My son was just offered this scholarship yesterday following first round of board reviews. While he is very appreciative of the offer, he is likely going to decline in hopes of being offered a 3 or 4 year scholarship during one of the later boards. At the end of the day, he would love to serve as an Army Officer and be Active Duty. Are we just holding onto false hope? He was labeled a “strong applicant” by his # 1 choice school. He is waiting to see if he is accepted there. We felt he had pretty strong stats / application, which is why he submitted for the first board (1370 SAT, 3.92 unweighted GPA, leadership / extra curricular’s/ work, etc…). Thank you in advance for any insight anyone can offer!
Ike Skeleton Scholarship
- Thread starter Momtomany
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GWU PNS (emeritus)
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When is the deadline to accept or decline the Ike Skelton scholarship?
Is it possible to accept this scholarship and later decline it if offered am AROTC 4 year?
Is it possible to accept this scholarship and later decline it if offered am AROTC 4 year?
The Ike skeleton scholarship offer says if you accept you are automatically out for the national 3 or 4 year rotc scholarship. Deadline to accept is 11/30
GWU PNS (emeritus)
George Washington University Capital Battalion
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Well I have learned something today about the Army side of the house. That makes it a really tough decision. Maybe a PMS on here can speak to the chances of picking up the 3 or 4 year AROTC scholarship. Not an easy call to make for sure.
Same boat here. I received the same offer yesterday, with no intention, and no want to join an MJC. The schools are super far away from me and personally, I'd prefer a normal-ish college experience. I was all gung ho to join my local college and join their ROTC hopefully with the help of a normal 4 or 3-year scholarship, but they offered me something I hadn't asked for instead. As well, still appreciative, an MJC is just not for me and I will most likely also be declining the offer. Taking this offer will also have me going to the Basic camp in the summer, which I won't technically medically qualify for because of a surgery I am having this next month, but will be fully eligible medically next fall.
However hopefully a glimmer of hope here for both me and your son. As the email states in its FAQ: "If you decline the offer then you will continue to compete until all boards have been concluded." This however may mean that neither of us will compete for another 4-year scholarship and will be probably bumped to a 3, 2-year, or none at all. Hopefully, if neither of those, or the 4-year scholarship, both your son and myself can compete for campus-based scholarships in the fall.
Best of luck to him!
However hopefully a glimmer of hope here for both me and your son. As the email states in its FAQ: "If you decline the offer then you will continue to compete until all boards have been concluded." This however may mean that neither of us will compete for another 4-year scholarship and will be probably bumped to a 3, 2-year, or none at all. Hopefully, if neither of those, or the 4-year scholarship, both your son and myself can compete for campus-based scholarships in the fall.
Best of luck to him!
Well said, and yes, everything he was thinking as well. I guess we will all just have to sit back and be patient. The silver lining is that there are many ways to achieve the same end goal, so even if a national scholarship is not awarded it’s not the end. Some scholarship money along the way would be icing on the cake! Good luck to you as well!!
Hoping we get some more people chiming in too who have maybe been through this experience and how they or their kid made out!
Absolutely, I just got off the phone with my local PMS at the school I was intending and he was incredibly helpful. We talked about all my potential scholarship options that would be available to me if in the subsequent boards I didn’t receive a 3 year. I would try and get ahold of the recruiting officer at the school your son is interested/intending on going to, or even better the PMS if he already has a solid connection with him/her like I do. This at least will get the ball rolling as a just in case.
Hope that helped and I hope your son has the best outcome possible!
Cowboysfan
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Just some reference for you. DS, now an MSIII, was offered Ike scholarship after first board when he applied. He declined hoping for a 3 or 4 yr at a later board. He was never offered a 3 or 4 year. He instead started his ROTC career without a scholarship and earned a 2 year while in school. Not saying your child won't get a 3 or 4 year in future boards but in my research I was told that those offered Ike scholarships were just below the cut line for the National Scholarships. Good luck to your child.
That’s great to hear! He will definitely reach out to his intended school to go over options! Good luck to you!! I am sure that you will both end up where you are supposed to be!
Did he have regrets of turning down the Ike Scholarship?
Cowboysfan
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No, I don't think so. None that he's ever expressed. He's is at a great school with fantastic cadre and has been surrounded by a great group of cadets. I think if I really pressed him he would say his only regret is that he had to wait until his MSII year to contract (and start collecting the monthly stipend).
That’s awesome!
Ready42025
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Accepted and reported requiring a medical waiver, as did 17 of 48 who arrived at the MJC in July 2021. Ft. Knox Medical team at basic camp refused to sign a safe to train and lost the scholarship. The LTC PMS at the school was PCS in July and was "lost" at the chain of command at the MJC to recommend approval. Contacted a retired 3 star who asked the CG of ROTC 2 star to look at this, and did, and almost continued....but the 04 (MAJ) Medical staff would not approve.
Was a 2-sport varsity athlete that was scored in the top 10% of PT upon arrival. In this case the July Change in Command (once every 4 years on average) at the MJC was not engaged, but PCS'ing to his new assignment, otherwise maybe a different outcome.
The MJC cadets usually perform very well at Advance Camp compared to state college AROTC programs as a 19-year-old compared to 20/21 year old cadets due to total emersion into training and culture. That would place him high on the OML (Order of Merit) list of the branch he wants. If your son can sacrifice 2 years, then comes the BIG Reward. Final 2 years at any school he's accepted to and already commissioned with time and grade, with a higher chance of the branch he wants, verses being "branch detailed" into the needs of the Army in AROTC. Meaning, you want to branch Signal, nope the Army needs Infantry officers, pack your bags for Benning (soon to be Moore).
Thank you for your input! Sounds like an interesting story! When did you get offered this scholarship?
Ready42025
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It was the March board. On the AROTC application, I selected an option that I would accept a Military Junior College scholarship. Was boarded by both AROTC and NROTC - Was also offered a NROTC scholarship but the waiver authorities are different. BUMED for Navy, and the Army Command can recommend for AROTC at the school, but the student is responsible for payment until medical waiver approval.