Attending a School on NROTC Hopes (Georgia Tech)

kc99

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Hi y'all,

First things first, you can skip to the last paragraph if you don't want the introduction.

I'm stuck in a predicament and really would like some opinions. I'm a senior in high school and am currently deciding between Clemson and GT for next year (mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering, respectively). My ultimate goal after school is to serve in the Navy, preferably as an aviator. GT has an NROTC program, while Clemson only has Army and Air Force. I know that I can go to Navy OCS after Clemson, but I would rather not hedge my bets on something as fluid as OCS.

I'd love to attend GT, but the cost is a huge obstacle. Without ROTC, I'd be graduating with probably over $80,000 in debt versus $10,000 from clemson. GT NROTC is my ultimate goal, but I'm somewhat scared of weighing $80,000 in debt on a scholarship that I may not get.

I didn't apply for a four year scholarship because I focused on USNA senior year. I received a nom but was not offered an appointment. Class rank is 15/250, 3.83 gpa, 10 AP courses (including two maths and two sciences), 34 ACT, varsity track and field, varsity football (two year captain), sergeant at arms of National Honor Society, National Merit Finalist, and I work. I know that college scholarships are based on college performance, and next year the only thing I know for sure I want to do is play club rugby.

My question for y'all is if I should attend GT with the hopes of receiving a scholarship. I know that they are incredibly selective, but I think I'm competitive enough to receive one. But, I know almost nothing about the process and would really appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks!
- Kris
 
Hey man, I know for a fact you can apply for a 3 year NROTC scholarship once you're on campus, possibly even a 4 year depending on how the funding plays out. A guy I talked with at the PSU unit arrived on campus and had a scholarship before they billed for tuition that semester. Also in terms of competitiveness, I received a 4 year and my stats were fairly lower than yours so I wouldn't worry. Good Luck!
 
My DS has spent the last year at GT on a NROTC scholarship. I can report that he has had a great experience and you really can't go wrong with a commission and degree from GT. Why not start by calling the unit? The permanent staff has a vested interest in filling the unit with good midshipmen and commissioning good Ensigns in the Navy. They are sensitive to the out of state cost and understand the scholarship situation.
 
agree with T.Valiant. Start with GT real cost for the first year by contacting the unit and asking what can be done in terms of scholarships for the freshman year. Afterwards, you can apply for a 3 year NROTC scholarship.
 
Well, I wouldn't be as optimistic as the folks above. Do you stand a good chance of getting a scholarship? I don't know, and neither do they. Unless you left something out in your 'resume' you seemed to be lacking leadership. NROTC can help with that but so can any ROTC program, and you generally won't be given leadership positions until second semester. Yes, you can re-apply for the four year (BTW, not applying for it this year was extremely poor planning... not the type of effort I would hope to see from a future officer). As much as I love the Navy and the Corps, if I were you're Dad I'd say go to Clemson (which brings up something else. Why didn't you apply to South Carolina which does have an NROTC unit so you might have more options... you must have known Clemson didn't have NROTC.)

So one other suggestion if you are interested in NROTC because you want to become a Marine Officer.... look into the Platoon Leaders Course, done over 2 summers while you're in college. Google it if you're interested.

Oh, and one more.... call the NROTC unit at GT and discuss this with them. They will probably have more insight into your chances for an NROTC scholarship, or side-load, than anyone here.

I really don't mean to be rude, but you seem to be pretty poor at planning your future. Following your heart is great and I usually advise it, but following your heart without a plan is only hope - and is a bad idea. You do not seem to have a plan to achieve your goal other than taking on massive debt - not a good idea IMHO.
 
Here are recent stats average SAT scores for both NROTC and NROTC-MO. PFT score is very important to the Marines.
NROTC-MO
NROTC

NROTC scholarships are a national competition, so the school will not influence your chance at a scholarship. It will be important to do well academically and in your unit. You can apply for a 4-Year NROTC scholarship as an incoming freshman and compete for a scholarship with HS seniors, basically the same application you could have applied for this year, although it would only pay for 3 years. Then in the spring you would compete for a sideload scholarship or advanced standing. Again all national competitions, so school does not matter.

Georgia Tech is the better school, especially for engineering. US News and World Report ranks GT 34 vs Clemson at 66. And if you look at engineering rankings GT is 7 vs 75 for Clemson. If you believe any of those rankings. If money were not a factor GT would be the place to go. Personally if my DS had the same decision, my advice would be to go the the best school you got into, regardless of money. Qualitatively I believe the benefits outweigh the costs. If it were my money I would invest the 80k in a GT degree.

However, at the end of 4 years, if you reach your goal and become a Marine officer, you will a 2nd Lieutenant off to The Basic School where they will care less what your diploma says.
 
Thanks for all of the replies!

I know that I can apply for the three and even two year scholarships once I am enrolled. I guess I was trying to get a "probability" kind of answer which I know no one can give. I'll give the unit a call later this week.

Kinnem,
Would you explain how I lacked leadership? I was an elected official of NHS and worked to organize many events. I was also a two year varsity captain of the football team. I know I'm not an Eagle Scout or class president, but I know that my actual acts of leading people in sports is more than some of my friends, who are Eagle Scouts, and much more than the leading a class officer does. This also seemed to be the attitude of my various interviewers. As to the poor planning, I admit that I should've applied for the four year scholarship as well, but hindsight is 20/20. There were many other, more affordable schools, that had ROTC programs that I could take part in without the pressure of winning a scholarship. However, I was not accepted into these schools. I tried to make as many contingencies as I could, and have reached the last one. As for USC, I didnt like the school. Even though Navy is my ultimate goal, I have to go to a school that is up to par academically and one that I am interested in.

Also, I don't know where the Marine interest came in. I'm not opposed Marine Option, but I would prefer Navy over Marines.
 
Hi y'all,

First things first, you can skip to the last paragraph if you don't want the introduction.

I'm stuck in a predicament and really would like some opinions. I'm a senior in high school and am currently deciding between Clemson and GT for next year (mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering, respectively). My ultimate goal after school is to serve in the Navy, preferably as an aviator. GT has an NROTC program, while Clemson only has Army and Air Force. I know that I can go to Navy OCS after Clemson, but I would rather not hedge my bets on something as fluid as OCS.

I'd love to attend GT, but the cost is a huge obstacle. Without ROTC, I'd be graduating with probably over $80,000 in debt versus $10,000 from clemson. GT NROTC is my ultimate goal, but I'm somewhat scared of weighing $80,000 in debt on a scholarship that I may not get.

I didn't apply for a four year scholarship because I focused on USNA senior year. I received a nom but was not offered an appointment. Class rank is 15/250, 3.83 gpa, 10 AP courses (including two maths and two sciences), 34 ACT, varsity track and field, varsity football (two year captain), sergeant at arms of National Honor Society, National Merit Finalist, and I work. I know that college scholarships are based on college performance, and next year the only thing I know for sure I want to do is play club rugby.

My question for y'all is if I should attend GT with the hopes of receiving a scholarship. I know that they are incredibly selective, but I think I'm competitive enough to receive one. But, I know almost nothing about the process and would really appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks!
- Kris

Reach out to the Georgia Tech ROO to see what options they have available. Some schools will basically hand you a 3/3.5 year if you can come in with a high pt score and your other stats.
 
Kinnem,
Would you explain how I lacked leadership? I was an elected official of NHS and worked to organize many events. I was also a two year varsity captain of the football team. I know I'm not an Eagle Scout or class president, but I know that my actual acts of leading people in sports is more than some of my friends, who are Eagle Scouts, and much more than the leading a class officer does. This also seemed to be the attitude of my various interviewers. As to the poor planning, I admit that I should've applied for the four year scholarship as well, but hindsight is 20/20. There were many other, more affordable schools, that had ROTC programs that I could take part in without the pressure of winning a scholarship. However, I was not accepted into these schools. I tried to make as many contingencies as I could, and have reached the last one. As for USC, I didnt like the school. Even though Navy is my ultimate goal, I have to go to a school that is up to par academically and one that I am interested in.
I didn't say you lacked it.... I said based on what you mentioned you appeared to lack it. You didn't mention what you did as a leader in NHS, and I think team captain can be a leadership role or a popularity contest. Again you didn't mention anything other than you were team captain. I'll accept you went above the call of many and actually lead people. To me leadership isn't the position, it's what you do with the position. I also wasn't really trying to beat up on you (so to speak) but to perhaps shock you into doing a better job in the future. Some folks need that, perhaps you don't.

There are points for each school and I do hope your dreams come true. Sorry you have to wrestle with this decision. I also agree you need to attend a school your interested in. Different things for different folks.
 
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