AROTC (3-year) or service academy

R

runner99

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Mar 23, 2018
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Hey everyone! I will try to keep it as short as possible, but I need some advice on some options I am looking into.

So I waited all of high school to apply to all the service academies ('21), but didn't get accepted into any. I wanted to try again, so I decided to attend a jr. college and compete in sports. About a week into my first semester, I found an AROTC program about 30 mins away and decided to join. I was told that I wouldn't receive a 3-year scholarship unless I transferred to a 4-year university, so I transferred to a cross-town affiliate over winter break. Amidst all this, I was trying to complete my USMA application (I received the principle nomination for my district 2 times in a row), but my cadre weren't going to submit my 3-year scholarship application unless I withdrew my USMA application. They finally convinced me that I could get 3-years paid in full, plus I wouldn't have to start over my freshman year, so I withdrew. A few weeks later I received my 3-year scholarship, but found out that it didn't cover room/board or summer classes (I am trying to complete a 5-year degree in 4-years per AROTC standards) like I had been told beforehand.

Now I am trying to look into more options, such as applying to USNA '23 (because I burned my bridges with USMA and am frustrated with all the hassle the Army has given me). I don't want to submit an application unless I have a pretty good chance of getting accepted, so I have a few questions that I need answered.

How competitive is my application? I am very involved in ROTC (Ranger Challenge and leading training for 10 Miler), was a varsity jr. college athlete, and competed in 3 varsity sports in high school (captain 1 season). I am close to maxing the APFT, and I train for 1/2 and full marathons on my own time. I work 10 hrs/school week. In high school, I was in band, worked, volunteered, and held a few leadership positions. I know that I can improve my ACT if I retake it. I received straight A's in high school, but what I am most worried about is my current grades. I am receiving B's in math/science (which are the classes for my major) and A's for electives and ROTC. Next year I will be taking over 18 credits/semester to stay on track for my scholarship, but I am worried that this might hurt my grades. Any advice?

Also, will I be obligated to "pay back" the Army in any way for using a year of my scholarship?

Thanks so much!
 
First if you go from Rotc with Scholarship to an academy, there is no repayment. Normally when you get a 4 year Rotc scholarship coming out of high school, you are allowed to quit Rotc after the end of the first year without their being any repayment. Since you received the 3 year scholarship after finishing freshman year (I assume), I dont know if the one year rule still applies but again switching to USNA woudnt create any problems. I can kind of understand why they wouldnt want to submit a 3 scholarship if you were moving to the Naval Academy, but would they have known if you had applied or would you have needed them in order to do apply to the USNA?
 
Humey said:
First if you go from Rotc with Scholarship to an academy, there is no repayment. Normally when you get a 4 year Rotc scholarship coming out of high school, you are allowed to quit Rotc after the end of the first year without their being any repayment. Since you received the 3 year scholarship after finishing freshman year (I assume), I dont know if the one year rule still applies but again switching to USNA woudnt create any problems. I can kind of understand why they wouldnt want to submit a 3 scholarship if you were moving to the Naval Academy, but would they have known if you had applied or would you have needed them in order to do apply to the USNA?
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For my 2022 application, I was only applying to USMA and since I am in AROTC, they were helping me to submit my application because I needed instructor recommendations and the CFA. They didn't want to submit my scholarship if there was a chance I would decline because someone else from my class could have had the chance to receive it instead.
 
runner99 said:
but found out that it didn't cover room/board or summer classes (I am trying to complete a 5-year degree in 4-years per AROTC standards) like I had been told beforehand.
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That's on you. You didn't do your homework. It's obvious on the web pages that room and board is on you (unless you ask them to cover room and board instead of tuition). You could have asked the cadre about the summer school. Do not make assumptions about anything in life. Ask!

No one can guess how you will rank for many different reasons. The only way to find out is to apply.

I recommend applying to both USMA and USNA. I know you believe you burned bridges, but leave that decision up to them - don't make it for them.
 
kinnem said:
runner99 said:
but found out that it didn't cover room/board or summer classes (I am trying to complete a 5-year degree in 4-years per AROTC standards) like I had been told beforehand.
Click to expand...
That's on you. You didn't do your homework. It's obvious on the web pages that room and board is on you (unless you ask them to cover room and board instead of tuition). You could have asked the cadre about the summer school. Do not make assumptions about anything in life. Ask!

No one can guess how you will rank for many different reasons. The only way to find out is to apply.

I recommend applying to both USMA and USNA. I know you believe you burned bridges, but leave that decision up to them - don't make it for them.
Click to expand...

So I guess I am just now figuring out that room/board is decided by the individual AROTC programs, but mine is a relatively small program. I am guessing that they just include it for the majority because they can afford to. Since the first day I discussed my scholarship, I had been told I was getting everything in full for 3 years (I am the only cadet that recently received a scholarship that doesn't go to the host school, all cadets from the host school receive scholarships for everything). So I guess it is too late to do anything about it now.
 
runner99 said:
So I guess I am just now figuring out that room/board is decided by the individual AROTC programs, but mine is a relatively small program.
Click to expand...
Again, you need to do your homework my friend. Google is your pal. It's entirely up to the college, and not the unit, as to whether room and board is included... at the college's expense. Unfortunately it is too late to do anything about it.

On the other hand.... you or your parents would still be covering room and board in some fashion if you were at community college and living at home. Not as expensive as doing it at college, but you should account for that when figuring the cost, just to make you or someone else feel better. It's why I had no objection to paying my son's room and board.
 
Room and board generally runs about $10K to 12K a year at most schools. Did you not apply for other forms of financial aid? Did you file a FAFSA? Did you speak to someone at the college financial aid office? There are many websites that offer to match students with scholarships, like FASTWEB and scholarships.com

If you can't find the money for R and B, you might consider contacting the ROO at a school (there are many) that waives R & B for ROTC scholarship winners. They MIGHT (it is a stretch) have the budget to offer you a campus based scholarship and waive your R & B at the receiving school.
 
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