I still have not received a rejection for the 4 year national scholarship for NROTC but as time ticks by and im hearing back from colleges I'd figure that I should probably start applying to the college programs so I might get a chance of going to NSI. My question is should I start start applying even if I havent heard back from the 4 year scholarship? And should I apply to multiple units as a college programer as I would like to weigh my options and see who would send me to NSI?
College Programmer Question
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ProudDad17
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My advice would be not to worry so much about NSI or the NROTC unit in general. From what I am hearing NSI is going to be mandatory going forward and current 4/c mids who did not attend last year are being sent this year. Based on this, I would think most college programmers who apply to their units reasonably early should be able to attend. Even if you were not able to attend this summer, you would be fine. You would be able to make up the knowledge during your unit's orientation period. I highly doubt if any unit would be able to assure you that they could send you to NSI at this point.
The fit of the school is much more important. You will spend most of your time as a college student and this is much more important. The leadership and participants in an NROTC unit change often. My DS is in his 2/c year and none of the unit staff that was there when he was a 4/c is still there. Each new leader brings in their own experiences, priorities and personality and can have an effect on the operations of the unit. The NROTC curriculum however is the same at every unit. The culture and personality of a school changes much more slowly. Find the school that you will be most successful at.
If you do know where you plan to attend, there is no harm and may be beneficial to reach out to the NROTC unit to let them know you will be attending in the fall, you are still waiting on a NROTC scholarship decision, but are committed to joining the unit as a college programmer if you do not get a scholarship and ask if there is anything you should do now, such as applying as a college programmer.
The fit of the school is much more important. You will spend most of your time as a college student and this is much more important. The leadership and participants in an NROTC unit change often. My DS is in his 2/c year and none of the unit staff that was there when he was a 4/c is still there. Each new leader brings in their own experiences, priorities and personality and can have an effect on the operations of the unit. The NROTC curriculum however is the same at every unit. The culture and personality of a school changes much more slowly. Find the school that you will be most successful at.
If you do know where you plan to attend, there is no harm and may be beneficial to reach out to the NROTC unit to let them know you will be attending in the fall, you are still waiting on a NROTC scholarship decision, but are committed to joining the unit as a college programmer if you do not get a scholarship and ask if there is anything you should do now, such as applying as a college programmer.
Torero_dad
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I would recommend you look at the NROTC website for each school you are accepted at and understand their process. Many have specific windows that will open in the next weeks and specific processes and forms. You probably have all they want but you will need to assemble it and submit. DS (a programer) reported he was told not all who applied were accepted to a college program and that programmers for MO were only permitted in the last couple of years. He submitted a quality package early to two schools for programmer status. Accepted both and ended up being sent NSI.
You won't know if they will send you before the deadline to choose a school. And NSI is required beginning this year, so rest easy and pick what feels right to you.
I agree fit of the school is primary and key, but let us be clear; ROTC is a significant element of how you will experience the school (big/little unit, host or affiliate, regional service line facilities, the potential for rooming with fellow ROTC members, do they have a website, do they have the line you want). While RTOC may change more quickly than the institution itself; buyer beware. Folks competitive for a national scholarship will usually have several good options from which to select.
You won't know if they will send you before the deadline to choose a school. And NSI is required beginning this year, so rest easy and pick what feels right to you.
I agree fit of the school is primary and key, but let us be clear; ROTC is a significant element of how you will experience the school (big/little unit, host or affiliate, regional service line facilities, the potential for rooming with fellow ROTC members, do they have a website, do they have the line you want). While RTOC may change more quickly than the institution itself; buyer beware. Folks competitive for a national scholarship will usually have several good options from which to select.
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@expaustin Didn't we have this discussion just two weeks ago on this thread? https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/college-programmer.73255/#post-721151
Are you really expecting different answers? If you want to address it now with one or more schools, go ahead. No one here will stop you.
Are you really expecting different answers? If you want to address it now with one or more schools, go ahead. No one here will stop you.
My apologizes. I’m stressing out alittle bit and just trying to gain all the knowledge and information I can before I make a decision. When I was typing up the question I’d remembered I asked a similar one awhile back but I thought I might be able to get different insight.
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Repeating a question by reposting merely serves to offend those who gave you sound advice in the prior thread.
I guess I should've continued the previous thread. The question are a little different but it is about the college program so I do see what you mean. By all means I have no intention to offend as this forum and the people on it have provided me with so much information in the past months. Ill be smarter next time.