Applying to an Academy but not ROTC?

KevBotss

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As someone who is currently waiting on an appointment from USMA I just wanted to to hear some outside opinions on this topic. I have applied and currently accepted a 4 year ROTC scholarship to my plan b, but obviously am remaining hopeful for USMA. I've met a lot of people that put their dice all on academies and never applied to ROTC. It kind of confuses me, if the desire to serve is there why wouldn't you have ROTC as a back-up, especially with academies being so competitive? This is in no way directed at anybody I would just like to hear some thoughts from y'all. Thank you guys in advance for your responses.
 
I'm in total agreement with you. The path to a commission is different but the commission is still there at the end. I think you get out of the path only what you put into it, regardless of the path. Some folks are just enamored of the 24x7 military life and prestige. Some folks might even think ROTC is beneath them (hopefully few). There are others those that won't go near an academy. Guess it all comes out in the wash and folks learn life lessons in lots of different ways.
 
I'm in total agreement with you. The path to a commission is different but the commission is still there at the end. I think you get out of the path only what you put into it, regardless of the path. Some folks are just enamored of the 24x7 military life and prestige. Some folks might even think ROTC is beneath them (hopefully few). There are others those that won't go near an academy. Guess it all comes out in the wash and folks learn life lessons in lots of different ways.
One of the interview questions I had was "Why USMA and not ROTC" and my response was "Sir my goal is to commission and be a good leader/officer in the US Army, I believe USMA provides more applicable experience then a normal college lifestyle, and I do believe USMA is the place where I will succeed the best, but ultimately the goal is and remains to commission and lead." I completely agree with you you, the journey to commission is what you make it.
 
ROTC should never be considered a back up plan.
It's just a different route.

DS has a SA appointment and a 4 year ROTC scholarship.

Most of the officers he spoke with, and this included Admirals, Generals, and Colonels, told him to choose ROTC.
 
ROTC should never be considered a back up plan.
It's just a different route.

DS has a SA appointment and a 4 year ROTC scholarship.

Most of the officers he spoke with, and this included Admirals, Generals, and Colonels, told him to choose ROTC.

Your DS has some great options on the table! Has he decided between ROTC and USNA?
 
ROTC should never be considered a back up plan.
It's just a different route.

DS has a SA appointment and a 4 year ROTC scholarship.

Most of the officers he spoke with, and this included Admirals, Generals, and Colonels, told him to choose ROTC.
Do you mind me asking, why do you think this is? And when I say back-up plan i'm in no way knocking ROTC its just the academy is the number one route for most people on this thread. Sorry if that came off wrong, but I do agree with you 100% on the ROTC being simply another route.
 
When DS started this process his goal was to attend a SA.

However, after he attended sleep overs at multiple academies and ROTC battalions he started to realize that he could get the best of both worlds if he chooses ROTC.
Especially, if the university is at least academically equal to a SA.

He actually spoke to a Air Force Colonel last night who graduated from USAFA. He is the wing commander at our local ANG base. He told my son without hesitation to do ROTC.

With that being said, although DS is leaning, listing is actually a better description, towards ROTC he still isn't going to decide until he attends one more sleepover at the ROTC battalion.
 
When DS started this process his goal was to attend a SA.

However, after he attended sleep overs at multiple academies and ROTC battalions he started to realize that he could get the best of both worlds if he chooses ROTC.
Especially, if the university is at least academically equal to a SA.

He actually spoke to a Air Force Colonel last night who graduated from USAFA. He is the wing commander at our local ANG base. He told my son without hesitation to do ROTC.

With that being said, although DS is leaning, listing is actually a better description, towards ROTC he still isn't going to decide until he attends one more sleepover at the ROTC battalion.
Awesome! Thanks for your take and I wish the best of luck to whatever route your DS decides to take.
 
Here is the scenario at my house:
Option 1) USAFA
Option #2) AFROTC 4 year scholarship at state school + offered NSLI-Y scholarship to spend 6 weeks in China this summer

DS obviously can't do both. he has been to China his 10th grade summer and may have opportunity to go with AF. We are visiting USAFA in April but China needs a response next week. Both options amazing opportunities and he knows that. These are not bad problems to have, just stressful ones.

He is still waiting on USMA...
 
When DS started this process his goal was to attend a SA.

However, after he attended sleep overs at multiple academies and ROTC battalions he started to realize that he could get the best of both worlds if he chooses ROTC.
Especially, if the university is at least academically equal to a SA.

He actually spoke to a Air Force Colonel last night who graduated from USAFA. He is the wing commander at our local ANG base. He told my son without hesitation to do ROTC.

With that being said, although DS is leaning, listing is actually a better description, towards ROTC he still isn't going to decide until he attends one more sleepover at the ROTC battalion.

You've dropped military rank and positions twice on this thread describing recommendations to choose ROTC over an academy. While I am not questioning your posts, I can assure you many others would recommend the exact opposite.

The key is which route best propels the son or daughter to achieve their full potential.
 
You seem to have a perfect balanced attitude! We always counseled DS to reach for the SA as that was a lofty goal, but keep his eye ultimately on the prize of becoming an Officer and having the military career he so desired. The pathways to that end are varied. He really wanted the military college experience so we looked at VMI and VT Corps of Cadets and he was thrilled to see the other options beyond the SA route. He applied to ROTC - got the 4 YR scholarship to both Universities and chose VMI as his A Plan V2 (I don't consider a 4 YR ROTC to a great school a plan B....just a different route to the same end...somewhat like WAZE gives you options on routes that all arrive within a minute of each other and are ultimately dependent both on how you drive and what happens as you move down that path). As it turns out - he has been offered a DA to USMA (he is an athlete) but I can honestly say he would have slayed VMI ROTC and was/is thrilled to have that opportunity. We don't count chickens hatched until July 1 and he emancipates:)

On another note - I don't understand anyone who doesn't apply to ROTC while applying to Academies....but that is just me. I think it demonstrates heightened commitment and I hope the SAs and ROTC application systems talk to each other.
 
I am only highlighting the fact that ROTC shouldn't be looked down upon as an unequal path.
I was initially brainwashed to believe this as well.
 
You seem to have a perfect balanced attitude! We always counseled DS to reach for the SA as that was a lofty goal, but keep his eye ultimately on the prize of becoming an Officer and having the military career he so desired. The pathways to that end are varied. He really wanted the military college experience so we looked at VMI and VT Corps of Cadets and he was thrilled to see the other options beyond the SA route. He applied to ROTC - got the 4 YR scholarship to both Universities and chose VMI as his A Plan V2 (I don't consider a 4 YR ROTC to a great school a plan B....just a different route to the same end...somewhat like WAZE gives you options on routes that all arrive within a minute of each other and are ultimately dependent both on how you drive and what happens as you move down that path). As it turns out - he has been offered a DA to USMA (he is an athlete) but I can honestly say he would have slayed VMI ROTC and was/is thrilled to have that opportunity. We don't count chickens hatched until July 1 and he emancipates:)

On another note - I don't understand anyone who doesn't apply to ROTC while applying to Academies....but that is just me. I think it demonstrates heightened commitment and I hope the SAs and ROTC application systems talk to each other.
I think we share a very common view point on this subject. As the son of a VMI graduate, he has given me the same insight and mentoring on this process as it seems you have to your DS. And again I didn't mean to word plan b as a degrading term, its just USMA is my first option. Regardless, congratulations to him on the appointment and I wish him the best of luck!
 
My son has only ever wanted to attend WP and his plan was to only apply to that school. I encouraged him to look into ROTC (and we knew absolutely nothing at that time about ROTC ). The first ROTC rep he spoke with only focused on how the student would benefit from ROTC. My son had lofty goals like serving his country (etc) and was not at all focused on ways that he might personally benefit. So after hearing this person speak (this was at an Academy Days presentation at a local university), he was completely turned off from considering ROTC. Although I knew nothing about ROTC, I figured that maybe a different presenter would highlight other aspects of the program. Sure enough, he did end up speaking with a diff rep from a diff university and my son left with a completely different view of the program. He ultimately applied and received a 4 year scholarship which he would have applied to VMI. My point is that if a prospective student heard about ROTC like my son initially did - they might also be turned off from considering ROTC.

He is currently at WP but I think he would have been happy at VMI also.
 
My son has only ever wanted to attend WP and his plan was to only apply to that school. I encouraged him to look into ROTC (and we knew absolutely nothing at that time about ROTC ). The first ROTC rep he spoke with only focused on how the student would benefit from ROTC. My son had lofty goals like serving his country (etc) and was not at all focused on ways that he might personally benefit. So after hearing this person speak (this was at an Academy Days presentation at a local university), he was completely turned off from considering ROTC. Although I knew nothing about ROTC, I figured that maybe a different presenter would highlight other aspects of the program. Sure enough, he did end up speaking with a diff rep from a diff university and my son left with a completely different view of the program. He ultimately applied and received a 4 year scholarship which he would have applied to VMI. My point is that if a prospective student heard about ROTC like my son initially did - they might also be turned off from considering ROTC.

He is currently at WP but I think he would have been happy at VMI also.
So I have definitely heard this before, where the initial presentation of ROTC has been a major turn off. I think the same could be applied to an academy though. I think a lot of times (ROTC and Academies) they are presented as a "free education" with a ton of benefits. Although both have an abundance of benefits, that definitely shouldn't be the focus. Lucky, I have had great Reps from both sides but I understand how your son's situation could definitely affect a decision.
 
My son has only ever wanted to attend WP and his plan was to only apply to that school. I encouraged him to look into ROTC (and we knew absolutely nothing at that time about ROTC ). The first ROTC rep he spoke with only focused on how the student would benefit from ROTC. My son had lofty goals like serving his country (etc) and was not at all focused on ways that he might personally benefit. So after hearing this person speak (this was at an Academy Days presentation at a local university), he was completely turned off from considering ROTC. Although I knew nothing about ROTC, I figured that maybe a different presenter would highlight other aspects of the program. Sure enough, he did end up speaking with a diff rep from a diff university and my son left with a completely different view of the program. He ultimately applied and received a 4 year scholarship which he would have applied to VMI. My point is that if a prospective student heard about ROTC like my son initially did - they might also be turned off from considering ROTC.

He is currently at WP but I think he would have been happy at VMI also.
I can relate to this story because it connects directly to how one perceives a school based on the tour and the tour guide they may have when visiting the school. When my younger son visited some of the schools he was accepted to, how the guide was and how the tour was, greatly influenced his decision on which school to choose. He toured a famous film school in Los Angeles and didnt bother applying to it because when he got the tour, instead of focusing on the production side, the tour spent a lot of time viewing the departments that dealt with costume production.
 
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