Thought I would share some common answers. They are worth what you are paying for them.
Always confirm any information you read on this board.
Accept your scholarship ASAP.
You can do all three online, the NROTC link is hidden in the booklet.
By accepting you are reserving the scholarship for your use should you elect to participate in ROTC.
You can decline your scholarship at a later time.
Common answers:
You can accept scholarships from all three services.
Accepting a scholarship does not hurt your chances of getting an appointment to a service academy.
You are not committing to anything by accepting.
You do not commit to serve until you sign paperwork your Sophomore year of college.
Contact the unit of any school you are considering. Tell them you have been awarded a scholarship. It makes a difference at most schools.
Uncommon answers:
Navy only: (Pima and ClarksonArmy will have to chime in for other services)
By starting plebe summer at the Academy you are declining your NROTC scholarship.
You used to be able to accept and hold your NROTC scholarship. If something happened at plebe summer, you could show up at the NROTC unit and start school, no harm no foul. Not anymore.
Navy: Transferring a scholarship to a different school can be as simple as a phone call or next to impossible. If the gaining unit has space, no problem. Some units fill up fast and will not have room.
AF: The earlier you commit to a school the better. But AF has a lot more flexibility in school choice.
Army: Any listed school should be fine. If you fail to get accepted to any school on the list, there are schools that always have space. You just need to find them. There are great people on this board that are very helpful in April.
Navy and Army: Cost of school also plays a role. If you were awarded a scholarship to an instate school and ask to transfer to an expensive private school, that could hurt your chances. Your order of merit plays a role, but you don't know where you stand, so try to transfer or get the school added to your list early.
Some schools offer free room and board to ROTC scholarship students. When you reach out to the unit, ask.
If you are planning to crosstown, do your homework. Some units are very accommodating, others are not. Ask how many students are crosstowning and ask to talk to one.
Traveling 45 mins each way 3-4 days a week is not realistic, but some units require it.
Get/stay in shape! You would be shocked at the number of students that lose their scholarships because of fitness. Don't be a statistic.
Transferring services once you are in college is very tricky to do. Navy to Marine Corps and vice versa is pretty easy. Can't do physics or Calc? Ew Rah Marines! Any other combination can be very challenging. Has it been done? Of course, but the number of variables at play is huge. Read: don't plan on trying a service and if it doesn't work I'll go (fill in the blank.)
OPINION:
Some on this board feel holding multiple scholarships hurts others chances of being awarded one.
This is true, in that, they won't award your scholarship until it is declined, but they services know that a certain percentage will decline and plan for it.
You earned it, wait until you have been accepted, passed DODMERB, and are totally committed to serving in the branch of your choice before declining. Strange things happen always have a plan B.
Congratulations to the awardees.
OS
Always confirm any information you read on this board.
Accept your scholarship ASAP.
You can do all three online, the NROTC link is hidden in the booklet.
By accepting you are reserving the scholarship for your use should you elect to participate in ROTC.
You can decline your scholarship at a later time.
Common answers:
You can accept scholarships from all three services.
Accepting a scholarship does not hurt your chances of getting an appointment to a service academy.
You are not committing to anything by accepting.
You do not commit to serve until you sign paperwork your Sophomore year of college.
Contact the unit of any school you are considering. Tell them you have been awarded a scholarship. It makes a difference at most schools.
Uncommon answers:
Navy only: (Pima and ClarksonArmy will have to chime in for other services)
By starting plebe summer at the Academy you are declining your NROTC scholarship.
You used to be able to accept and hold your NROTC scholarship. If something happened at plebe summer, you could show up at the NROTC unit and start school, no harm no foul. Not anymore.
Navy: Transferring a scholarship to a different school can be as simple as a phone call or next to impossible. If the gaining unit has space, no problem. Some units fill up fast and will not have room.
AF: The earlier you commit to a school the better. But AF has a lot more flexibility in school choice.
Army: Any listed school should be fine. If you fail to get accepted to any school on the list, there are schools that always have space. You just need to find them. There are great people on this board that are very helpful in April.
Navy and Army: Cost of school also plays a role. If you were awarded a scholarship to an instate school and ask to transfer to an expensive private school, that could hurt your chances. Your order of merit plays a role, but you don't know where you stand, so try to transfer or get the school added to your list early.
Some schools offer free room and board to ROTC scholarship students. When you reach out to the unit, ask.
If you are planning to crosstown, do your homework. Some units are very accommodating, others are not. Ask how many students are crosstowning and ask to talk to one.
Traveling 45 mins each way 3-4 days a week is not realistic, but some units require it.
Get/stay in shape! You would be shocked at the number of students that lose their scholarships because of fitness. Don't be a statistic.
Transferring services once you are in college is very tricky to do. Navy to Marine Corps and vice versa is pretty easy. Can't do physics or Calc? Ew Rah Marines! Any other combination can be very challenging. Has it been done? Of course, but the number of variables at play is huge. Read: don't plan on trying a service and if it doesn't work I'll go (fill in the blank.)
OPINION:
Some on this board feel holding multiple scholarships hurts others chances of being awarded one.
This is true, in that, they won't award your scholarship until it is declined, but they services know that a certain percentage will decline and plan for it.
You earned it, wait until you have been accepted, passed DODMERB, and are totally committed to serving in the branch of your choice before declining. Strange things happen always have a plan B.
Congratulations to the awardees.
OS