see herself finishing nursing successfullu since she had no interest nor did she want to be a nurse. Like you, she was a good student and successful as a cadet. Her MSL instructor supported her because he felt she would make a good officer and it was up to the PMS to recommend or not to the brigade. She was EVENTUALLY granted the scholarship transfer. There were consequences however. The PMS did recommend the transfer to the brigade, while he was deciding whether or not to do so (there are consequences to the battalion as far as the mission is concerned when giving up a nurse spot), she was not allowed to register for the next semester, not for the old or new major, once she was allowed many of her classes she needed to catch up were gone. Once it was approved at her school, she went home for the summer and returned in the fall not knowing if it was approved by the brigade or if she had a scholarship, or what her standing was as a cadet since she was no longer in nursing. She found out a little over a month into school it was approved and was put on a one semester administrative suspension. No scholarship for that semester, however she was contracted already so she did receive her book money and stipend. Being a private school, she maxed out her allowable loans for the semester and her Dad and I had to cover the rest. She returned to her scholarship this semester. Another stipulation of the ability to transfer was the ability to still graduate at the original time, no extension would be granted. By the way, this scenario was all in her original contract when changing majors away from nursing, so she really got the best case scenario for her situation.

My point is, it won’t be quick, there isn’t a magic switch to make all this happen. Lots of moving parts and given it is a different brigade, it is likely you would have to start the scholarship process over at the new school, I do not see a situation where you would have your scholarship first semester even if for some reason you kept it, which again I don’t think you would. It starts with discussing the possibilities with school like ClarksonArmy described.

School is a means to an end. Really evaluate what it is about **REMOVED** that isn’t the right fit. My DD did not love her school freshman year. Small private catholic school and she came from a big public high school. Sophomore year she found her people and she loves it. So be honest with yourself, if your true reason for this is to get a degree and become and officer, you are doing it! And you will do it with little out of pocket expense. What if you make this move and don’t like it more, or what if you like it less?

Good luck and keep us posted on your journey!

*edit*
The ROTC program at **REMOVED** is an amazing program that any cadet would be fortunate to be a member of, but the environment and cooperation of the Department of Engineering outweigh the brilliance of this program.

I understand the move from **REMOVED** to VMI would be difficult due to the change of brigades and cost difference, but what about another school in the same brigade? **REMOVED** for example.
I was accepted as an incoming freshman, and will likely be accepted as a transfer.

Another question I have was the ability to change from using the "room and board" to the "tuition" portion of the scholarship? Is this even possible?
Thank you for your responses!

clarksonarmy said:

You make the request through your Battalion, to Cadet Command. I would tell you right now the chances of you being allowed to take that scholarship with you are slim. You will likely be allowed to transfer without the scholarship and compete for a campus based scholarship once you get to VMI.

Have you visited VMI? Have you contacted the school to apply? Do you even know whether you would be accepted or not? You need to work all the angles if you are going to try.

First step talk to your cadre. At our school I would start with ROO or MS instructor and eventually talk to the PMS. At VMI you need to be talking to admissions and probably the ROO to start, and eventually you will probably need to talk to their PMS.

I would always tell you the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Not sure what you think VMI can offer you that you aren’t getting at **REMOVED**. Hopefully it will be worth the cost if you decide to make the move.

Click to expand...

Sent you a pm

This thread has been edited by the moderators to remove personally identifying information.

Stealth_81