I live in NoVA. I have kids at each one of these schools...not ROTC.
I have to say JCC, I think you are wrong in your assumption. VT and GMU both have about 30k+ applicants and their admission SATs are about the same @1280.
The irony is my kids are the minority for their major at their colleges! DS is Bio Chen at GMU, which is more of a LAC school. DD graduated as an English major and is a Grad school fellow for a Master in Education at VT! They chose to be at those colleges because they understood college is more than academics, it is a feeling when youbwlk the campus. Have you ever seen either of these campuses? VT looks like it was used for Harry Potter. GMU looks like it was used for ...I don't know...think modern buildings! If VT folded tomorrow, Blacksburg and Christiansburg would fold. If GMU folded tomorrow, nobody would notice because they are the big employer in Fairfax VA. Honestly,No VA CC would probably fold that campus into their Annandale Campus!
Sorry, but I am with Jcleppe on this one. I am also not with GoArmy and his reasonings, especially since I am looking at it from the fact he is 21, not 17.
Look, I get a 17 yr old HS kid not thinking it through because they were enamored by the 3 hour tour. I don't get a 20 year old that left the GMU unit, he admits he was in AROTC in college and transferred this year.
Worse yet,fraternization is one of the reasons. Huh? Did he not investigate an SMC life prior to attending?
I am probably going to get in trouble with the mods for saying this, but let me first premise this.
GoAArmy, there is a poster from here that is at VT AROTC and I believe you need to talk to them because they are your peer and understand how you are feeling. That posters name is gridiron.
They are identical with you.
~ 21
~ Transfer student from NoVA
~ Was in AROTC as a NVCC student, I believe at GMU too
~ Non Stem major at VT
~ Issues with fraternization
Here's why I may get in trouble with the mods. I believe you are gridiron and have reincarnated yourself as GoArmy. I know that there are many transfer students at both colleges, but I have a hard time biting off that on a site like this, and with your background, that the two of you have not become fast friends. The whole lack of answering what do the folks think, also raises a red flag.
The question you need to ask is do you believe that GMU is going to rack and stack you high enough for AD if you say I came back because of fraternization issues at VT or I want an internship? Did you not apply to GMU too when you applied to VT? If you did what did you say to the PMS of why you were going to Vt instead of progressing within their unit? Guaranteed AD? What will be your response when they say to you, a year ago you CHOSE VT over us, why should we CHOOSE the cadets that decided to stay with us when they transferred over you?
If you are not gridiron, what are the folks saying? Are they seriously supporting this decision when you have yet to take a midterm? I would think most parents would have the same response as me.
~ Honey, this is common, apply if you want, but we don't want you to make a decision until March.
Than again you are 21, and a grown adult, which begs the question why you need advice from us? Do you want support? You have it, because at my age and many of the posters age, our ife is filled with regrets. I sure as sheaattt will not say don't do it, because I know looking back at what if is the hardest thing in life.
Just be honest is all I ask. Don't BS! It doesnt take a year to leave. Financial aid for every student, regarding the big bucks is Jan. Fafsa and pell for 2015 opens at that time. Unless you are looking for merit from GMU that isn't a factor. You will be a junior next year, and have admitted that you can live at home. You automatically get 7500, and off campus at GMU is @10k. Get a summer job, save every penny and you don't need more money. Get a job at GMU and take a student loan for 3k.
Be honest, because many of us can read through the lines. Ready to be called out, just had to put it out there instead of being silent!
You want too go home, than do it! You want to stay than do it! You are 21. In a few short months there are students at VT that will commission into the AArmy. The same age as you are. Many of them are not STEM, and many if ISIS becomes your generation of Al Queda will be on the front lines in a year from now.
Just saying think about it. JMPO, but your position says to me what NAS was saying, and due to the maintenance update was lost. Why do you want to do be in ROTC? Why? I suggest today, tomorrow and until the end of the week talk to MSIVs, ask them why AD, or why you should stay? Let it sink in. Think about the fact that although our President has assured the nation of no boots on the ground nobody can predict the future.