Spring semester freshman affects NROTC how?

libbywag

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If my DS decides to graduate HS early and starts college in January 2020, can he join NROTC mid-year? Can he still apply for a scholarship? I guess it would be the 3 yr scholarship but he would not quite be a sophomore. How does this all work if you start college in January? Thanks!
 
As is often the case, the best course of action is for your DS to call the NROTC programs at his top 2-3 schools and talk through this scenario.

1. You asked in a previous post if your DS can still apply for a national scholarship if he graduates HS early. The answer is yes, and this new wrinkle (starting college in Jan) doesn't change that answer.

2. Can he join mid-year? That depends on the NROTC program. Non-scholarship students are called College Programmers. Joining a program as a CP is at the sole discretion of the Professor of Naval Science. Some programs will only accept CP at the start of the school's academic year, and others will take CP at anytime.

3. Is DS looking to also complete college in 3.5 years? If so, that will be an important part of the conversation with the NROTC programs. Enrolling in January (and I think you meant 2021), DS will have already missed the first Naval Science class in fall 2020. Can that be made up the following fall (i.e. double up on NS classes)? Depends on the unit.

4. Recommend you talk through summer training as well. It is unlikely DS would be eligible for summer cruise in 2020, having just picked up the national scholarship.

In my opinion, this is not impossible but would require a supportive NROTC program to get this done.
 
To add one more hurdle, the sequence of naval science classes would be off. The first course is only held in the autumn and the second in the spring semester. They are only taught at those times. He would need to work out how to double up and catch up, if its even allowed. The first course is pretty fundamental, but perhaps it can be put off.
 
To add one more hurdle, the sequence of naval science classes would be off. The first course is only held in the autumn and the second in the spring semester. They are only taught at those times. He would need to work out how to double up and catch up, if its even allowed. The first course is pretty fundamental, but perhaps it can be put off.

The students who join in January as a CP take the 1st Navel Science class in the fall with the incoming freshman. So they would have 2 NS classes 1st semester of sophomore year.
 
Thanks so much. Yes, I meant Jan 2021 (haha)! DS is already planning on contacting the NROTC unit on Monday (the only school he's applying to for Jan21 admission--if doesn't get in then will re-apply to multiple for the fall. Thanks for mentioning the college graduation date as I have not thought that far ahead (shocker?--no)--he's not planning on 3.5 years but he does have quite a few APs and could maybe CLEP into a few more hours. Tech major so might be nice to have that extra semester buffer.
Nice to hear about the CP and hope his school will let him jump in. I'd like for him to have his 'community' from the start.
 
The course sequencing problem could be an issue in other academic areas, including his major. No doubt it can be handled though.
 
I'm unclear on what the goal is. I think you/he are jumping the gun. midyear starts at all but the largest of universities are inviting hassle and weirdness. Trying to enter midyear seems forced.

ROTC wise: NSI/NSO will be a significant bonding event for a new class. Also, I will note all the schools my son applied had annual openings for college programmers in the May/June timeframe. They were at least reported competitive process (ie. looking for young people who can convert to scholarship or AS). Lastly, I'm not military, but I've learned enough in a year that the military doesn't like exceptions.

Academically: Calc, Physics, Chem, etc all follow a pattern by semester or quarter. That pattern is set up for Fall freshmen. Buyer beware trying to program for a Spring entrance to a tech major. You will find replacement instructors teaching the retreads from fall who are repeating the course, potential class availability limits, weird breaks in the sequence ("Wait, what about the Fibonacci sequences from before summer?"), all the cool kids already in a study group.

Can you tell I highly recommend a local JC/CC where he can knock out Speach, Criminology, Art history, Writing, Music, foreign language? And knock off GE requirements at low dollar costs.

His time better is served to research what transfers from JC/CC and plot that strategy. He can also actually look at the major requirements and roadmaps many schools have to figure out the slack AP/CLEP/JC/CC course would provide. By day one of fall, he should have the course plan his MOI is going to request.

Or work, or hang out with that girlfriend you don't like, grow his hair out, start a window-washing business, get swole, eat mom's cooking.

If he is considering reapplying in the fall as a national candidate, just measure the number of units and keep under 30.
 
All very good points Torero_dad. Thanks so much for the insight--greatly appreciated and will digest it all.
 
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