Jr college or 4 yr college as a re applicant?

S

stardust98

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DS was part of the TWE wave on Monday. He's ready to reapply but is tossing back and forth the prospect of his junior college for a year or a 4 yr college. Finances is a reason behind both decisions but hoping for some guidance on this next decision.
 
I would encourage your DS to attend a 4 year in-state college that offers NROTC (as a college programmer).

Yes, it will be more expensive than a Community College, but you have many more advantages:
  • NROTC is an additional source of a USNA nomination
  • NROTC will better prepare him for USNA.
  • NROTC gives him an alternative way of commissioning if he does not get into USNA the second (or third) time.
  • He can qualify for a side-load 2 or 3 year NROTC scholarship.
 
In my daughter's turn down letter it was pretty clear to attend a four year college:

"If you wish to reapply next year, you can continue to strengthen your application by continuing your education in a technical major at a 4-year college."
 
Some major state universities have regional or satellite branches that are part of the 4 year college system (many use these for freshman) and are cheaper. I know of a few that are even mandatory for freshman. It just depends on where you live.
 
Be very careful. 4yr colleges with large lecture class sizes can be a GPA killer. Local state colleges offer smaller class sizes (like they would see at USNA) taught by experienced professors (not grad students) who know how to teach. You want to mimic USNA course offerings as much as possible. Also, thoroughly research NROTC unit at big schools, they can be pretty unfriendly to college programmers (walk-ons). Private message me if you'd like more specifics.
 
Thank you all so much for your answers. We live in the panhandle of FL. I have some info now that I need to look further into thanks to you folks.
 
FSU has been an option for him but he's sort of floundering after the TWE. He had been open and ready for the possibility before making it as far as he did. I think he'll settle for FSU but the news needs to be processed I think
 
stardust98 said:
but he's sort of floundering after the TWE
Click to expand...

The biggest question your DS needs to answer is which goal is more important? 1. Graduate from USNA? or 2. Commission as a Naval officer?
Either way, his BEST chance of achieving either is to attend a four year college or a SA Prep school.

I would encourage you to have your DS pick himself up, dust himself off and visit FSU if he hasn't already done so. Contact the Naval ROTC cadre there or at the (cross town affiliate) and get him moving toward his end-goal.

My DS was pretty discouraged when he got the same TWE a year ago. Then he failed to win an NROTC scholarship. He was so confident he never applied for an Army ROTC scholarship. He ended up going non-contract AROTC at University of Nevada and earned a 3 1/2 year campus based scholarship by the end of his first semester.

I asked him if he wanted to reapply to USNA....and he said, "No, it will just put me a year behind schedule."
I keep saying, Plan C can become Plan A+

Go Seminoles!
 
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