How important is NROTC major

J

Justin HELPmomStocksPosts

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I’m hoping to go to University if Florida and wanted to know how important it is to pick a tier 1/tier 2 major for NROTC. I’m really interested in biology or marine biology but I’m a bit confused.

Biology is listed as a tier 2 major on the University of Florida applicant handbook but not on the NROTC website. Thoughts?

Oceanography is posted on the NROTC website as a tier 2 major and I would love to study that but no Florida schools with NROTC have oceanography to the best of my knowledge.

I know marine biology is obviously a different subject but don’t they cover a lot of the same material to an extent. UF does have marine biology so I guess I wanted to ask how much marine bio would differ as far as acceptance rate vs oceanography.

Thanks!!
 
Both of my guys that were interested in NROTC, met with the unit at their desired school when they did an admissions visit for that school. It was one of the sessions offered when the signed up (all ROTC programs were).

The best info/insight they got regarding the program was at that briefing. Don’t know what grade you are in, or how close you are to the unit to facilitate a visit, but it was VERY beneficial. Good info about the program, how to apply, and questions answered. Including major selection. And yes, it was pointed out that major selection matters.

Look at the unit at the school you want to attend. Check them out online through the school. See if they have opportunities such as this. Ours used to even have a ‘shadow a Mid for an overnight’ type program.
 
From the NROTC website: "In order to keep pace in this high tech and diverse environment, approximately 85% of Navy Option Navy ROTC scholarships offers will be awarded to students interested in completing a Tier 1 or Tier 2 academic major."

https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Program-Info/ "Scholarship Selection Criteria"

As far as the disparity between NROTC website and the UF NROTC handbook regarding biology as a Tier 2 major, this is also posted on the NROTC website: "We realize that some of the academic majors listed above may not match word-for-word the majors offered at each of the more than 166 colleges and universities partnered with Navy ROTC. If you have questions about how a major at a particular school fits into our Navy ROTC academic major tier categories or our language program, please contact the Navy ROTC unit located at that school." Same weblink as above.

If UF NROTC lists biology as Tier 2, then it's Tier 2. Even better, call the unit to confirm.
 
It also depends on the univ. For example my DD attends The George Washington University GWU and it has one of the highest levels of Tier 3 in the country. Mostly due to it being one of the few schools that offers a International Affairs major. There generally it wont matter which tier you choose. Its one of the questions you can ask the Battalion when visiting.
 
FtWorth dd Dad said:
It also depends on the univ. For example my DD attends The George Washington University GWU and it has one of the highest levels of Tier 3 in the country. Mostly due to it being one of the few schools that offers a International Affairs major. There generally it wont matter which tier you choose. Its one of the questions you can ask the Battalion when visiting.
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Don't mean to hijack.

I graduated from GW in 1978 with a degree in International Affairs with a specialization in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Unlike now, when I applied, you could get in with an expired fishing license. If like being in the middle of it all, GW is a perfect place to be.

I was successful in one particular Eastern European affair: my wife Polish wife of 41 years.

Best of luck to your DD!
 
Thank you so much!!!!

Go Dores! said:
From the NROTC website: "In order to keep pace in this high tech and diverse environment, approximately 85% of Navy Option Navy ROTC scholarships offers will be awarded to students interested in completing a Tier 1 or Tier 2 academic major."

https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Program-Info/ "Scholarship Selection Criteria"

As far as the disparity between NROTC website and the UF NROTC handbook regarding biology as a Tier 2 major, this is also posted on the NROTC website: "We realize that some of the academic majors listed above may not match word-for-word the majors offered at each of the more than 166 colleges and universities partnered with Navy ROTC. If you have questions about how a major at a particular school fits into our Navy ROTC academic major tier categories or our language program, please contact the Navy ROTC unit located at that school." Same weblink as above.

If UF NROTC lists biology as Tier 2, then it's Tier 2. Even better, call the unit to confirm.
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Justin HELPmomStocksPosts said:
I’m hoping to go to University if Florida and wanted to know how important it is to pick a tier 1/tier 2 major for NROTC. I’m really interested in biology or marine biology but I’m a bit confused.

Biology is listed as a tier 2 major on the University of Florida applicant handbook but not on the NROTC website. Thoughts?

Oceanography is posted on the NROTC website as a tier 2 major and I would love to study that but no Florida schools with NROTC have oceanography to the best of my knowledge.

I know marine biology is obviously a different subject but don’t they cover a lot of the same material to an extent. UF does have marine biology so I guess I wanted to ask how much marine bio would differ as far as acceptance rate vs oceanography.

Thanks!!
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Just wanted to share a recommendation - you should pursue your dream major and branch, and can also apply to different tier majors to different branches. You can apply to Army, Navy, AF via SA and or ROTC paths if your desire is to serve. For example, my DS took the approach of applying ROTC only (no SAs since that wasn't his jam) under Aerospace engineering for AF since he had 12 credits in Eng from dual-credit HS, but with his desired Tier 3 major for Navy, Army and received 4 years in all 3. fyi Marines/ Army generally care less about majors than Navy option, nurse option Navy or the (Ch)Air Force- *so playfully named since most people sit behind a desk, not behind the yoke, in that branch:)

I'll also share my childhood neighbor has a marine biology degree, now PhD, and on it's own the undergrad degree, he states, it's relatively useless - that career path may require an advanced degree - plan accordingly. To me this degree ranks up there with Philosophy, Psychology, and Aeronautics as a difficult sell for usefulness other than checking the box that you have "a" college degree - but pursue your passion - full disclosure, I have a philosophy and psych undergrad degrees and knew this guidance but also knew I would get advanced degrees too- but that was what I found interesting so " no regerts"- follow your dreams. Good luck.
 
Go Dores! said:
From the NROTC website: "In order to keep pace in this high tech and diverse environment, approximately 85% of Navy Option Navy ROTC scholarships offers will be awarded to students interested in completing a Tier 1 or Tier 2 academic major."

https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Program-Info/ "Scholarship Selection Criteria"

As far as the disparity between NROTC website and the UF NROTC handbook regarding biology as a Tier 2 major, this is also posted on the NROTC website: "We realize that some of the academic majors listed above may not match word-for-word the majors offered at each of the more than 166 colleges and universities partnered with Navy ROTC. If you have questions about how a major at a particular school fits into our Navy ROTC academic major tier categories or our language program, please contact the Navy ROTC unit located at that school." Same weblink as above.

If UF NROTC lists biology as Tier 2, then it's Tier 2. Even better, call the unit to confirm.
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A bit off OP's topic, but I'm hoping you can answer this. Do you know what percentage of NROTC applicants apply as tier 3 or LREC majors? This could affect scholarship odds as well. If only 15% of NROTC scholarships go to tier 3/LREC, but only 8% of total applications are for these scholarships, it would increase odds percentage wise, but if 20% were for these scholarships, it would decrease odds, from a sheer numbers perspective.
 
ProudDad17 said:
A bit off OP's topic, but I'm hoping you can answer this. Do you know what percentage of NROTC applicants apply as tier 3 or LREC majors? This could affect scholarship odds as well. If only 15% of NROTC scholarships go to tier 3/LREC, but only 8% of total applications are for these scholarships, it would increase odds percentage wise, but if 20% were for these scholarships, it would decrease odds, from a sheer numbers perspective.
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I don't know the percentage. Educated guess based on the boards I've sat on is that it is close the 15% +/-.

IMHO, the announcement on the website (~85% scholarships go to T1/T2) has a HEAVY influence on the Tier selection of the applicants. So much so that the NSTC desired result becomes what we see on the intake (applications). Human nature....you want a scholarship, NSTC tells you what they want to see in applications, and the application pool eventually reflects that.

Board members see the applicants desired major, but the desired major has zero part in the scoring matrix. Applicants aren't given a points bump by applying for a Tier 1 or 2 major over Tier 3/LREC. Additionally, I've sat on boards early in the season and late in the season. Applicants are not picked/rejected early or late simply because of Tier selection on their application. For example, NSTC is not holding scholarships back from Tier 3/LREC applicants in Nov/Dec just because a bunch were picked in the Sep/Oct boards.
 
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