New Parent - seeking info on VMI, Citadel and ROTC Scholarships

jmom

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Oct 15, 2014
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Hi. I'm new. Don't know if I am doing this correctly but I will get the hang of it quickly!

My son is a HS Junior in Texas. He is extremely interested in attending VMI or Citadel and doing this with the help of an ROTC scholarship. We are touring VMI this fall and plan to follow in the Spring with Citadel.

I was hoping you could tell me how your son's experience has been at VMI or Citadel, what make him successful with earning the scholarship and any other seasoned parent information you would like to share would be so helpful.

My son is an AP student - still working on improving his GPA beyond a 3.5 at his highly competitive HS. He is an eagle scout, 3rd year of Varsity Swim and so on....

Look forward to hearing back!
LWolfe
 
Welcome lwolfe. My DS is at VMI on a 4 year AROTC scholarship. His stats included a 3.4 GPA, 3 varsity sports (small, rural NY high school), and Eagle rank. He was initially awarded a 3 year AROTC scholarship that was upgraded to a 4 year 3 weeks into the ratline.
A visit is excellent, your DS will stay with current rats and really get a feel for VMI. Staff doesn't sugarcoat any aspect of VMI; it was a atmosphere of this is what, who we are and if you don't want this, don't apply. DS came out of the visit dead set on VMI; even if USMA had offered.
One year later and VMI suits his goals and passion for this path. Every interaction we have had on post has been professional and positive. DS will be studying abroad this spring semester and was encouraged to do so. It is an intense school which will not appeal to the ordinary student, but has worked for us, so far, in every way.
 
Hello, Lwolfe - what does your son think of Texas A&M, and would he qualify for automatic admission? It is also a senior military college, and cheaper than VMI or Citadel for your son because it's in-state. Of course, these three campuses are not really the same, even though all three are SMCs. Cost is definitely a factor in awarding ROTC scholarships. Even if your son ends up winning one, it could be for Texas A&M and not VMI or Citadel.

This is a good time to prepare for the ROTC scholarship application, which he ought to do this coming spring and/or summer. Besides grades and sports, he should start prepping for the ACT and/or SAT tests, taking them several times if necessary. Leadership activities are also important; Eagle Scout is good, but it's also nice to show leadership roles on the swim team, clubs, etc.

While doing these tours of VMI and Citadel, I think it's a good idea to check out other options like TAMU (Spend the Night with the Corps), UNG, and some other in-state ROTC options. Besides listing VMI and Citadel on the ROTC scholarship application, he should also list some cheaper in-state options that he's willing to attend and is sure of being admitted to. Good luck.
 
While doing these tours of VMI and Citadel, I think it's a good idea to check out other options like TAMU (Spend the Night with the Corps), UNG, and some other in-state ROTC options. Besides listing VMI and Citadel on the ROTC scholarship application, he should also list some cheaper in-state options that he's willing to attend and is sure of being admitted to. Good luck.

UNG offers in-state tuition for out-of-state cadets. Let me know if you have any questions about North Georgia, which is also a senior military college. My son, currently a sophomore there, loves the mountain school.
 
DS is on a 4 year AFROTC at VMI. His GPA and SAT's were mid-pack for applicants who were accepted. He is a 3rd (sophmore) at VMI and still feels that he is where he belongs. He likes the small class size and actual one on one interation with the professors during and outside of class.

I can't overstate the importance of an overnight at VMI/Citadel prior to applying.

For the ROTC, being team captain on baseball counted just as much as the fact that he was also Vice-President of the German club, so club activities shouldn't be overlooked if leadership positions aren't an option in his sports.
 
Thank you for the info. I think he will try out to be captain of varsity swim for his senior year - but we will have to see how that goes. What is middle of the road. Can you be more specific about GPA and test scores? Did anyone's kiddo take SAT Subject tests even though they aren't required, to help showcase their academics? I really appreciate the time it takes to respond. Overnight to VMI set for November!
 
My DS did the overnight to V-Tech and hated it. We visited VMI and they were going to offer a full scholarship (at least that is waht I gatherd from the converstion). He chose The Citadel. I thought he would go to VMI after the visit. Do the overnights if possible. DS had a high GPA, SAT and three years of NJROTC no varsity sports. Guess that all goes to acceptance but I am sure your DS meets the cretia for acceptance from what you posted.

My son is not on an ROTC Scholarship but is SCANG SMP. The road has been a busy one. Drill once a month, Cadet duties, now ROTC which means his once a month or more weekend with ROTC on top of drill. Summer was Guard drill CLT, LDAC. Busy year....

The Citadel is a school my son love to hate ... I think the majortiy of Cadets are like that. The push by The Ciatdel is quickly leaning toward a VT or A&M set up according to my DS. He hates that direction and I agree I think it is a mistake for EL CID to go that route. Time will tell.

By the way DS got his class ring last weekend :) He acts like no big deal to him..... he has one thing on his mind...... ARMY.

There is another informative post on hear about The Citadel. PM me if you wish. Good Luck!
 
the 2016 profile holds up for my 2017 DS, his GPA and SAT score was almost exactly dead center of the 2016 profile.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum!

My DS is a current Rat at VMI on a 4 year AROTC scholarship. His background was varied: no Eagle (as so many great candidates are), but CAP, student gov't. president, varsity cross country, and robotics captain. He also did a third world mission trip with our church. GPA was in line with the others described here (about 3.6), and he applied to VMI with a completed application by November of his senior year. Although still a Rat, he is convinced that he is in the right place. He had a HS classmate who is at VTCC, doesn't like it, and who wants to re-apply to Annapolis. My son had applied also to West Point but has no intention of re-applying ... he is fully invested in the VMI experience.

I agree strongly that overnight visits are crucial. Your son will get an unvarnished look at the cadet experience at both schools, with real advice on the ups and downs from Rats or Knobs who are going through it. Be sure to go with him to take a look yourself ... I think both of you may quickly find which one (if either) suits your situation best.

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
Thank you for all the replies and if you PM'd me - the system won't let me reply even though I would like to.

It sounds like the credentials for VMI admission are different than that of a ROTC scholarship. I am trying to find out more about what it takes to earn a scholarship.

Much thanks!
 
He has what it takes to apply for a ROTC scholarship. My best advice is have him try to do the PMS interview at his number one choice school.
 
lwolfe,

Is your son not considering USMA? Just curious as Eagle Scout, AP classes, and varsity swim go a long way, provided he has some pretty good ACT/SAT scores. I mention it, of course, because if he is interested in SMC's like The Citadel and VMI, why not try for USMA?

My son was offered The Citadel as one of his ROTC options. He did pretty well on the ACT and SAT, though by no means aced either, and he was invited to the Citadel Scholarship competition which I believe he could have earned a 4 -yr full tuition academic scholarship. Not sure how that would have worked with both ROTC and the 4-yr academic. They might have given the academic to someone else w/o an ROTC scholarship.

If your son isn't totally committed to ROTC at a SMC as a route to commission or as a back-up to USMA application, I'd advise you to at least look into ROTC at TCU since you are in Texas. If your son puts it as one of his ROTC choices and receives a scholarship offer there, he can also get $10,000 per year in room and board from TCU if he has a 27 on the ACT or 1300 (M/V) on the SAT. Pretty good gig for such an expensive school. Basically go there for free. Which wouldn't be the case at UT or A&M since I don't think they kick in anything for room and board on ROTC students.
 
We will definitely be applying to USMA - just didn't know what their acceptance rate would be. His classmate and fellow swimmer at his HS is there and loves it. I have had suggestions to join the Civil Air Patrol in our area. It's just hard to find time for everything - as soon as he earned his Eagle - swim is now 3-4 hours a day. :)
 
We will definitely be applying to USMA - just didn't know what their acceptance rate would be. His classmate and fellow swimmer at his HS is there and loves it. I have had suggestions to join the Civil Air Patrol in our area. It's just hard to find time for everything - as soon as he earned his Eagle - swim is now 3-4 hours a day. :)

I don't think you need the CAP since he's got Eagle. That's a big deal. I would strongly advise you to find out what the process is for being nominated and/or getting into Boys State in your area of Texas. Some places are more competitive than others.
 
I agree with considering all the options (state schools, SMCs like VMI, etc.) and I would add that one benefit of an SMC over the academies is having the freedom to choose which service. For example, DS or DD may start in Army ROTC and end up commissioning a Marine or Air Force... it's about options and you don't have that same flexibility at the SAs. If DS or DD know with 100% certainty they want to be army, then go the USMA route, but not all 18 year-olds know exactly which service is the best fit for them...
 
IWolfe: I volunteer with The Citadel Admissions Office in the mid-atlantic. I would venture to say that no one can tell us with any certainty what credentials will secure a four year ROTC scholarship for next year's entering class, as candidates are reviewed by military service boards that meet each year to review candidates, and they review the pool of candidates versus the service's needs. The following is from the Army ROTC website - which has probably the most scholarships of the several services. Last decade, some candidates were accepted for 4 year scholarships that had close to the minimum posted below - doubt this is still the case. As for Air Force or Navy, unless applying for a STEM program, it will be difficult to obtain a 4 year scholarhip for these services:

REQUIREMENTS
Be a U.S. citizen
Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
Score a minimum of 920 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores)
Meet physical standards
Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)

Candidates for next Fall's class at The Citadel currently average 1113 SAT (math and verbal only) and 3.76 GPA (4.0 scale). But this is just the average for accepted HS students currently. This won't achieve any financial grants or scholarships either academic or ROTC - unless your son is a super football, baseball or basketball player! The Citadel does award about $3 million dollars a year in academic grants to highly qualified students, and there are separate scholarship programs for STEM majors (especially engineering majors). However, once at The Citadel, Cadets who are interested in committing to a service obligation can apply for 3 and 2 year ROTC scholarships - as well as academic grants - based on their perforance in college.

Realize that the Army and Marine Corps are reducing the number of commissions they need - which means the credentials for 4, 3, and 2 year ROTC scholarships will be increasing as the draw down continues in the military. Good luck.
 
lwolfe:

My son is a knob at the Citadel and on 4 yr Army scholarship. It sounds like your son is competitive for the scholarship. My son was 3.8 GPA, 12 AP's, JROTC leadership all 4 years, 2 varsity sports (captain), leader in various clubs, SAT 1380 (I think), 1000 hrs volunteering.

He's doesn't regret his choice one bit and neither do I. :)
 
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