AROTC Scholarship - What college should I choose?

WishfulThinking, here's another consideration for you...

Given your profile photo, are you a competitive rifle shooter? If so, have you considered shooting on a college rifle team? Since Rifle is an NCAA sport, there are additional scholarship opportunities available, ESPECIALLY for females! Citadel and UNG both have NCAA Rifle Teams.

If you think you might be interested in shooting on a college team, I would recommend contacting the rifle coaches at both of your chosen schools to discuss trying out for the teams and to see what their scholarship availability is. In addition, VMI is another SMC that has an NCAA rifle team, if you're open to expanding your choices to another school (my son is a Rat on the VMI Rifle Team).

Congrats on obtaining your 4-year ROTC scholarship!
 
Unless you see a major difference among these schools re. the surrounding environment, you're probably best off going to the school that is most affordable in the worst-case event that you lose the scholarship. Be safe. Manage your downside risks intelligently.
 
NJDadofDSUSMA2024Hopeful said:
You all have vastly more experience in this than I do, but is that a way to go through life—what if I drop out? If you are fortunate enough to get a 4 year scholarship to a reach or top school for you, I say grab that ring! If you have to drop out and transfer, that would obviously suck, but going in with that assumption seems to be just settling for safe vs optimal.
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What I’ve realized through this forum is that you then have to pay back that amount - which can be staggering! It’s not just dropping out ah well the kid can go to college local - no - it could be a staggering debt. Our son is just now applying- and we have top notch affordable choices in state - but I realized he should not go anywhere we could not afford.
 
some thoughts - most of my info is from The Citadel:
- most important factor is what environment will allow you to get the most out your 4 years. The Citadel is a small college with 2.300 cadets and about 20 - 30 active duty enlisted Marines and Navy. Most cadets are very focused on preparing for challenging careers. They have fun - but they are focused.
- The Citadel graduation rate is twice the national average for public colleges and universities. This is important for a number of reasons - not the least is ROI. If you do drop ROTC, graduating in 4 vs 5 or 6 years which is typical for many larger universities can be costly.
- At an SMC you will have constant emersion in a military organization with a larger group of cadets having the same motivation as you to enter the military or other government agency or service.
- if you have received a 4 yr AROTC Scholarship, you may also be very competitive for The Citadel's merit scholarships that require no military service: $10K/yr Honors Program; up to $7,500/yr Scholars Program (your Intel/Security major qualifies for this). Highly credentialed high school graduates receive additional merit scholarships based on test scores and grades.
- As a 4yr ROTC national scholarship cadet, you are also eligible for the Armed Forces Supplement award of $3,500/yr which you can put towards R&B (pays about half R&B).
- The Intell/Security major is a highly sought after degree, and The Citadel is recognized as having one of the leading programs in the nation. It is home to the International Journal of Intelligence and Counter Intelligence as well as The Center for Cyber Security and Intelligence (See http://www.citadel.edu/root/cciss), I would highly recommend the minor in cyber security or cyber operations. This major is broadly useful not only in military affairs, but in National and Homeland Security as well as private corporations - graduate with a good gpa and experience with internships and you win't worry about school loans.
Best of luck
 
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