Active Duty vs. Reserves and Civilian Career

nofodad,
No offense I disagree with you for one reason.

The OP has stated they cannot afford these schools without the scholarship. In their case it is AROTC.

I hope for the best and that he enjoys ROTC, but what if he doesn't? That leaves him with 1 of 2 choices.
~ Leave the school because they can't afford it or go into 100 K debt for the education.
~ Stay and go deeper into debt with no true job offer on the table for 3 yrs from now.

I agree that that they offer an amazing experience, but with no grad degree, even with a GTown degree he is going to be up against stiff competition. Princeton, Harvard, Yale, STanford, Penn, Brown, Bucknell, etc. and let's throw in schools like American, GW, UMDCP that all have students interning at the Hill due to their proximity to DC.
~ You can't spit 6-9 inches without hitting a Govt/Politics, International Relations, etc. student at any of these colleges in the DC area. They are not unique. Granted he was accepted into their specialty school, but still there will be specialty schools all around.

I come from the Princeton area. I can tell you that if they do ROTC and try to intern at the UN as a student it is going to be insanely hard and costly. Princeton to NYC is on a good day a 45 min. commute. They will have to train it or bus it in, drive it in and you have to pay the tolls on TPKE and the GW bridge or the tunnels. Now add in the fact that they probably will do ROTC at Rutgers, which is xtown, it becomes even more difficult from an academic aspect. Rutgers with no traffic is 25 mins. If PT is 6:30, that means they will need to be up at 5:30 a.m. and will not be able to get back to Princeton for an 8 a.m. class. In essence, it can become a scheduling nightmare when juggling academics, ROTC and an internship. Something will have to give and usually it is the grades, which in turn impacts everything.

I just believe that the OP has to really think about more than college opportunities, like an internship, as a ROTC cadet when they say I can't afford to attend even with a generous FA package without the ROTC scholarship.
~ Kids bond that freshmen year. If they can't afford it without that scholarship, imagine how hard it will be for them next year when they have to decide do I stay in ROTC to pay for my college even though I hate it, or do I leave my college, my friends because I can't afford to stay?
~ It is not a question that many want to address, but it needs to be. My DS was fortunate, he loved his college, his ROTC det., and even if he dropped AFROTC he could afford to stay. However, he did see many leave. We all have seen it on this forum.

It's possible that the OP might not like GU or his chosen program of study or the Hoya battalion. But even if all three of those blew up on him/her I'd still take the free year at GU and see how it goes. If I based all my decisions on what could go wrong I wouldn't get much done.
Nemini Cedimus!
 
Mk, lemme clear some stuff up:

My family def can't afford Gtown or any of the the prestigious schools (Princeton, U of C) that I have gotten into without AROTC or loans, barring I don't have a rich relative in hiding or something. (being Middle class sucks for aid at colleges lol). Also, my parents aren't willing to consign on loans and I can only take $5500 a year as a student in loans without parents cosigning. (Which is fine, they are looking out for their retirement and stuff).

I'm willing to serve in the military, I'm even considering making it a career. It's an option, just like the Foreign Service. I dunno everyone straight up thinks I don't wanna be in the military.

Also, I don't have to go active duty if I don't want to after college, right? I just talked to a Gtown grad who isn't going no active (and he was like top of his class and high on the OML). He finished up his 5 undergrad plus master program at Gtown and now works as an intelligence analyst for some firm. He is reserves I believe.

Also, I love Gtown like even over the Ivies I got into, like I haven't even graduated HS yet but I'm already ordering my Gtown gear like I'm Hoya Saxa for life. Also, SFS is a one of a kind opportunity so rest assured I'd MAKE myself like it. Also thinking about doing the five year masters program in security studies, or I might even get a law degree (but that's wayyyy down the line). Also, D.C. is where it's at for Internships and stuff like I haven't even started at Gtown but through working my connections and networking I was able to get an internship with the U.N. office in D.C.

Don't get me wrong, I have other scholarship opportunities. If anyone had heard of the Coca Cola scholarship, its 25k a yr for 4 years. I'm a semifinalist currently, but I think I have a good shot at getting it. Even if I did get it tho, Gtown would still be too expensive with out ROTC because they would simply lower my aid award by 25k since I now have essentially gotten a 25k increase in income per year. Which makes getting scholarships that are less than your aid amount kind of moot lol.
 
Last edited:
I think you'll find the UN fairly depressing.

It may also be helpful to look at other ways to pay for college. It's probably safe to say few people have college paid for by rich uncle or a secret stash.
 
I think you'll find the UN fairly depressing.

It may also be helpful to look at other ways to pay for college. It's probably safe to say few people have college paid for by rich uncle or a secret stash.

@LineInTheSand I applied for scholarships out the wazoo over the summer, and I've finding and applying for a scholarship a day over my holiday break. Why would I find the UN depressing?
 
Even if I did get it tho, Gtown would still be too expensive with out ROTC because they would simply lower my aid award by 25k since I now have essentially gotten a 25k increase in income per year.


Not necessarily. Check with FinAid office.
 
I think you'll find the UN fairly depressing.

It may also be helpful to look at other ways to pay for college. It's probably safe to say few people have college paid for by rich uncle or a secret stash.

Isn't Uncle Sam like a rich uncle though? Haha. Or is he actually a broke uncle? Hmmmm....
 
Isn't Uncle Sam like a rich uncle though? Haha. Or is he actually a broke uncle? Hmmmm....

He's an uncle that hides most of his debt with tricks only to have them discovered (resulting in a nasty argument) by your unassuming aunt.
 
Sounds like you want George Town. Honestly forget the other colleges take GT and the army scholarship, most 21 year olds won't even have a job that good of 2nd lieutenant after college graduation. Most people just go to community college. Go to Harvard or priceton for grad school, undergrad is about location and experience. Army isn't even that bad. You do you, live life see how it goes take control of what you have control of.
 
Accepted into Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service - wow! You can't say no to that. And if ROTC is the way to pay for that, then go for it (paying for your education is a benefit the military has marketed for years). The military might end up being a full career for you (which would be a great lead in to a civilian career at NSA, CIA, etc.) or it might be a short stint for you, which would also be a great lead in to the CIA, etc. (you'll also probably have the benefit of a security clearance so that would be a plus to employers). But as a couple people above have mentioned, get into school, do ROTC, and evaluate.
 
Back
Top