AROTC School Selection

J

jebdad

10-Year Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Messages
1,230
I had asked this within another thread but so as not to hijack that thread I thought I would repost. The first board is so early in the process it creates some questions from a school selection standpoint. Another post made me think of scenarios I had not considered.

If applicant lists 7 schools, chances are there is a disparity in preference between school 1 and school 7. Throw in the required state schools and it's likely 2 of the 7 may not be preferred. It got me to thinking that depending on the situation, it may be better to list the minimum number of schools.

How does the board determine which schools they award the scholarship to? Does the school have input? Does the board award based on their expectation that applicant would or would not get in? What if applicant gets only schools 5,6,and 7 but ultimately gets accepted at their #1? Can they then transfer scholarship to the #1 or are they out with them as they did not get them in original scholarship request?

My DS has really little idea at this time where he might end up, is he better to just list 3 schools and hope to get them all and then transfer scholarship when the path becomes more clear? (In addition to ROTC scholarship DS is pursuing athletic opportunities that will take time to sort out and develop more clearly due to recruiting/walk on process - so a transfer request is a very likely scenario).
 
They do not consider whether college acceptance is likely. That's on the applicant.

If you accept a scholarship to a school other than #1, and are accepted to #1 later, you can apply to transfer to #1. There are no guarantees, but they will do their best for you.

I know for NROTC, and I assume for AROTC, if slots are available at #1, then the scholarship will be awarded to number #1. If not they'll look at #2, and so on.

You're over thinking this. List your schools in simple order of precedence, as you understand it at that time, and then cross any bridge you need to cross when you get to it. Be sure you're not listing only reach schools. Include reach, likely, and sure acceptance schools in your list.
 
Also, you can adjust the schools up until boarded...I think that is probably true for all ROTC. I know NROTC and AFROTC it was for my DD. As acceptances came in, she changed the preferences...
 
For Army, acceptance to the school plays a part. We can see all applicants to our schools, and on the cadre side we mark whether the applicant has a chance to be accepted. For example, if one school's SAT AVG for acceptance is 1300, and you have a 1050, we would mark you as no.

AS kinnem stated, you can request to transfer your scholarship, even to a school not listed in your top 7.
 
I wouldn't worry about this a whole lot. It it very unlikely that they won't let you transfer your scholarship to whatever school you end up wanting to go to. I transferred my scholarship from a school which would have cost them $51,000 total to $58,000 per year. They usually won't care about paying more money, and as long as you're going to an accredited college, they'll probably let you do whatever.
 
jebdad said:
My DS has really little idea at this time where he might end up, is he better to just list 3 schools and hope to get them all and then transfer scholarship when the path becomes more clear? (In addition to ROTC scholarship DS is pursuing athletic opportunities that will take time to sort out and develop more clearly due to recruiting/walk on process - so a transfer request is a very likely scenario).
Click to expand...
DS was being recruited about the same time he was awarded a 3yr AD for AROTC.

He wanted to ensure the coach and others would understand he wanted to do both.

He was awarded the 3yr before signing his NLI. Transferred the scholarship after talking with the ROO and signed his NLI.

As his ROO told us. It's much easier to transfer from same cost school to same cost school.

Top 3 schools being in state school are going to have a Total cost of attendance than say a out of private.

- Also, might interest your son as to the location of the ROTC program. Is his choices the HQ of the Battalions? DS has to drive about 20 minutes to HQ. Not bad, but after 6am PT, Athletic work outs, practice, class, and whatever. He is beat by 7pm class.
 
jebdad said:
I had asked this within another thread but so as not to hijack that thread I thought I would repost. The first board is so early in the process it creates some questions from a school selection standpoint. Another post made me think of scenarios I had not considered.

If applicant lists 7 schools, chances are there is a disparity in preference between school 1 and school 7. Throw in the required state schools and it's likely 2 of the 7 may not be preferred. It got me to thinking that depending on the situation, it may be better to list the minimum number of schools.

How does the board determine which schools they award the scholarship to? Does the school have input? Does the board award based on their expectation that applicant would or would not get in? What if applicant gets only schools 5,6,and 7 but ultimately gets accepted at their #1? Can they then transfer scholarship to the #1 or are they out with them as they did not get them in original scholarship request?

My DS has really little idea at this time where he might end up, is he better to just list 3 schools and hope to get them all and then transfer scholarship when the path becomes more clear? (In addition to ROTC scholarship DS is pursuing athletic opportunities that will take time to sort out and develop more clearly due to recruiting/walk on process - so a transfer request is a very likely scenario).
Click to expand...
My DD listed 7 schools. Her top three were all schools where she would be completely fine with attending and was likely to be admitted. Ultimately she was selected for her #1 school.

Unless your DS is listing only reach schools, where there is a possibility that he may not be admitted, he should be fine.

In the end if he’s selected, he should accept the scholarship and then submit a request to transfer it to the school in which he plans to attend.
 
TBVADAD said:
DS was being recruited about the same time he was awarded a 3yr AD for AROTC.

He wanted to ensure the coach and others would understand he wanted to do both.

He was awarded the 3yr before signing his NLI. Transferred the scholarship after talking with the ROO and signed his NLI.

As his ROO told us. It's much easier to transfer from same cost school to same cost school.

Top 3 schools being in state school are going to have a Total cost of attendance than say a out of private.

- Also, might interest your son as to the location of the ROTC program. Is his choices the HQ of the Battalions? DS has to drive about 20 minutes to HQ. Not bad, but after 6am PT, Athletic work outs, practice, class, and whatever. He is beat by 7pm class.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your experience. This is exactly our situation. The recruiting process is so fluid and changes from week to week it seems.

Mohawk's comment about the school and potential acceptance is interesting. My son is being recruited by a handful of high academic div 3 schools. He would not get into them without football (a 31 ACT is not at their 34-35 level of a typical applicant but appears to be in their strikezone as an athlete). If the ROTC dept is unaware of the football recruiting, they may see his file and think he is not quite there in terms of acceptability and the scholarship will not be granted to that school.

I guessing that if the recruiting evolves and he picks one of those div 3 schools, we will need to address the important issues of: are AROTC at that school and football both on board for participating in both, and, work on transferring the scholarship to that school.
 
jebdad said:
Thanks for sharing your experience. This is exactly our situation. The recruiting process is so fluid and changes from week to week it seems.

Mohawk's comment about the school and potential acceptance is interesting. My son is being recruited by a handful of high academic div 3 schools. He would not get into them without football (a 31 ACT is not at their 34-35 level of a typical applicant but appears to be in their strikezone as an athlete). If the ROTC dept is unaware of the football recruiting, they may see his file and think he is not quite there in terms of acceptability and the scholarship will not be granted to that school.

I guessing that if the recruiting evolves and he picks one of those div 3 schools, we will need to address the important issues of: are AROTC at that school and football both on board for participating in both, and, work on transferring the scholarship to that school.
Click to expand...
DM me and I can tell you about DS journey as he navigated Covid, Recruiting, AROTC, and also losing out on his senior season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top