My DD applied for and was NOT awarded a national ROTC scholarship. We had made the decision and financial commitment to attend UNG regardless of her award status. After visiting UNG, VMI, and TAMU, and several conversations with a recent graduate of The Citadel, she thought UNG was the best fit for her. (She hopes to receive an active duty commission when the time comes. Her current career goal is career service.)
We have recently been contacted by the PSM of the state university where she completed her ROTC interview, which was the school she had listed as her 3rd choice on her national application. He is interested in offering a 3-year university ROTC scholarship and basically told her she was at the top of his list. He knows her first choice is UNG and has told her that he will wait to award until after her orientation at UNG later this month, and has invited her for a campus tour after we return from orientation.
Cost of attendance without the scholarship is similar at either university. Although it would the ROTC scholarship would be a blessing, we were already willing to do what was necessary to cover the financial obligation to attend the SMC.
So here are some facts:
In-State:
1. Larger university (20,000+ students)/Small Cadet Corp (<100 students)
2. Closer to home (3 hr drive)
3. DD's first choice BEFORE she decided on military service
4. Large Div I athletic program and campus loyalty (my DD LOVES college sports)
5. "Normal" ROTC
UNG
1. Smaller university ( 7,000 ? students)/Larger Cadet Corp (700+ student)
2. Farther from home (16+ hr drive)
3. DD's first SMC choice AFTER she decided on military service
4. Military culture evident in school/campus ( my DD was very impressed by this on our visit)
5. Full-time ROTC
I guess the real question is this, is the SMC experience at UNG worth more than the monetary value of the scholarship for a cadet who hopes to get an active duty commission? FYI, we are not a military family, so we have very little knowledge to base this on.
Any insight is helpful. What questions should we ask at each school? What things should weigh heavier in the decision-making process? HELP!
We have recently been contacted by the PSM of the state university where she completed her ROTC interview, which was the school she had listed as her 3rd choice on her national application. He is interested in offering a 3-year university ROTC scholarship and basically told her she was at the top of his list. He knows her first choice is UNG and has told her that he will wait to award until after her orientation at UNG later this month, and has invited her for a campus tour after we return from orientation.
Cost of attendance without the scholarship is similar at either university. Although it would the ROTC scholarship would be a blessing, we were already willing to do what was necessary to cover the financial obligation to attend the SMC.
So here are some facts:
In-State:
1. Larger university (20,000+ students)/Small Cadet Corp (<100 students)
2. Closer to home (3 hr drive)
3. DD's first choice BEFORE she decided on military service
4. Large Div I athletic program and campus loyalty (my DD LOVES college sports)
5. "Normal" ROTC
UNG
1. Smaller university ( 7,000 ? students)/Larger Cadet Corp (700+ student)
2. Farther from home (16+ hr drive)
3. DD's first SMC choice AFTER she decided on military service
4. Military culture evident in school/campus ( my DD was very impressed by this on our visit)
5. Full-time ROTC
I guess the real question is this, is the SMC experience at UNG worth more than the monetary value of the scholarship for a cadet who hopes to get an active duty commission? FYI, we are not a military family, so we have very little knowledge to base this on.
Any insight is helpful. What questions should we ask at each school? What things should weigh heavier in the decision-making process? HELP!