Does anyone what the process is for Navy to notify school of scholarship?

B

blueskies2020

New Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Messages
4
My son received a National NROTC scholarship award in early March which was placed at his first choice university- that he was subsequently accepted into as well. His recent financial aid letter from the university made no reference to his NROTC scholarship and when he queried them they replied they had received no notification of his scholarship from the Navy. Does anyone know if notification comes from the NROTC unit at the university or directly from the Navy?
 
It normally comes from the unit when they inform them who has received a scholarship. They do this notification so students can start the semester without paying tuition. Since tuition isn't due at this time they have plenty of time to do the notifications. I doubt they do it in onesies and twosies, but send a complete list at one go. With transfers and stuff I doubt their lists are complete and accurate.
 
When DS notified his FA office of his scholarship in January they said they usually get the list from the unit over the summer, July usually, and will adjust any FA awards at that time. Since NSI isn't happening this year, I'm guessing they'll get the list earlier than usual, but it won't be reflected until the unit notifies them.
 
I've been a NROTC parent for 7 years, going on 8 all at same school same Unit...keep in mind NROTC staff changes frequently and with that I've seen changes to when the University was notified...yes, it's usually one list sent at once. My experience has been that it's at the start of the semester. If the university offered your Midshipman any Grant's without consideration of the NROTC scholarship it will most likely be taken away when readjusted for scholarship...anyway, this past fall, I continued to receive a bill from the university through October for tuition. I had paid r&b but not tuition...I called the university and they said they didnt have list yet in early October. Tuition was paid by Navy shortly after...my hunch is they waited until new DOD fiscal year which starts in October. I've also noticed they dont reimburse book stipend as early in semester as they used to....
 
goirish1 said:
I've been a NROTC parent for 7 years, going on 8 all at same school same Unit...keep in mind NROTC staff changes frequently and with that I've seen changes to when the University was notified...yes, it's usually one list sent at once. My experience has been that it's at the start of the semester. If the university offered your Midshipman any Grant's without consideration of the NROTC scholarship it will most likely be taken away when readjusted for scholarship...anyway, this past fall, I continued to receive a bill from the university through October for tuition. I had paid r&b but not tuition...I called the university and they said they didnt have list yet in early October. Tuition was paid by Navy shortly after...my hunch is they waited until new DOD fiscal year which starts in October. I've also noticed they dont reimburse book stipend as early in semester as they used to....
Click to expand...
And another possible reason for a delay is to allow mids to pass the initial PFT to activate the scholarship
 
kinnem said:
And another possible reason for a delay is to allow mids to pass the initial PFT to activate the scholarship
Click to expand...
That has been my experience with DS2 a couple semesters...but this past year, Fall semester the delay was until October with inventory PRT completed in August but Spring tuition was already paid before semester started so the only item on my spring bill was r&b so Spring did not wait for inventory PRT....I guess the point is...it can vary depending on unit and then it can vary in same unit year to year.
 
blueskies2020 said:
My son received a National NROTC scholarship award in early March which was placed at his first choice university- that he was subsequently accepted into as well. His recent financial aid letter from the university made no reference to his NROTC scholarship and when he queried them they replied they had received no notification of his scholarship from the Navy. Does anyone know if notification comes from the NROTC unit at the university or directly from the Navy?
Click to expand...

I asked DS this, who sent an email (in response to some other email goin on). He asked about the fact that his NROTC scholarship was not reflected on his financial aid award letter from the school.

In summation, the response he received, was basically ‘you are awarded the scholarship, but it’s not complete and activated and until you pass DODMERB, PRT and NSI’.

The point that was made is that he still doesn’t have it, until successfully completing a few things. Then the school receives notification. It made Sense! And was also a wake up call to mom that thinks can still go ‘wrong’
 
Last edited:
Just a general comment for those starting their ROTC scholarships this Fall. Injury, grades, a medical issue, potentially a discipline incident, ability to perform to physical standards - and the fact that some young people just don't find ROTC/ the military is for them despite how they thought it would be, yield there are some risks that those who accept the scholarships will not ultimately commission. I don't think many of the national scholarship winners for Navy intended to not make it through their first year - much less even through 3 weeks of training at NSI. But many simply more than 100 have not made it/ are not continuing already, and statistically more will not make it through all four years. I've too seen a number of AROTC participants after some grueling overnight marches/ weekend work just throw in the towel - tough people, in-shape people - the last people one would think she/he will quit, but they are pushed to and learn they have a limit. Just a hard fact.

If you activate the scholarship and make it through your first year, you owe nothing and can walk away with a free year of school. But after that, unlike the academies which give you two years before you commit, in ROTC it's the start of year 2 when you do that - and if it doesn't work out, you would owe moneys back for the training/ schooling. Just as you make your decisions on what schools to attend, you should have some what-if discussions and discuss committing to at-least a full semester, if not 2, if you can. Discuss what happens if you don't. What if you have to pay it back. What if the scholarship is never activated because I/ my child cannot make the physical standard on-demand? What if I suddenly owe three years of tuition back? What if my leader decides I am not meeting a standard, and I am dropped? There too could be service obligation even if you can't commission as an officer.

Just know this isn't like the "free" toaster you get when you sign up for a new bank account, or set of steak knives you get for going to listen to a timeshare pitch. Strings are attached. Much like a division I athlete - if you can't make the grade, it's a pretty icy cold world. As I've said in prior threads, if you have a pile of money from an inheritance or stock boom or whatever, then you can just go to the pile and grab some if needed. But not everyone is in that situation (most of us are not) and not everyone in that situation today will still be in that position in 3-4 years.

OK, hope that helps perhaps some of you to prompt those discussions so that you're prepared if needed, and more importantly, not financially devastated.

Good luck all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top