Army ROTC Major/transfer

[spatti33]

I won a 4 year AROTC scholarship to CU Boulder and on my application I put that I was majoring in Aerospace engineering. However at CU I didn't get into their engineering program. In order to get into it, I need to have a 3.0 gpa overall, and a 2.7 in math, physics, and chem at the end of my freshman year. I have a few questions regarding this:

- Are those gpa requirements difficult? Should I take the risk or should I go to Texas A&M or Syracuse, both of which I got into engineering?
- Are there any major pro's/con's to any of those schools ROTC programs?
- In the event I went to CU and did not meet those gpa requirements, could I transfer, say, to Texas A&M and use the remaining 3 years of my scholarship there?

Thank you guys for your help!

 

[AROTC-dad]

- Are those gpa requirements difficult?

Engineering and STEM is hard, but the fact that you won the scholarship says something about your abilities. Risk? Yes there is, but there is in everything!

Should I take the risk or should I go to Texas A&M or Syracuse, both of which I got into engineering?

Less risk at TAMU or Syracuse since you already got in. However, it is worthless if you don't fit in those schools. Choose the best fitting school. By doing that you are setting yourself up to perform at your best.

Are there any major pro's/con's to any of those schools ROTC programs?

Don't choose the AROTC program, choose the school. My son had 3 different PMS's over four years at his college.

In the event I went to CU and did not meet those gpa requirements, could I transfer, say, to Texas A&M and use the remaining 3 years of my scholarship there?

It depends. Yes you can, but only if BOTH cadres approve of the transfer and you are in good standing overall. More risk.

 

[franknd]

Is changing your major and keeping AROTC scholarship very hard to do? My impression is that, unlike AF and Navy, AROTC scholarships are far less major dependent. Is that erroneous?
I would suggest talking to CU cadre and telling them you didn't get into your major and ask what your choices are. You aren't the first person who has confronted that. I suspect it's rather common actually.

 

[AROTC-dad]

My impression is that, unlike AF and Navy, AROTC scholarships are far less major dependent. Is that erroneous?

Army and Marines are far less dependent on choice of major than the other branches.

 

[ColordoKid24]

Good chance you'll do fine and get in. You'll also have a good idea after 1 semester and if things aren't going well, you could (probably) change majors.

Depends what is more important, engineering, CU, ROTC? There is no wrong answer.

Your overall risk is low but I agree on consulting CU cadre.

 

[EEBTTF]

Good choices here - TAMU is a world class engineering school as well as a great place to prepare for a career in the military. If your goal is to be an aerospace engineer, I would select a school that you have been selected into their engineering program. Just a question - Are you pursuing an AFROTC Scholarship? Aerospace and AROTC is not as common and AFROTC. Congrats on your accomplishments. Chase your dreams!

 

[spatti33]

Engineering and STEM is hard, but the fact that you won the scholarship says something about your abilities. Risk? Yes there is, but there is in everything!

Less risk at TAMU or Syracuse since you already got in. However, it is worthless if you don't fit in those schools. Choose the best fitting school. By doing that you are setting yourself up to perform at your best.

Don't choose the AROTC program, choose the school. My son had 3 different PMS's over four years at his college.

It depends. Yes you can, but only if BOTH cadres approve of the transfer and you are in good standing overall. More risk.

Thank you for your input! You bring up some good points, CU is defiantly where I want to be so I feel like it might be worth taking the risk.

 

[spatti33]

Is changing your major and keeping AROTC scholarship very hard to do? My impression is that, unlike AF and Navy, AROTC scholarships are far less major dependent. Is that erroneous?
I would suggest talking to CU cadre and telling them you didn't get into your major and ask what your choices are. You aren't the first person who has confronted that. I suspect it's rather common actually.

Thank you for your help. I have tried calling and emailing CU cadre but communication with them throughout this whole time has been very difficult. It’s making me wondering how helpful they would be in terms of changing majors if I went there.

 

[spatti33]

Good chance you'll do fine and get in. You'll also have a good idea after 1 semester and if things aren't going well, you could (probably) change majors.

Depends what is more important, engineering, CU, ROTC? There is no wrong answer.

Your overall risk is low but I agree on consulting CU cadre.

Thank you! That’s a great question, I’ve been trying to answer that question myself for some time.

 

[spatti33]

Good choices here - TAMU is a world class engineering school as well as a great place to prepare for a career in the military. If your goal is to be an aerospace engineer, I would select a school that you have been selected into their engineering program. Just a question - Are you pursuing an AFROTC Scholarship? Aerospace and AROTC is not as common and AFROTC. Congrats on your accomplishments. Chase your dreams!

Thank you! That’s one of the reasons TAMU is looking like such a great option is because of their engineering reputation. In regards to the AFROTC, I did apply for one and received a type 7 which I would have to convert to the 3 year type 2. This was my first choice since it related to Aerospace so much, but since the Army offered a full 4 year one, I had to go with them.

 

[EEBTTF]

Thank you! That’s one of the reasons TAMU is looking like such a great option is because of their engineering reputation. In regards to the AFROTC, I did apply for one and received a type 7 which I would have to convert to the 3 year type 2. This was my first choice since it related to Aerospace so much, but since the Army offered a full 4 year one, I had to go with them.

Have you participated in the Spend the Night with the Corps at TAMU?

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

I won a 4 year AROTC scholarship to CU Boulder and on my application I put that I was majoring in Aerospace engineering. However at CU I didn't get into their engineering program. In order to get into it, I need to have a 3.0 gpa overall, and a 2.7 in math, physics, and chem at the end of my freshman year. I have a few questions regarding this:

- Are those gpa requirements difficult? Should I take the risk or should I go to Texas A&M or Syracuse, both of which I got into engineering?
- Are there any major pro's/con's to any of those schools ROTC programs?
- In the event I went to CU and did not meet those gpa requirements, could I transfer, say, to Texas A&M and use the remaining 3 years of my scholarship there?

Thank you guys for your help!

Montana State has a great engineering program and you don't have to “apply”.

 

[franknd]

Thank you for your help. I have tried calling and emailing CU cadre but communication with them throughout this whole time has been very difficult. It’s making me wondering how helpful they would be in terms of changing majors if I went there.

I'm not sure changing majors is the big problem here, but I'm surprised they wouldn't be responding to your questions with a 4-year scholarship in hand. I just checked their web page, and it looks like they have a civilian dedicated to scholarships and enrollment. How hard have you tried to contact that person?? If you have more than once and she hasn't responded at all, then I'd email the PMS. I agree it's not a good sign if they aren't responding to you, but that seems difficult to imagine.