How does school selection and admission work with ROTC?

J

James8284

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Apr 17, 2022
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If you are awarded an ROTC scholarship, do you get to choose among your top schools or do they automatically place you in one? What if they place you in a school and then you can't get in when you apply to the school?
 
For Navy, once selected, you will typically be placed at your #1 school. If you do not get accepted there, you can transfer the scholarship to one of your other 5 schools fairly easily. If for some reason you wish to transfer to a school not on your original list of 5, that can be dome but the PNS for this new school usually needs to give concurrence for that to happen. It isn't automatic but it happens nearly every year for a range of reasons.

The school choices are not factored for scholarship board decisions. By that I mean you don't get any special points because you chose an Ivy or a Tech school as a top pick. Your tier level for major can and usually is a factor.

For Marine Options, I have never sat on one of those boards but have been told the major is not a factor like it is for the Navy. Your PFT score is a factor.....and it's a big one.
 
James8284 said:
I'm applying for both Army and Navy ROTC scholarships.
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For Army ROTC last year my son was awarded a scholarship for use at his ranked #1, #2, and #4 schools (2 private and 1 public, in that order). I believe others have said that you can request a change if needed, but that was how it worked.
 
Cmac154 said:
For Army ROTC last year my son was awarded a scholarship for use at his ranked #1, #2, and #4 schools (2 private and 1 public, in that order). I believe others have said that you can request a change if needed, but that was how it worked.
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And was he able to choose any one of those schools?
 
James8284 said:
And was he able to choose any one of those schools?
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Yes. A PMS would be in a better position to explain how they choose which they award to. #1 and #2 were comparable in cost and #4 was an in-state public so was lower tuition than the others. #1 and #3 were SMCs and #2 was a private school. If you haven't already, consider schools that will give you a grant to cover your room and board if you earn a national scholarship. It makes a huge difference! Good luck!
 
For AROTC- once you get your scholarship, you will get to pick from three schools, typically they are your top 3 from your application. When you accept you will then have to pick one of the three.

That doesn't lock you into anything, you can pick another school, through a request.

One thing- schools can see where you placed them. Meaning the PMS and the ROO.

One of local state university "ghosted us" early in the process when they could see they were the bottom choice for my DS. We had to drive OOS to get our interview in time for first board. The ROO, ignored multiple emails requesting interviews, including calls to the detachment. After he said to our face- why is ________ college your last choice. Not sure, but the optics aren't good on that ROO in my opinion.

Here is what I would recommend-
First choice, don't game it, put your top choice at the top.
Interview with that school if you can.
 
ASKMEAGAINDAD said:
For AROTC- once you get your scholarship, you will get to pick from three schools, typically they are your top 3 from your application. When you accept you will then have to pick one of the three.

That doesn't lock you into anything, you can pick another school, through a request.

One thing- schools can see where you placed them. Meaning the PMS and the ROO.

One of local state university "ghosted us" early in the process when they could see they were the bottom choice for my DS. We had to drive OOS to get our interview in time for first board. The ROO, ignored multiple emails requesting interviews, including calls to the detachment. After he said to our face- why is ________ college your last choice. Not sure, but the optics aren't good on that ROO in my opinion.

Here is what I would recommend-
First choice, don't game it, put your top choice at the top.
Interview with that school if you can.
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I can attest to this experience as well. DS recently completed his PMS interview for AROTC. He interviewed at the 2nd school choice and they mentioned they saw they were 2nd on his list. Luckily the PMS had the same two choices so they were understanding. I can imagine how awkward that can be especially for a last or none selected school interaction.
 
The nearest detachment where DS could interview was with a school that wasn't even on my son's list.

Due to COVID, his number one choice wasn't doing in person interviews so DS interviewed via zoom with his number one choice.

Looking at his scholarship letter, his top 3 schools were listed, but in alphabetical order, not the order he ranked them.

In the end he ended up only applying early decision to his number one school.
 
My DS was awarded a 4 year AROTC last year to his top 3 schools. They say it doesn't matter where you interview or how you list schools. My DS was accepted at all his schools at time of award except UCLA and UCSB since they release admissions after 2nd board. He was eventually accepted at those two as well. The PMS for both reached out to him since they saw he had a 4 year and told him if he wanted he could transfer before he selected school. They were not in his top 3. His top 3 were all private schools. All much higher tuition. But also much more likely to give additional merit aid to a student with no "need". He interviewed with the school that was his top choice. Since I know they can see that. I think it helped but that is a guess.
 
With AF you need to get the scholarship and also get accepted by the school. Lady at Georgia Tech said they had a few think that since they got a AF ROTC Type 1, it was just pick your school and show up. The Detachment can help with admissions from the vibe we got with AF ROTC,.
 
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