Maximum cost you’d be willing to spend to attend

DS got his FA letter back from VMI. Basically since both mom and dad work and we are middle class, DS is not eligible for any FA other than a loan from VMI. AROTC scholarship will pay for tuition and fees but DS is on the hook for $13,5K a year to cover room and board. That's 54K a year if R and B after 4 years. Citadel offered 7.5K a year towards R and B. TAMU was zero FA except a loan. Norwich will pay R and B with the ID White Scholarship. 54K is a large amount to be on the hook for at graduation for a young LT. There are many non-SMC that will cover R and B. Look before you leap. At the end of the day, Do the troops and CO really care if you attended one SMC over another.
 
DS got his FA letter back from VMI. Basically since both mom and dad work and we are middle class, DS is not eligible for any FA other than a loan from VMI. AROTC scholarship will pay for tuition and fees but DS is on the hook for $13,5K a year to cover room and board. That's 54K a year if R and B after 4 years. Citadel offered 7.5K a year towards R and B. TAMU was zero FA except a loan. Norwich will pay R and B with the ID White Scholarship. 54K is a large amount to be on the hook for at graduation for a young LT. There are many non-SMC that will cover R and B. Look before you leap. At the end of the day, Do the troops and CO really care if you attended one SMC over another.
banjoppd - The Citadel full Room & Board is $7,968/year - whether you are in-state or out-of-state. So if your DS was offedred $7,500 - that is essentially full Room & Board. AROTC pays full tuition whether in-state or out-of-state.
 
banjoppd - The Citadel full Room & Board is $7,968/year - whether you are in-state or out-of-state. So if your DS was offedred $7,500 - that is essentially full Room & Board. AROTC pays full tuition whether in-state or out-of-state.
@glen - Are you still able to receive the $3500 ROTC Supplement in addition to the scholarship that @banjoppd referenced? If so, that would significantly reduce the out of pocket and would pay the majority of the quartermaster fee for year 1 - which goes down dramatically in year 2 because you already have the majority of your uniforms. Just a thought.
 
@glen - Are you still able to receive the $3500 ROTC Supplement in addition to the scholarship that @banjoppd referenced? If so, that would significantly reduce the out of pocket and would pay the majority of the quartermaster fee for year 1 - which goes down dramatically in year 2 because you already have the majority of your uniforms. Just a thought.
Additional awards above the $3,500/yr Supplement for national ROTC scholarship recipients, depend on the applicant's academic and other credentials, including offers for full Room & Board to applicants with ROTC scholarships. Full Room & Board is not guaranteed - it depends on the applicant's credentials. In some cases, cadets with exceptional credentials receive offers well above the cost of Room & Board, just like all other colleges.
 
Keep in mind VMI awards the majority of scholarship money to seniors, juniors, and some sophomores. A unique VMI factor is that nearly 100% of need is met. VMI just waits longer than most to award it because they have a high Rat (freshman) attrition rate.
 
Pursue VMI if you want to be hazed and generally hate your life. Tech provides better leadership development and quality of life.
 
Pursue VMI if you want to be hazed and generally hate your life. Tech provides better leadership development and quality of life.
Unsure if you’re using the term “hazed” literally or in the sarcastic way that cadets commonly use it to describe a variety of unpleasant circumstances where they “hate their life.” In the latter case, I agree with your first sentence. But I’m pointing out for posterity that VT and VMI are bound by the same hazing restrictions defined in VA state law.

With respect to your second sentence, you have a highly subjective claim paired with a much more objective statement, so I’m just leaving that lie.

(The above not stated with any animus...we all have opinions after all....clarifying since that can be hard to gauge in text)
 
I think everyone here kind of has the same stand/view point on this. I’m a cadet at SUNY Maritime pursuing a commission and merchant mariner credentials to serve as merchant marine officer after my time in the DOD. Attending a Federal academy like West Point or Kings Point was always a dream and is still a possibility for me (applying the KP again next year), however it didn’t work out initially. I still wanted theleadership development and military life style so I chose one of the state merchant marine academies. In my opinion if I can’t get into KP and receive the education for free, SUNY Maritime gives me the opportunity to pursue a degree, commission, and license that I’ve always wanted. It’s something I would pay any amount of money for but we have to obviously be realistic... More on the money part...

My mother especially has been very supportive of my decision to study at The school but has always warned me about the debt I’ll incur. Upon graduation I will be around 80K in debt (not including interest, which with the help of my family I am paying off now while in school). Merchant Marine Officers often make 100K or more for less than a full year’s work (sometimes working as little as 6 months a year if you wanted). So I know that my return on investment will be about 10K higher than my Debt at a minimum once I leave active duty military. I’ve done the numbers, ive even gone as far as picking out my future car, apartment, etc in order to see what my budget would like. My first 5-8 years after graduation while serving in the active military will be a bit of a struggle as the pay sucks, but on the flip side room and board isn’t something to worry about. Its a lot of money/debt to pay off but the experience and unique skillset I’ll gain at SUNY Maritime is extremely valuable. Think about after the military (if you did get out)... with your Bachelors that you receive from the SMC would you land a job paying at least your total student debt amount, easily ? Would you need to go back to school and incur more debt?

In your case there are several SMCs, they all lead to the same thing, a commission. There are no special licenses or credentials you’ll gain from one that you can’t get at another (unlike SUNY Maritime). Look into the cheapest option, but don’t choose a place you’ll hate. I applied and got into Norwich but it wasn’t for me, it might be for you. Check everything out. Don’t wait on a scholarship to make a decision because what happens if it never comes (I was in this boat).

Finally do what makes you happy but maybe sacrifice a little for financial purposes. Remember, not getting a 4 year scholarship doesn’t mean you can’t get a 3 or a 2 year scholarship! Work hard and pick up a contract. Additionally you may want to look into the SMP ROTC program through your school’s state Army National Guard. You’ll get paid as a NCO, get tuition assistance, or even a scholarship.
 
I think everyone here kind of has the same stand/view point on this. I’m a cadet at SUNY Maritime pursuing a commission and merchant mariner credentials to serve as merchant marine officer after my time in the DOD. Attending a Federal academy like West Point or Kings Point was always a dream and is still a possibility for me (applying the KP again next year), however it didn’t work out initially. I still wanted theleadership development and military life style so I chose one of the state merchant marine academies. In my opinion if I can’t get into KP and receive the education for free, SUNY Maritime gives me the opportunity to pursue a degree, commission, and license that I’ve always wanted. It’s something I would pay any amount of money for but we have to obviously be realistic... More on the money part...

My mother especially has been very supportive of my decision to study at The school but has always warned me about the debt I’ll incur. Upon graduation I will be around 80K in debt (not including interest, which with the help of my family I am paying off now while in school). Merchant Marine Officers often make 100K or more for less than a full year’s work (sometimes working as little as 6 months a year if you wanted). So I know that my return on investment will be about 10K higher than my Debt at a minimum once I leave active duty military. I’ve done the numbers, ive even gone as far as picking out my future car, apartment, etc in order to see what my budget would like. My first 5-8 years after graduation while serving in the active military will be a bit of a struggle as the pay sucks, but on the flip side room and board isn’t something to worry about. Its a lot of money/debt to pay off but the experience and unique skillset I’ll gain at SUNY Maritime is extremely valuable. Think about after the military (if you did get out)... with your Bachelors that you receive from the SMC would you land a job paying at least your total student debt amount, easily ? Would you need to go back to school and incur more debt?

In your case there are several SMCs, they all lead to the same thing, a commission. There are no special licenses or credentials you’ll gain from one that you can’t get at another (unlike SUNY Maritime). Look into the cheapest option, but don’t choose a place you’ll hate. I applied and got into Norwich but it wasn’t for me, it might be for you. Check everything out. Don’t wait on a scholarship to make a decision because what happens if it never comes (I was in this boat).

Finally do what makes you happy but maybe sacrifice a little for financial purposes. Remember, not getting a 4 year scholarship doesn’t mean you can’t get a 3 or a 2 year scholarship! Work hard and pick up a contract. Additionally you may want to look into the SMP ROTC program through your school’s state Army National Guard. You’ll get paid as a NCO, get tuition assistance, or even a scholarship.

SMP ROTC can be a very attractive and cost effective way of financing a college degree & gaining an officer's commission, but it leads to being a Reserve/Guard officer, not active duty.

It's not impossible to turning it into active duty but it's pretty hard.

If active duty is the ultimate goal, SMP isn't the route to take.
 
DS got his FA letter back from VMI. Basically since both mom and dad work and we are middle class, DS is not eligible for any FA other than a loan from VMI. AROTC scholarship will pay for tuition and fees but DS is on the hook for $13,5K a year to cover room and board. That's 54K a year if R and B after 4 years. Citadel offered 7.5K a year towards R and B. TAMU was zero FA except a loan. Norwich will pay R and B with the ID White Scholarship. 54K is a large amount to be on the hook for at graduation for a young LT. There are many non-SMC that will cover R and B. Look before you leap. At the end of the day, Do the troops and CO really care if you attended one SMC over another.

The "troops and CO" don't care if the 2nd looey in question attending Harvard or West Point or Glendale Community College. If they have a butter bar that's all that matters. That and their aptitude for being a junior officer.

I would recommend against incurring more than $30K in total college debt, then pay it off within 5 years of graduation. For the old timers on this board, that's about $15,000 in 1990 dollars. (Great tool: https://www.coinnews.net/tools/cpi-inflation-calculator/). A lot, but not overwhelming.

Drive a 6 year Honda Civic, not a new Dodge Challenger or Ford Mustang or big azz pickup truck. Take a tour of an active duty (both officer & enlisted) parking lot & you'll see lots of gas-powered muscle.

Eat at home, not at Chilli's or some other restaurant. Skip the movie theater, watch TV at home - basic cable, that is. Drink lite beers at home & skip the boys night out at the clubs. Get off the rack suits, not tailor made. Don't buy a new i-Phone when the next new model comes out each year.

This lifestyle isn't as fun but being debt free before you're 30, with a degree and military service ain't so bad.

And if no ROTC scholarship, don't free. After 36 months of active duty the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits kick in. THOSE are very lucrative, especially combined with Yellow Ribbon. Imagine going to Harvard for a law degree or MBA & getting $3500/month (or so) for housing. Not bad.
 
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