AROTC Sophomore Transfer

bmwmike66

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Dec 31, 2015
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4
Hello all,

My son was awarded a 4 year Army ROTC Federal Scholarship for an engineering major at an in state university. He is a Freshman and has just completed his first semester. Unfortunately, he has decided that he not only does not like his major, but also is dissatisfied with the college he attends, and he is looking into transferring to a different in state university.

Is it at all possible for him to transfer his 4 year scholarship to a different college and a different major? Or would it be easier (even possible) to cancel the scholarship entirely, transfer schools and majors, then reapply for a new 2 year scholarship and get contracted that way. Has anyone experienced or heard of any cadets doing this?

Above all, his desire is to become an officer in the Army and I don't doubt the authenticity of his claim. If he cannot transfer, he will stay where he's at and finish out his degree but he truly does seem to be having a pretty miserable time going to a school he doesn't like studying a major he doesn't find interest in.

Thank you very much for your time and advice!
 
Also...

Been doing some research and have found conflicting information. Some sources say transfers are impossible, some say you are allotted one per scholarship.
Same goes for changing majors; I've been told that it's impossible to change majors from some, but in an "initial contracting statement" that my son found online, he found this passage...

"10. I may change my major once to any discipline (except nurse cadets). If I wish to change my major more than once then the change must be within the same academic level. Army ROTC has broken down all majors into academic levels. (For a list of the academic levels contact your ROTC administration assistant). Any change in major must be approved by the PMS prior to the actual change of major taking effect. "

Thank you again!
 
Sorry to hear your son's dilemma but not the first to experience this. Type in AROTC Scholarship transfer in the search box and it will take you to some threads on issue. Below is a portion from that Fall thread. Clarkson Army is ROO and pretty well always on the mark. One OP recently advised he was transferring after one semester from a state school to a private school, so not impossible but may be hard. Good luck.

"Not a simple process. The following is from Cadet Command Pamphlet 145-1 Rev: 11/6/2012 Page 39 of 187:

c. For a transfer request to be considered by HQCC, the transfer must include the following documentation:
• Cadet Command Form 131-R (CCF 131-R) from losing PMS
• Memo from Cadet explaining the reason for the request if Cadet not available to sign CCF 131-R
• Current transcripts
• Difference in costs of losing and gaining schools (include FICE codes)
• Memo or Concurrence from gaining PMS
• New 104R from gaining PMS
• Letter of acceptance from gaining University or College
• Memo or Concurrence from gaining BDE"
 
Since it is break time at the colleges now, it may or may not be hard to get a hold of someone, but I would contact the ROO at the school he would like to transfer to (has he been accepted at that school, and is this for next semester or next year?) as it looks like the PMS at that Uni has to accept you. See if there is any reason they would not accept him. At the same time, contact his current PMS and explain the situation.
Good luck!
 
The major is the easy part...you get one change of major before there is a lot of paperwork. The school might be a little more difficult. If that school is in the same Battalion (cross town) probably easiest. Different Battalion, same Brigade probably doable. Different Brigade going to be a challenge. I'd suggest thinking about changing majors and staying at the same school if possible. If not talk to your cadre and the school/cadre at the school he'd like to attend. Hopefully he's the kind of Cadet that both programs want to help.

Worst case would be to walk away from the scholarship. I'm thinking that the reg says he will be required to pay back any previous benefit before he can be contracted, and I would say that he will be getting in line (end of the line) for any campus based scholarship he might want to compete for. There is no formal application process. Chances are he will be offered a non scholarship contract after paying back the benefits he received this semester. I could be wrong, so make sure you are talking to the cadre before he does anything.
 
Wilco, soccmomer, clarksonarmy,

Thank you all very much for all of your advice!
He hopes to attend a different public university in the same Brigade (3rd), so hopefully that will make a transfer a bit easier. However it is not in the same Battalion.

Just to clarify, he can change majors once, even if it is in a different tier? (He wishes to pursue Political Science and is currently studying Manufacturing Engineering & Tech)

Also, he will hear about his acceptance in late March, but we will begin speaking with both schools' PMS as soon as he begins classes in a couple of weeks.


My son and I truly can not thank you all enough. Wish they had this site when I was in the Air Force back in the 80's.
 
The major is the easy part...you get one change of major before there is a lot of paperwork.

Clarkson, Is changing majors to different tiers handled at the BN level or does this go higher? What exactly is the process? Thanks

"Just to clarify, he can change majors once, even if it is in a different tier? (He wishes to pursue Political Science and is currently studying Manufacturing Engineering & Tech)"
 
As long as it's not a STEM scholarship I believe it stays on the Battalion
 
As long as it's not a STEM scholarship I believe it stays on the Battalion

Thanks Clarkson. I saw a Cdt Cmd Reg 145-1 that stated ...
"d. Region Commanders are the approving/disapproving authority for contracted scholarship cadets and enrolled three-and two-year advance designees to an academic discipline that moves down (e.g., from an engineering major to a biology major) with the exception of a nursing major. Due to the Army’s need to control migration from technical degrees, this authority may not be further delegated.."

But that could be an old Reg since I found it by google. I'm attempting to find the current 145-1.
 
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I was at a state school with an engineering major. I switched to a private school and switched majors to CIS. I was in the same boat. I transferred after my first semester as a freshman. It's possible. There is a lot of steps and some paper work then it's up to cadet command. Get in contact with ROO's from both colleges and they will point him in the right direction.
 
Could he go ahead and re-evaluate after this Spring semester? In other words, could this just be first semester jitters and he just hasn't settled in yet? There are a lot of changes when one heads off to college.
 
I'm with tjb here, could this be a case of jitters and settling in? You've taken the right steps. I'd have DS hang in there and do his best while you wait for all the answers from other school and the PMS input. Once that's done, have a deliberate, honest, non-retribution heart to heart with him to determine the best option.
The grass is not always greener... but sometimes it is! Tough decision; GOOD LUCK!
 
Thanks Clarkson. I saw a Cdt Cmd Reg 145-1 that stated ...
"d. Region Commanders are the approving/disapproving authority for contracted scholarship cadets and enrolled three-and two-year advance designees to an academic discipline that moves down (e.g., from an engineering major to a biology major) with the exception of a nursing major. Due to the Army’s need to control migration from technical degrees, this authority may not be further delegated.."

But that could be an old Reg since I found it by google. I'm attempting to find the current 145-1.

If you see something that talks about Region Commanders it's old and you can disregard. There haven't been Regions for quite some time.
 
Just a quick follow up...

After a quick conversation with cadre, my son was able to change majors and it was totally stress free. He's currently finishing up his new 104-R for Political Science.

As for the transfer, he is waiting for admission to the new university and will hear back in April. However, another 4 year scholarship cadet in the battalion recently decided to transfer as well and went to cadre with this request. According to my son, she told him that it was not a big deal either, and they told her that she receives 1 transfer with the scholarship. So it seems that this is all possible with a little finesse and a whole lot of paper work.

Hopefully this helps someone, and thanks for all your advice!
 
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