Denying a Scholarship

gabetrini

gabetrini

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Mar 5, 2017
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How does one go about denying an ROTC Scholarship they were awarded? And how long do you have to decide whether you want it or not, after being told you were awarded it?
 
You have a short period of time to accept your offer, around 30 days. However, that acceptance is non binding. Read the wording on what you are accepting and you will see that it is more like an acknowledgement of receiving the scholarship. You can decline the scholarship at any time up to going to school in the fall. In fact your freshman year is a trial year. You can drop out of the ROTC program, and scholarship, anytime before you step on campus your second (sophomore) year and there is no payback required.

If you do not accept the scholarship it will go away. Maybe others can tell you the mechanism on actually declining a scholarship after it has been accepted. Which ROTC program, Navy, Army or Air Force?
 
Was it a National HS Scholarship or a campus based scholarship for a current cadet?
 
5Day said:
You have a short period of time to accept your offer, around 30 days. However, that acceptance is non binding. Read the wording on what you are accepting and you will see that it is more like an acknowledgement of receiving the scholarship. You can decline the scholarship at any time up to going to school in the fall. In fact your freshman year is a trial year. You can drop out of the ROTC program, and scholarship, anytime before you step on campus your second (sophomore) year and there is no payback required.

If you do not accept the scholarship it will go away. Maybe others can tell you the mechanism on actually declining a scholarship after it has been accepted. Which ROTC program, Navy, Army or Air Force?
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It would be the NROTC Marine Option Scholarship
 
From a personal standpoint, receiving the MO Scholarship is a huge accomplishment in one's life as there are very few given out yearly. However, if you have no desire to become a Marine then there is no reason to accept it. Never do anything half-hearted.
 
MarinCrops said:
From a personal standpoint, receiving the MO Scholarship is a huge accomplishment in one's life as there are very few given out yearly. However, if you have no desire to become a Marine then there is no reason to accept it. Never do anything half-hearted.
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I think his concern is failing a drug test per this post:
gabetrini said:
I hear from some people that the DODMERB does not drug test anymore and from others that it still does. Anybody know the real answer?
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If I read one of their other threads correctly they have yet to hear anything regarding being selected for the scholarship.

Back on point. Things may have changed, but I recall if you do not answer in the mandated time frame from that branch the branch automatically assumes you declined the offer.

IE
They will send you the paperwork with a drop date of whatever date. If you do not respond by that date then they drop you. Silence on your part = no longer interested = declined the scholarship

Caveat: My DS was AFROTC, so it may be different for NROTC MO.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
I think his concern is failing a drug test per this post:
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Haha no, it probably looks that way but that's not the truth. Right now I'm deciding whether I want to stick with NROTC(if I receive the scholarship) or opt for the USMC PLC program. I'm undecided as to whether which commissioning option I should take. So that's why I asked if there is a way to possibly deny a scholarship award(if I even receive one anyway. If not, then for sure the PLC program would be my next option). The DODMERB question was out of genuine curiosity since I am hearing a lot answers from different people. I have no doubt that I'll pass a drug test(if there is one)
 
gabetrini said:
Haha no, it probably looks that way but that's not the truth. Right now I'm deciding whether I want to stick with NROTC(if I receive the scholarship) or opt for the USMC PLC program. I'm undecided as to whether which commissioning option I should take. So that's why I asked if there is a way to possibly deny a scholarship award(if I even receive one anyway. If not, then for sure the PLC program would be my next option). The DODMERB question was out of genuine curiosity since I am hearing a lot answers from different people. I have no doubt that I'll pass a drug test(if there is one)
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Why would you decline a NROTC/MO scholarship in favor of PLC?

A NROTC/MO scholarship assures you of advanced standing and a commission so long as you do everything asked of you academically and fitness-wise. PLC is NOT an assurance of a commission as it used to "top off" the needs of the Corps.
 
gabetrini said:
The DODMERB question was out of genuine curiosity since I am hearing a lot answers from different people. I have no doubt that I'll pass a drug test(if there is one)
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Please understand where that is coming from. I do not see any genuine curiosity of creating a thread if you have never used, because there is a search tab here and the drug question (marijuana) comes up every year without fail just like the sun will rise tomorrow. Creating a new thread on this forum will typically mean I need to know, not I want to know.

I am not trying to be harsh. You are a new poster and I get that, but even now, part of me is saying you are like the person that says I want to find out the answer for a friend of mine.

I also agree with AROTC dad. I am not sure why on earth you would consider PLC over the scholarship. Leave the money aspect out of it. Leave the "top-off" aspect out of it too. Think of bonding as an ROTC mid/cadet.
 
AROTC-dad said:
Why would you decline a NROTC/MO scholarship in favor of PLC?

A NROTC/MO scholarship assures you of advanced standing and a commission so long as you do everything asked of you academically and fitness-wise. PLC is NOT an assurance of a commission as it used to "top off" the needs of the Corps.
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I am not 100% set to decline the scholarship(if I receive it). I found out about PLC after I sent in my NROTC MO application. I'm just weighing out all possible options. There are some benefits in the PLC option just as their are benefits in the NROTC MO. I'm just trying to see which would may suit me best. So it's not set in stone that I'd decline a scholarship award. I simply just wanted to know more info about declining one if did follow through with that decision.
 
Pima said:
Please understand where that is coming from. I do not see any genuine curiosity of creating a thread if you have never used, because there is a search tab here and the drug question (marijuana) comes up every year without fail just like the sun will rise tomorrow. Creating a new thread on this forum will typically mean I need to know, not I want to know.

I am not trying to be harsh. You are a new poster and I get that, but even now, part of me is saying you are like the person that says I want to find out the answer for a friend of mine.

I also agree with AROTC dad. I am not sure why on earth you would consider PLC over the scholarship. Leave the money aspect out of it. Leave the "top-off" aspect out of it too. Think of bonding as an ROTC mid/cadet.
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It's probably impossible to make you believe me over a computer screen that it was just curiosity of mine(drug test). So, I am sorry for inquiring about it.
 
Just accept and don't show up in the fall for ROTC, they will decline you right there.
 
gabetrini said:
I am not 100% set to decline the scholarship(if I receive it). I found out about PLC after I sent in my NROTC MO application. I'm just weighing out all possible options. There are some benefits in the PLC option just as their are benefits in the NROTC MO. I'm just trying to see which would may suit me best. So it's not set in stone that I'd decline a scholarship award. I simply just wanted to know more info about declining one if did follow through with that decision.
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Well, you could accept and then just not show up. Professional courtesy would dictate that you let the cadre at the college know you will not be participating and are declining the scholarship whenever you make the decision. They could tell you what other steps yo should take at that time.

As others have said PLC is only a topping off mechanism. You also have to apply to PLC and be accepted, however I'm confident if you won a Marine Option scholarship you could get accepted to PLC. Nothing is ever assured though. I would also point out that PLC requires a great deal of discipline on your part. You will need to drive yourself to stay in shape at the vary least. NROTC gives you a support structure that you can thrive in. For the most part PLC does not. PLC is normally pursued by folks who could not get a side-load scholarship or are attending a college that does not have NROTC, at least as far as I've been able to tell.
 
kinnem said:
Well, you could accept and then just not show up. Professional courtesy would dictate that you let the cadre at the college know you will not be participating and are declining the scholarship whenever you make the decision. They could tell you what other steps yo should take at that time.

As others have said PLC is only a topping off mechanism. You also have to apply to PLC and be accepted, however I'm confident if you won a Marine Option scholarship you could get accepted to PLC. Nothing is ever assured though. I would also point out that PLC requires a great deal of discipline on your part. You will need to drive yourself to stay in shape at the vary least. NROTC gives you a support structure that you can thrive in. For the most part PLC does not. PLC is normally pursued by folks who could not get a side-load scholarship or are attending a college that does not have NROTC, at least as far as I've been able to tell.
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Yeah I love to PT/lift, so staying in shape would easily be all taken care of on my part. And yeah my top choice school sadly doesn't have an NROTC Unit, but they have a USMC Officer Selection Team located 10 minutes away from the University campus.
 
gabetrini said:
Yeah I love to PT/lift, so staying in shape would easily be all taken care of on my part. And yeah my top choice school sadly doesn't have an NROTC Unit, but they have a USMC Officer Selection Team located 10 minutes away from the University campus.
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Proximity of the Marine OSO notwithstanding, you do understand that PLC has no assurance of commissioning even if you max the PT scores and get straight A's?

If the Corps officer ranks has been filled by USNA, and NROTC/MO, then the Corps can opt to send ZERO candidates from PLC/OCS to TBS. This is what we mean by topping off. The primary source of Marine officers is USNA first and then NROTC/MO.....if after that there is still a need, PLC/OCS is selected.
 
AROTC-dad said:
Proximity of the Marine OSO notwithstanding, you do understand that PLC has no assurance of commissioning even if you max the PT scores and get straight A's?

If the Corps officer ranks has been filled by USNA, and NROTC/MO, then the Corps can opt to send ZERO candidates from PLC/OCS to TBS. This is what we mean by topping off. The primary source of Marine officers is USNA first and then NROTC/MO.....if after that there is still a need, PLC/OCS is selected.
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I completely understand that, and that will be taken into account if I have to make a decision between Scholarship or PLC. If I don't get awarded a scholarship, then it'll be PLC for sure for me(even though I know it won't guarantee anything, it's better than quitting altogether after being rejected from an NROTC MO Scholarship).
 
gabetrini said:
I completely understand that, and that will be taken into account if I have to make a decision between Scholarship or PLC. If I don't get awarded a scholarship, then it'll be PLC for sure for me(even though I know it won't guarantee anything, it's better than quitting altogether after being rejected from an NROTC MO Scholarship).
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My DS was in the following position, two years ago. He always grew up thinking Marine Corps infantry.
He applied to USNA, and The Citadel plus NROTC/MO. He also applied to a local university out West a few hours from home.
He was nominated but not appointed to USMA.
He was accepted to The Citadel but rejected for the NROTC scholarship.

The Citadel was out of state tuition and very expensive, plus across the country.
The local university offered him a small scholarship, plus we could afford to pay for it for four years. The problem was that it did not have NROTC either, but it DID have Army ROTC.

He ended up choosing to attend the local college and joining Army ROTC as a "walk on" About a month in, he received a call from the Marine Corps OSO suggesting he join PLC while also doing AROTC. My DS thought this over but decided it would be disloyal to his AROTC battalion and politely declined. By November he had earned a Army 3 year scholarship, later extended to another half year.

At this point he is in the top 10% of his battalion and should commission in 2019.

My point is that there are many alternatives to "quitting altogether"
 
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