What are the key differences? I don't have to pay tuition at my local university since my parents work there. So I don't think I will even bother with the scholarship as I would like to go to my state university, and my chances of scholarship are slim. My question: What are the key differences? Is it just money? Do non-scholarship cadets still have gear and uniforms? Can they still go on field trips?
Please list any differences you know of.
Actually there are some differences and it depends on which branch ROTC you are in.
I can give you some of the difference for Army ROTC, someone else will have to answer for the other services.
In AROTC it is all about the contract. If you are a 4 year scholarship cadet you can contract the first day of your freshmean year providing you pass the APFT.
If you are a 3 year Scholarship cadet you contract the start of your sophomore year.
If you are a non scholarship cadet you need to be recommended by the PMS to continue on to the Advanced Course and you contract the start of your junior year.
There are ways for a non scholarship cadet to receive a scholarship while in the program but that's another discussion.
Let's start with the freshman year, if your a contracted cadet you are eligible to apply for CULP which will happen the summer after your freshman year, remember, only 4 year scholarship cadets are contracted their freshman year. If your scholarship/contracted and meet the requirements set in the contract you will automatically move on to the next year. A non scholarship/non contract cadet will be competing with the other non contracted cadets for spots available the next year, you need to be at the top of your game with GPA and APFT.
Sophomore year, if you are not contracted your have a very slim chance of being able to attend any summer training such as Airborne or Air Assault, I know some battalions allow non contracted cadets to go but overall, and with the budget cutbacks, it will be a small number. During your sophomore year as a non contracted cadet you will again be competing with other cadets for the number of contract spots the battalion has available, which may be fewer then the number of cadets.
Junior year, Once you make it to this point you will be contracted and then there is no difference between any of the contracted cadets whether they are scholarship or not.
Some battalions will give you a full uniform and gear and some will not, it will depend on the battalion though most will try. If you sign up for all the classes, MS class, PT, Lab, you may be involved in all the activities, there may be some battalions that won't let you participate fully in some of the activities until you are contracted, it really depends on the battalion. It's a good idea to talk with the battalion and see how they run their program in respect to non contracted cadets. In some battalions as a non scholarship/contracted cadet you can still participate in Ranger Challenge and Color Guard, Color Guard will depend on if they give you a dress uniform, again this depends on the battalion.
The end resul, if you work hard, keep your GPA up and your APFT high and become involved in the battalion you should be able to make it through the first 2 years and move toward your commission.
The fact is that higher percentage of cadets in AROTC these days are non scholarship.
Other then the things I mentioned above you will not be treated any differently as a non scholarship cadet, your goal is the same as everyones. You will just need to work hard in both school and ROTC to maintain your position and stay in the program.
One tip...Don't call them Field Trips, they are Field Exercises, I got what you meant though.