AROTC scholarship application denied for 15+ college credit hours

[JohnCon234]

Hi all,
My rotc scholarship application was immediately denied after I put that I’ll have 60credit hours (a full AA). The senior instructor at my local college who I was talking with is currently unreachable but he told me there are 4, 3 and 2 year scholarships and that I am only required to do 2 years of ROTC and as long as I do the mandatory summer and 2 years in arotc that I can commission at 19. (When I would get my bachelors because I graduate high school at 17).
Almost all the prior officers I’ve talked too all said “19 is too young” or “4 years should be mandatory” but all the enlisted told me “LT’s are incompetent anyway, it doesn’t matter how old they are”

I am exploring the option of enlisting and doing green to gold active duty.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Hi all,
My rotc scholarship application was immediately denied after I put that I’ll have 60credit hours (a full AA). The senior instructor at my local college who I was talking with is currently unreachable but he told me there are 4, 3 and 2 year scholarships and that I am only required to do 2 years of ROTC and as long as I do the mandatory summer and 2 years in arotc that I can commission at 19. (When I would get my bachelors because I graduate high school at 17).
Almost all the prior officers I’ve talked too all said “19 is too young” or “4 years should be mandatory” but all the enlisted told me “LT’s are incompetent anyway, it doesn’t matter how old they are”

I am exploring the option of enlisting and doing green to gold active duty.

Cutting straight to it, you should discuss scholarship options for a 2 year scholarship with the ROO at the university you plan to attend this fall. It looks like you applied for the scholarship in high school (HSSP) vs in college (ICSP) or whatever the army calls that. Here is an official link to find that person.

Find ROTC Schools and Military Colleges

Search for ROTC schools and military colleges by location or by name and get more information about the programs you are interested in.

www.goarmy.com

You have options here including joining a unit as a college programmer and competing for a scholarship. Please discuss your case specifics so you best understand the options with the Recruiting officer.

As for age, there's probably some wisdom in that, but I'll share this. I'm the parent of a young adult who's, well different, and will probably breeze through college in 5 semesters then head to med school. She's advanced for her age. She's a med school fellow this summer as a 19 YO when most others are grad students or med students, because her submission won a slot that many thousands applied for. some of her classmates were shaking their heads/ a professor even dropped the now dated Doogie Houser label on her in the first week - they are not doing so anymore as she is leading the innovative project that is generating the most buzz - nothing silences doubters like success. Also, I work with 55 year olds who don't have her composure, talent, drive. We talk about her starting med school before she can *legally* drink. I often advise that she doesn't need to go live in a cave and wait for others to catch up - so you be you. I often quote Dick Winters "Keep moving forward"- and honestly she keeps doing so. But it's good you're aware and continue to self-reflect on whether you're ready.

Being a junior officer does reportedly include herding cats, wrangling some enlisted folks who may be a handful. How mature are you/ how ready are you for that? You could plan this - if you get a scholarship and if you pick a school that covers room and board, or can live at home, can extend your undergrad if on scholarship to 3 or 4 years if you feel you are not ready. Maybe take on a second major or minor, or even some grad courses if allowed. Also confirm all of your AA courses will transfer and count - you may need 2.5 or 3 more years anyway.

It's up to you, but enlisting is an entirely different path than training to be an officer. It will get you experience and time to be older, if that is your goal. And yes you could then move to a service academy or ROTC program afterward if you want, then reversing your age concern as you'll likely then be older than many in your ROTC class. Just make sure you think this all the way through - you may have a path to be an officer with minimal inconvenience or cost.
Good luck.

 

[ProudDad17]

It sounds like you are doing a dual enrollment program where you are getting your AA while still in high school. Is that correct? If so, check again on your eligibility with those college credits. At least for NROTC, college credits earned while still in high school do not count against the max college credits for scholarship eligibility.

 

[JohnCon234]

It sounds like you are doing a dual enrollment program where you are getting your AA while still in high school. Is that correct? If so, check again on your eligibility with those college credits. At least for NROTC, college credits earned while still in high school do not count against the max college credits for scholarship eligibility.

Hi, that is correct. I was able to get a response from the Army. They said:
“You indicated you have more than 15 college credits. Applicants must have four full years of college remaining to be eligible to apply for the national ROTC scholarship program. If you are offered a scholarship prior to the offer being finalized will be required to send a letter of acceptance from the college/university you’ll be attending, sitting you’re an academic freshman. If you are already enrolled in college or you will not be excepted as a freshman, you will need to speak to the professor of military science in the ROTC department about campus based scholarship opportunities.”
So it looks like Herman was in on point about having to look into campus based scholarships.

 

[JohnCon234]

Cutting straight to it, you should discuss scholarship options for a 2 year scholarship with the ROO at the university you plan to attend this fall. It looks like you applied for the scholarship in high school (HSSP) vs in college (ICSP) or whatever the army calls that. Here is an official link to find that person.

Find ROTC Schools and Military Colleges

Search for ROTC schools and military colleges by location or by name and get more information about the programs you are interested in.

www.goarmy.com

You have options here including joining a unit as a college programmer and competing for a scholarship. Please discuss your case specifics so you best understand the options with the Recruiting officer.

As for age, there's probably some wisdom in that, but I'll share this. I'm the parent of a young adult who's, well different, and will probably breeze through college in 5 semesters then head to med school. She's advanced for her age. She's a med school fellow this summer as a 19 YO when most others are grad students or med students, because her submission won a slot that many thousands applied for. some of her classmates were shaking their heads/ a professor even dropped the now dated Doogie Houser label on her in the first week - they are not doing so anymore as she is leading the innovative project that is generating the most buzz - nothing silences doubters like success. Also, I work with 55 year olds who don't have her composure, talent, drive. We talk about her starting med school before she can *legally* drink. I often advise that she doesn't need to go live in a cave and wait for others to catch up - so you be you. I often quote Dick Winters "Keep moving forward"- and honestly she keeps doing so. But it's good you're aware and continue to self-reflect on whether you're ready.

Being a junior officer does reportedly include herding cats, wrangling some enlisted folks who may be a handful. How mature are you/ how ready are you for that? You could plan this - if you get a scholarship and if you pick a school that covers room and board, or can live at home, can extend your undergrad if on scholarship to 3 or 4 years if you feel you are not ready. Maybe take on a second major or minor, or even some grad courses if allowed. Also confirm all of your AA courses will transfer and count - you may need 2.5 or 3 more years anyway.

It's up to you, but enlisting is an entirely different path than training to be an officer. It will get you experience and time to be older, if that is your goal. And yes you could then move to a service academy or ROTC program afterward if you want, then reversing your age concern as you'll likely then be older than many in your ROTC class. Just make sure you think this all the way through - you may have a path to be an officer with minimal inconvenience or cost.
Good luck.

Hi Herman,
You were spot on with saying I would have to look into campus based scholarship opportunities. The Army just confirmed this for me. Unfortunately for army, I’ve been told they are extremely limited. Thank you for the in depth reply. I still have time to consider my options

 

[AROTC Parent]

Hi, that is correct. I was able to get a response from the Army. They said:
“You indicated you have more than 15 college credits. Applicants must have four full years of college remaining to be eligible to apply for the national ROTC scholarship program. If you are offered a scholarship prior to the offer being finalized will be required to send a letter of acceptance from the college/university you’ll be attending, sitting you’re an academic freshman. If you are already enrolled in college or you will not be excepted as a freshman, you will need to speak to the professor of military science in the ROTC department about campus based scholarship opportunities.”
So it looks like Herman was in on point about having to look into campus based scholarships.

Note the bold... Work with Cadet Command to allow you to complete the application. Work with your intended university that they will not use all your transfer credits (if you choose) and therefore classify you as a freshman upon enrollment. The transfer student office or an experienced academic advisor should be able to help. Those credits you have, won't all transfer, or don't all have to transfer.

In my experience you/your university can choose to transfer credits/classes, or not. Our families example... with 36+ eligible credits from AP classes only US history and Calculus were transferred to avoid classification as a sophomore. Had to retake some classes (chemistry) because the school wanted all classes for the Chemistry major to occur at their school. If you get the scholarship, strategically transfer credits but if you don't get the HS national scholarship move toward campus based scholarships, NG, Reserve, or G2G.... Good luck.

Consider going through all four years of college. Take advantage of the full experience. You don't get that time back. I understand $$ play a role here but if you can get through with little or no debt use the time to learn and take advantage of all the classes and programs in college.