January 4, 2011 AROTC Board

[Ohio2015Parent]

Sorry to hear about the death in your family.

Often when verification is requested it's because you are in the range for more financial aid. Maybe this will be you!

And are we now shooting for 60,000?

If we reach 60,000 views, I may just have to give out my real name or something special to celebrate.....

Yes, verification isn't great, but since I do all the paper work, I at least know what to send. Figured its either random or since this is the first FAFSA with 2 in college there was a big drop in our EFC and hoping our older DD may qualify for subsidized loans now. Only problem, they ask where DS is going to attend, of course, we don't know....luckily FinAid at this school is pretty awesome and have always been very helpful.

Father-in-law was a good man in the old fashion sense of the word. Wish he could be there for DS's hopeful 'big announcment' from ROTC, but he'll still know

 

[FloridaDad]

My DS keeps being told by his JROTC colonel not to worry he should get a scholarship but the waiting is very stressful.

 

[patentesq]

My DS keeps being told by his JROTC colonel not to worry he should get a scholarship but the waiting is very stressful.

Totall agree, FloridaDad. Given that most colleges haven't yet announced admissions decisions and responses aren't due until May 1, I keep reminding myself that receiving word now rather than later doesn't materially change anything at this point. Sure would be nice to know, though.

I know we have different theories about the reason for the delay (both of which are valid), but I haven't heard anyone demanding major cuts to AROTC. Yes, there likely will be fewer awards than last year, but even the proposed budget cuts to USMA amount to only a 5% reduction.

If the government does shut down, that doesn't necessarily mean that AROTC scholarships won't flow. It simply means that they will be delayed. In an odd way, a two-week extension of the CR could potentially mean a longer delay than a total shut-down (where there is considerably more pressure on lawmakers to get a deal done).

As for the Army budget process, I would be really interested to know if commanders (like CC) are authorized to extend awards based on an "expected budget" or whether Army regulations prohibit them from doing that. If the former is correct, we could see a conservative number of awards released.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, CC awarded AROTC scholarships last fall under a continuing resolution, so there shouldn't be an outright prohibition to doing it now.

 

[FloridaDad]

Lots of my DS's friends have already committed to schools. My DS's school is already running out of decent accommodation. The apartments we booked closed applications on the 17th Feb.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Lots of my DS's friends have already committed to schools. My DS's school is already running out of decent accommodation. The apartments we booked closed applications on the 17th Feb.

My DS is in the same situation, everyone has pretty much signed up and submitted housing contracts -- most schools are 1st come 1st serve for housing so if DS doesn't get contracted he will probably get the worst dorms(not air conditioned, far from food etc...). All of his schools are rolling admissions so we've known for months he's accepted, just waiting for ROTC to seal the deal. Most of his friends went with an ED option to their dream schools and are already to go.

Oh well, it will work out.

 

[sg1fan93]

Same thing with me OhioParent. I've been accepted to all the schools I applied to and am waiting for the scholarship to close the deal. Even if I don't get it, it'll at least cross out the really expensive schools.

 

[Texasblues]

I've been lurking for quite awhile. You all give some really helpful info.

DS has applied to NROTC(way back in the early fall) and has recently decided to apply for AROTC too. He was late to the game for AROTC so I hope this won't hurt his chances of receiving a scholarship. All he wants to do is become an officer in any branch that will accept him. Not sure why we put all our eggs in the NROTC basket but I suppose we were just being too optimistic. I'm realy tired of worrying about it all the time but somehow I can't seem to stop! Ugh, it's driving me crazy!

Does anyone know if they are selected for AROTC scholarship, is there some sort of orientation they are required to attend before they begin their freshman year?

 

[patentesq]

My DS is in the same situation, everyone has pretty much signed up and submitted housing contracts -- most schools are 1st come 1st serve for housing so if DS doesn't get contracted he will probably get the worst dorms(not air conditioned, far from food etc...). All of his schools are rolling admissions so we've known for months he's accepted, just waiting for ROTC to seal the deal. Most of his friends went with an ED option to their dream schools and are already to go.

Oh well, it will work out.

Ohio and Florida, what do the housing contracts say if you decide later on to back out? Is it surrender of one month's rent? Or are you locked in for a year? I suppose what I'm saying is what is the downside risk of proceding as planned and later find out that you have to give up the $300 tuition deposit and perhaps one month rent? I can't imagine that the school will sock it to students if circumstances beyond their control force a change of plans. Am I wrong?

 

[cjs]

Ohio and Florida, what do the housing contracts say if you decide later on to back out? Is it surrender of one month's rent? Or are you locked in for a year? I suppose what I'm saying is what is the downside risk of proceding as planned and later find out that you have to give up the $300 tuition deposit and perhaps one month rent? I can't imagine that the school will sock it to students if circumstances beyond their control force a change of plans. Am I wrong?

Most of the schools that we have ever dealt with will only cancel the housing contract for a few reasons and not attending the University is top of the list. The contract is cancelled, however the deposit is non-refundable.

FloridaDad's son is attending the same University that my daughter just graduated from this past May. They have real issues there with housing, though they have made things easier for freshman than they did a few years back. Without having a contract in place early, you can forget about living on campus.
This would be a situation where you would need to put the deposit down to safeguard a place on campus If that is where your child wants to be.

 

[patentesq]

The contract is cancelled, however the deposit is non-refundable.

cjs, how much is the deposit typically?

 

[gojack]

Does anyone know if they are selected for AROTC scholarship, is there some sort of orientation they are required to attend before they begin their freshman year?

Texasblues,

It varies widely school to school, University of Alabama AROTC PMS told my DS to plan on being a week early to do paperwork, PT test and get everything squared away. University allows them to move into their dorms a week early as well, avoiding the freshman move-in rush, so that's nice.

 

[cjs]

Texasblues,

It varies widely school to school, University of Alabama AROTC PMS told my DS to plan on being a week early to do paperwork, PT test and get everything squared away. University allows them to move into their dorms a week early as well, avoiding the freshman move-in rush, so that's nice.

The dorms where my son goes used to open up the week prior (on Sunday) to the school start date. This past year they moved it to the Wednesday prior. My son had to be there for AROTC first thing that Thursday and then also had some things on Friday.
I wish they would have allowed the week prior, freshman move-in rush was horrible!

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

The dorms where my son goes used to open up the week prior (on Sunday) to the school start date. This past year they moved it to the Wednesday prior. My son had to be there for AROTC first thing that Thursday and then also had some things on Friday.
I wish they would have allowed the week prior, freshman move-in rush was horrible!

When DD moved in freshman year it was great - very organized and they had a lot of help on hand from the Greek life and campus orgs. DD found out why they have so much help: sophomore year you can't move in until after 3pm that Saturday before classes start UNLESS YOU VOLUNTEER TO HELP MOVE IN THE FRESHMEN, then they move in 2-3 days earlier and avoid the chaos. Help the freshman for a few hours and you get a nice perk. Also looks good to the nervous Moms and Dads that everyone is sooooo helpful.

OH, deposits, $300 each school, non-refundable unless they receive in writing prior to midnight 5/1 no fax, no email accepted, USPS only, your withdrawal. Don't exactly have $600 to throw away, didn't think we'd need to, DS says he will make it work if it has to be the unwanted housing arrangement. Hopefully he contracts - both schools house their cadets together in one dorm and they aren't the non-air conditioned ones.... SMP cadets get into the better housing too so somehow, someway it will work out.

 

[paradoxer]

Cost of doing business

Although $300 would provide you with a nice night out it's pocket change when you look at tuition and fees for 4 years. He could buy a science book that the prof never uses and spend that much.

 

[FloridaDad]

Hopefully he contracts - both schools house their cadets together in one dorm and they aren't the non-air conditioned ones.

My DS's first choice actually book nice dorms for freshman. The ROO has already said if we let him know by May 1st that DS wants to do ROTC he will pass his name along to admission. That is a nice little perk because the dorms they book are single rooms and they are usually very hard to get for freshman. He doesn't have to dorm with the other cadets if he doesn't want to though.

 

[FloridaDad]

cjs, how much is the deposit typically?

How was $250. If we cancel before April 1st we lose $100. Between then and August 5th you lose the $250. Not too bad I suppose if its only ONE school.

 

[kas0912]

Out of curiousity....What do you do if you accept an AFROTC scholarship (because of deadline approaching and no answer on AROTC yet) but then later awarded a better AROTC scholarship? Especially if DS applied to all out of state schools. Does anyone know how that works? He is going with the flow and I am financially churning. His heart is Army but loves the AF as well. Thanks!

 

[FloridaDad]

You accept the scholarship and back out if you get a better offer later. Lots of people get offered scholarships, accept them and then back out. One college near me had several people drop out just before term started.

 

[patentesq]

OH, deposits, $300 each school, non-refundable unless they receive in writing prior to midnight 5/1 no fax, no email accepted, USPS only, your withdrawal. Don't exactly have $600 to throw away, didn't think we'd need to, DS says he will make it work if it has to be the unwanted housing arrangement. Hopefully he contracts - both schools house their cadets together in one dorm and they aren't the non-air conditioned ones.... SMP cadets get into the better housing too so somehow, someway it will work out.

Thanks, Ohio2015Parent, FloridaDad and paradoxer! Thank you for responding to my question. This information will be very useful for those who might be reviewing this thread in the future if there is another situation like the delay we are currently experiencing. What are your thoughts on the following hypothetical (I suspect that some of the folks on here thinking this through at the moment):

I don't think it is necessarily throwing the money away here if a DS/DD pays the $300 deposit to secure a room. I think it is fairly safe to say that we will hear from CC on scholarships sometime WELL before April 15. Assuming that one of our DS/DDs did not receive a scholarship (and the DS/DD is wanting to attend a school that has a similar May 1 deadline for obtaining a full refund), wouldn't that give the DS/DD enough time to provide the required notice to the school and get their money fully refunded? In other words, why not pay the deposit?

 

[kas0912]

You accept the scholarship and back out if you get a better offer later. Lots of people get offered scholarships, accept them and then back out. One college near me had several people drop out just before term started.

Really? I thought that might be the case. He feels so lucky to have one at all so he has some thinking to do~ Thanks for the quick reply