VMI and ROTC Scholarships

caesarbc

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Dec 10, 2018
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My DS was awarded a 3 year AROTC scholarship. His #1 school besides a SA is VMI. Just learned that VMI doesn't give any discount to ROTC scholars. Being OOS, even with the scholarship, it's going to cost $90k to attend VMI. Ouch!!!!
 
If you figure $90,000 over four years that is still only $22,500 per year, which nets out to be like a state school including room and board.

Your DS might also earn a 1/2 year added scholarship if he really impresses the cadre during his first semester. Keep in mind that different battalions vary their attitude about his as some units prefer to give out more scholarships to different cadets rather than to add extensions.

My DS was accepted The Citadel (OOS) but received no scholarship. So instead he decided to attend a local State school out west at regular tuition. He "walked on" to Army ROTC and ended up earning a campus based 3.5 year scholarship within three months as a freshman.

That was four years ago and he will be commissioning this May as an Armor officer.

His net cost for attendance: The Army paid all but $10,000 of his tuition. He paid for room and board for all four years at an average of $11K per year.

So his total out of pocket for college was $44,000 R&B plus $10,000 freshman tution = $54,000 or $13,500 per year.

Plus he worked two part-time jobs, received an Army monthly stipend and book allowance. For him, it turned out much better than paying about 55K a year ($220K over four years) at El Cid, plus coast to coast airfare back and forth. (and no part time jobs allowed as a knob).
 
@caesarbc did you speak with VMI about financial aid for the 1 year without scholarship? We are also OOS and my DS initially received a generous financial aid package, which was pulled when he received his 4-yr ROTC scholarship. If you haven't done so already, it may be worth asking about financial assistance for the one year not covered by scholarship. If he can get a good chunk of tuition covered that one year he may be close to room + board only for 4 yrs which would be more manageable.
 
This ^^^

My DS also won a 3 year. . We received financial aid the first year then paid room and board after that. DS took loans that he was offered through the FASFA form and we paid the balance, which has been about $2,500 per semester.
@caesarbc did you speak with VMI about financial aid for the 1 year without scholarship? We are also OOS and my DS initially received a generous financial aid package, which was pulled when he received his 4-yr ROTC scholarship. If you haven't done so already, it may be worth asking about financial assistance for the one year not covered by scholarship. If he can get a good chunk of tuition covered that one year he may be close to room + board only for 4 yrs which would be more manageable.
 
My DS also won a 3 year AD scholarship with Amy ROTC. Is it true that cadets who make a good impression can get upgraded to 3.5 years by 2nd semester? That would help tremendously! We are also OOS. Not aware of the $90k figure. Was told we qualify for OOS grant of $25k (maybe based on EFC). Plus athletic funds around $8k. The rest I'm assuming will be packaged with loans.
 
I don’t think many pay the ‘list price’ for college it seems to be some sort of head game like sticker price on a car.

I think I remember something called Institute Scholars for really high qualified candidates. There is other aid as well.

No doubt about it Citadel and VMI are quite expensive or at least can be. I do recruiting for mostly Citadel but say nice things about all the SMC at my congressman’s academy night and tuition price is tough to sell.
 
Another thing to consider is the book and monthly stipend. Your son will make about $4,200 a year from his stipend once his contract kicks in and can also keep anything left over from the book allowance. The cadets don't have much free time at VMI and very little opportunity to spend money during their rat year. My DS didn't spend a single dollar the first semester.
 
My DS also won a 3 year AD scholarship with Amy ROTC. Is it true that cadets who make a good impression can get upgraded to 3.5 years by 2nd semester? That would help tremendously! We are also OOS. Not aware of the $90k figure. Was told we qualify for OOS grant of $25k (maybe based on EFC). Plus athletic funds around $8k. The rest I'm assuming will be packaged with loans.

It is possible to be awarded an upgrade to a 3.5 year once they arrive and prove themselves. There are many variables - does the battalion have the funds to do so. It has happened the last few years at VMI. My son was not upgraded but some non-scholarship cadets were awarded 3 year scholarships to begin their sophmore year.

The add'l aid for that first year is probably based on the family EFC. We were awarded somewhere around $22,000 which brought in line with in state tuition. My son had about $7,500 in loans and we paid the rest. After the scholarship kicked in the $22,000 went away. Each year he had again about $7,500 in loans and we paid the balance which was approx $5,000 per year so very manageable. Yes, he will have about $30,000 in loans but he will be an officer in the Army so he will be fine. He will graduate in May and head to Ft Knox after his officer training at Ft Leonard Wood. He is planning on paying off the loans as quickly as possible.

Please also bear in mind that the scholarship is not without requirements. He will need a 2.5 gpa at the end of his rat year, a 3.0 in ROTC and pass the APFT to activate the scholarship then a 2.0 to keep it (along with the 3,0 in ROTC and passing the APFT) VMI does not round up so if you get a 2.49 gpa you do not contract. It may seem that these would be easy to meet but keep in mind the ratline is very difficult and the average rat gpa is a 2.1. It is very doable but he must be dedicated and focused and manage his time very well.

good luck. feel free to PM if you have specific questions
 
Another thing to consider is the book and monthly stipend. Your son will make about $4,200 a year from his stipend once his contract kicks in and can also keep anything left over from the book allowance. The cadets don't have much free time at VMI and very little opportunity to spend money during their rat year. My DS didn't spend a single dollar the first semester.
LOL, my DS is excited about the stipend money and saving it. He says there’s no way he’d spend ANY extra money at VMI. Who am I to encourage him to walk off campus when he’s allowed ;)
 
Another thing to consider is the book and monthly stipend. Your son will make about $4,200 a year from his stipend once his contract kicks in and can also keep anything left over from the book allowance. The cadets don't have much free time at VMI and very little opportunity to spend money during their rat year. My DS didn't spend a single dollar the first semester.
LOL, my DS is excited about the stipend money and saving it. He says there’s no way he’d spend ANY extra money at VMI. Who am I to encourage him to walk off campus when he’s allowed ;)

in all seriousness you should encourage him to leave campus when he can
 
Lexington is great little town. He will find good things there within walking distance of Post when he can get a pass ... Movies ... Good food ... Gelato ... just to name a few
 
LOL, my DS is excited about the stipend money and saving it. He says there’s no way he’d spend ANY extra money at VMI. Who am I to encourage him to walk off campus when he’s allowed ;)

you would be surprised how much these cadets can spend on food !!!!!!!!!!! The food in Crozet is not very popular. We ended up telling ours to eat out like once a week. He was blowing through his money.
 
DS was upgraded from a 3 year AROTC scholarship to a 4 year in the first month he was at VMI. This was 6 years ago and things change constantly in the ROTC game, but I offer the info as an example. He was in shape, intensely focused, and totally committed going in and the PMS obviously noticed. I appreciated the $44,000 savings as we were out of state and had no financial aid. When he committed to VMI DS also understood that the first year without the ROTC scholarship was going to take our savings and he would be unable to stay at VMI if he couldn't keep the scholarship...or do it on his dime. VMI was the best fit for him, prepared him well, and he is doing great in his Army career.
 
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