Notre Dame ROTC

HowBoutThemApples

HowBoutThemApples

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Joined
Nov 15, 2019
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167
Hey everyone I'm applying to a NROTC scholarship and my counselor thinks I'm a "Lock" to get a 4 year. Of course I take this worth a grain of salt and I understand the competitiveness and the uncertainty of receiving a scholarship... my number 1 is Notre Dame but I'm not sure that I will receive admission

Part of me wants to put Notre Dame as my first option so then I receive the scholarship there and I can contact admissions, because I've heard pretty much everywhere that the NROTC program has a pull in admissions at ND. My worry is that if I don't get into ND my other options for ROTC programs(RPI, Clarkson, Syracuse, Penn State) could be filled and I wouldn't be able to switch, leaving me with a scholarship I can't use... or I end up with my last choice

The other part of me wants to make ND my number 3 because it is a reach school, and then if I get admission then I can hopefully switch my scholarship there. The problem with this is that I don't think I would get that pull in admissions from the scholarship. Also Notre Dame seems like a program that fills pretty quickly.

I'm leaning towards to make ND my number one... any advice?
 
Unlike some years back, winners of the NROTC scholarship have the option to use the scholarship at any university that has a NROTC program for the the class of 2023 and 2024. There is no cap for how many can be applied at specific schools. I have not heard that is changing for this year's applicants. translation: list the schools you want to use it at, go for it, and if you get the scholarship you can use it where you want. Fyi, prior years had caps or a limit of how many could use it, where. "filled" no longer applies/ is no longer the case.

For some programs,with too many college programmers, I have seen a handoff from NROTC to AROTC where on day 1 they were introduced to the AROTC ROO and advised they didn't have room for them if there was any issue - late, failed PFT, late paperwork. But that's not directly related to your question - just fyi sharing.

With respect to your counselor's assurance, well done on taking that with a grain of salt. We see young adults or their parents/guardians post every year that they were perplexed as to why they only got a AFROTC type 7 with their amazing stats, only got a 3 year AROTC scholarship with their amazing stats, or got no offer at all from Navy on the national scholarship or Army, Air Force ANYTHING despite being a prototypical perfect candidate on paper.

I have a high opinion of the NROTC program and school at Notre Dame - at the ship selection ceremonies for commissioning/ graduating mids last year, they presented with unity, camaraderie, respect and fun. Good luck.

Your counselor may be correct by the way, but I like that you're approaching the interview with humility and reverence. Intelligent move. I believe a part of the disconnect with these otherwise all-star candidates who fall short is entitlement/ arrogance and personality that reads as abrasive - IMO that does not play well for the interviewee.

A zillion years ago, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and before the wheel was invented, I had a young lady who was a little tipsy explain to me ad nauseum why I should be very excited for her interest in dating me."On paper" she was probably perfect, and certainly perfect for someone. But she just did not peak my interest. I had friends that observed this telling me they'd cut their right arm off for the opportunity. Meh - Sometimes it just isn't a match. If your interest is to serve I recommend pursuing as many branches/ SAs as you would be interested in being a member of. Good luck and thanks for your willingness to serve. Please keep us posted as to how it works out.
 
Frau Blucher said:
Not sure if you are aware, but Syracuse does not have a NROTC unit. AROTC and AFROTC only.
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Good points - just to add, Clarkson too has Army and Air Force, not Navy.

ROTC | Clarkson University

Become a strategic scholar-athlete-leader in preparation for a military career in Clarkson’s top-ranked ROTC programs. Learn more or apply today.
www.clarkson.edu www.clarkson.edu

www.syracuse.edu

Air Force and Army ROTC

Syracuse University's ROTC program gives you a jump on your future by earning an officer’s commission and a college degree at the same time.
www.syracuse.edu www.syracuse.edu
 
List the schools you prefer to attend in your actual order of preference. No need to game the system anymore. While @Herman_Snerd is correct that you can use the scholarship anywhere, there is still a scholarship transfer process you go thru so that they know where you are attending. Didn't want you to thjnk you could just pack your bags and head off.
 
My DD is a Notre Dame NROTC Grad. She listed it as her #1 choice, back when they only allowed so many slots per school. She applied to ND early action (or whatever it was called back then) even though she did not have tippy top SAT/ACT scores for ND. (She was probably at the bottom of the middle). She got selected for the NROTC scholarship early in the scholarship cycle, but ND's admission decisions did not come out until December. She reached out to her ND Admission representative and the NROTC unit about getting the NROTC scholarship and the unit indicated they would reach out to Admissions on her behalf. She did end up gettting accepted early action. At the time, the PNS told me that they had a great relationship with ND Admissions and if there were two equal applicants, having the NROTC scholarship would give the extra push. As you know, there are many stellar applicants to ND, so the NROTC would not get you in if you don't meet their typical profile (unlike a recruited football player! LOL), but it could help. Since that time, others here have said that NROTC does not have any pull with admissions anymore, but I don't know if that is really true. I can say that ND was probably the most supportive universitiy, of all of ROTC units, of any of the many colleges we toured. They really honor their ROTC units, not just co-exist with them. It was nothing but a phenomenal experience for our DD, and our family there. I hope you get in!
 
As others have indicated, no need to play the ranking game, I want to echo the sentiment of USMAROTCFamily as I have 8 years experience with the ND NROTC unit. DS1 was accepted to ND early action, he received a letter from ND Tri-Military explaining the ROTC scholarship opportunities, he was targeted based on major and test scores. He decided to apply for the NROTC scholarship and received an ISR. 2017 grad now a helo pilot. DS2 applied for NROTC scholarship as soon as portal opened. Was awarded 4 year at first board assigned to ND which was his first choice school. Applied to ND regular decision and mentioned scholarship in supplemental essays. He graduates in May, is currently waiting for service selection decisions but is hoping for aviation. Having first hand knowledge from 2013 to present, I cannot say enough how positive the experience is. The LTs have been more than supportive and have instilled strong leadership skills. Taking it a step further, the entire University respects and values their ROTC units and its noticed on campus. In particular, Notre Dame doesn't take for granted their history with the Navy. If it weren't for the Navy using ND as a training school, ND would not have survived...if you are not aware of the history, look it up; but I think that history lives deep in the heart of the University as a whole, making the ND NROTC experience unique from other programs.
 
Delayed posting this information until I had confirmation. Scholarship caps are returning for this year. The caps for each unit have not yet been determined.
 
Would you happen to also know if the Navy Department will reinstate the requirement that 2/3 of the scholarship allotment (cap) must be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? Thanks in advance
 
FYSA, two years ago my DD applied for NROTC and put Notre Dame as her top choice. She received an NROTC scholarship to UND but ...didn't get accepted to Notre Dame. So....she went to the Naval Academy as her back up. I think she might have picked Notre Dame if she got in. Not 100% sure. FWIW....
 
glen said:
Would you happen to also know if the Navy Department will reinstate the requirement that 2/3 of the scholarship allotment (cap) must be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? Thanks in advance
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To answer directly - I don't know.


The link above is to the NSTC unit loading (scholarship cap) instruction in place prior to NSTC getting rid of caps. Nothing about 2/3 of cap needing to be eligible for in-state tuition. Instead, a unit's cap was increased (by 5 scholarships) if 50% of unit's midshipmen - based on 5-year average - were receiving in-state tuition (rule 2).
 
Texas Gold said:
FYSA, two years ago my DD applied for NROTC and put Notre Dame as her top choice. She received an NROTC scholarship to UND but ...didn't get accepted to Notre Dame. So....she went to the Naval Academy as her back up. I think she might have picked Notre Dame if she got in. Not 100% sure. FWIW....
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Just curious, Has your DD been Happy at USNA and going academy vs civilian college? She must have gotten into some other great civilian schools if she got into USNA.
 
Go Dores! said:
To answer directly - I don't know.


The link above is to the NSTC unit loading (scholarship cap) instruction in place prior to NSTC getting rid of caps. Nothing about 2/3 of cap needing to be eligible for in-state tuition. Instead, a unit's cap was increased (by 5 scholarships) if 50% of unit's midshipmen - based on 5-year average - were receiving in-state tuition (rule 2).
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Very interesting to see how this all worked. I'm curious why the caps were dropped and why they are being reinstated.
 
ProudDad17 said:
Very interesting to see how this all worked. I'm curious why the caps were dropped and why they are being reinstated.
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might have to do with the amount of scholarships being awarded. My freshman year, only 11 people came to the unit on scholarship with around 45 college program. Next year, the exact opposite.
 
NJDadofDSUSMA2024Hopeful said:
Just curious, Has your DD been Happy at USNA and going academy vs civilian college? She must have gotten into some other great civilian schools if she got into USNA.
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Yes she likes USNA and is happy the way it all worked out. He senior year in HS we did the full campus tour at Notre Dame during a beautiful fall football weekend so it was pretty exciting to be there and she would have signed up on the spot if available. That being said, she went to ND last year as a Midshipman for the Navy-ND football game and it was bitter cold and she didn't like that! lol Yes, she got into some great schools so she mulled it for a few months and didn't commit to USNA until the last few weeks. So Notre Dame would have been right there but fate had a vote.
 
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