NROTC 4 year scholarships decreasing

777driver

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My DD just joined the NROTC unit at University of Washington. I had a chance to speak with the XO and scholarship process is changing this year. He said the Navy is decreasing(not all) the number of 4 scholarships and increasing the 2 and 3 year scholarships. The Navy wants to see the kids prove themselves worthy of a scholarship after a year or two as a college program midshipman. The CO said there were about 13000 applications last year and 900 scholarships awarded(700 accepted). My DD had her package in for the first board, but wasn't awarded a scholarship until March. Every board is now critical so I recommend getting your DS/DD package in ASAP. Have a plan B and C.

Her midshipman class has 9 female and 4 male so its good for the females right now.
 
The program being referred to is known as Precision Loading. It aims to decrease the number of Navy National recipients to achieve a total enrolling class of 712 across all NROTC units. In the past, attrition was accounted for by bringing in larger numbers of freshmen than were actually needed on the output side. Now, the idea is to balance out attrition with significantly increased Side Load scholarships, therefore saving the enterprise money/time/effort/etc. So, the goal is 712 in freshman year, and 712 out as Ensigns four years later, with attrition balanced by 2-year/3-year scholarships.

This program really started lat year, when the total number of awarded Navy National scholarships went from about 1400 in FY15 to about 1100 in FY16. For this year's boards (FY17), total scholarships awarded will be based on predicted yield, but it will likely be below 1000 (900 or so would be a good guess).

What's all this mean? It's getting harder to get a 4-year Navy National scholarship. Average SAT/ACT scores from the FY16 boards were 1396 SAT/31-32 ACT. Compare this to 1369 SAT/30-31 ACT in FY15. You'll likely see the average over 1400 SAT for FY17 (the current boards taking place for 2016-2017). College Program will be the new norm for many more prospective students, but there ARE going to be significant increases in Side Load offers; projections for next summer's 2-year scholarship board have available quotas increasing FOUR fold.... (from 19 to 80).
 
Wow! That's a big jump in side-loads. I like the changes.
 
projections for next summer's 2-year scholarship board have available quotas increasing FOUR fold.... (from 19 to 80).

Can you clarify... this is a projection for one school? (Seems like a lot!) Or nationally? (Clearly there will be more than that nation wide.)
 
Can you clarify... this is a projection for one school? (Seems like a lot!) Or nationally? (Clearly there will be more than that nation wide.)

This is nationwide. Yes, there were just 19 2-Year Side Loads this summer for 77 units. Projected to jump to 80 2-Years for next summer's boards.
 
NROTC is very competitive. The GPA for those getting side loads is impressive.
 
There were also 60 3-year Side Loads this summer, but yes, it's a fairly small number considering it's nationwide.
 
Kudos to NavyNOLA for taking the time to post this update. Your direct, concise and clear messaging on the changes to NROTC awards will help those applying understand the reality. On behalf of John Q. Public I want to thank you. Bravo Zulu.
 
Wow! This thread has shed some light on how things have changed in the last few years. I know receiving these scholarships is very difficult and the percentages are low. DS1 was a 2013 ISR recipient. He applied late (very late December Senior Year) after receiving a letter from the NROTC unit at his first choice school. Because of the ISR, we didn't experience the anxiety created through the normal application / Board date process. Here we are 4 years later, DS2 wants to follow in his brothers footsteps (he's heard about everything his brother does and really wants to serve) and applied much earlier. He started the application as soon as the webpage opened up during his Jr year and had his application complete by early July so he could make the first Boards. On paper, DS2 is comparable to DS1 with a few variances....DS1 had a 34 on ACT...DS2 has a 32. Both carried same GPA's 5.79 on 5.0 scale and ranked 1 of 540 unweighted (3 of 540 weighted) in their class. Both have plenty of extracurricular and volunteer activities. We are hoping the fact that DS2 is a 3 year starter Varsity Football and 2 year captain (unlike DS1), and a member of the schools athletic leadership club plus a 2 year member of a specific leadership group selected by faculty to mentor incoming freshman as they transition in high school is enough to offset the primary difference which was the ACT score. DS2 recently received a letter from an Ivy League ROTC Unit asking him to consider the various scholarship programs. Unfortunately, that particular school was not in his top 5, not sure that really makes a difference though.

Anyway, knowing DS1 received an ISR and DS2 has comparable credentials, I was cautiously (emphasize cautiously) hopeful for DS2. After reading this thread, I'm not so hopeful. I know it's competitive and I let DS2 know that this may not be an option. He is looking at his other options and has an interview with his Blue Gold Officer next week for USNA. He's also looking at the USAFA....plus some high caliber academic schools and some mid-range schools that might offer him academic scholarships....Fingers crossed.

I appreciate this thread because it really did shed some light on just how difficult this can be.
 
goirish1, it is a competitive process for sure, and no one really knows what any individual's chances are, but your DS2 seems to have a good background. For what it's worth, I have a DD at USNA and a DS at a SMC on 4 yr ROTC MO scholarship. They had similar stats to your DS2. Sounds like he is exploring all options to get to his goal, which is good. I would tell him to keep up the academics and sports and work as hard as he can physically to prepare himself. Practice pull ups and run, run then run some more.
 
Thank you NavyNola! Sharing your insider knowledge is always appreciated!

Any idea if fewer 4- yr scholarship MIDS will change how summer training operates? Right now, kids who aren't on scholarship don't do summer training.
If there are fewer MIDS on scholarship, will they allow "advanced standing" sooner (before junior year) so these non-scholarship future ensigns have the same learning opportunities as those on scholarship?
 
Thank you NavyNola! Sharing your insider knowledge is always appreciated!

Any idea if fewer 4- yr scholarship MIDS will change how summer training operates? Right now, kids who aren't on scholarship don't do summer training.
If there are fewer MIDS on scholarship, will they allow "advanced standing" sooner (before junior year) so these non-scholarship future ensigns have the same learning opportunities as those on scholarship?

Well I don't see anything changing with awarding Advanced Standing between sophomore and junior year. However, for summer 2016, there were opportunities for non-scholarship College Program students to go on summer cruise, given certain criteria. This was primarily with regard to CORTRAMID after freshman year. College Programmers who picked up a national scholarship during freshman year were offered the ability to go on CORTRAMID this summer, as long as they were medically cleared by DODMERB and had a security clearance issued (or at least an interim letter from the CO). Multiple dozen College Programmers from around the country ended up going (we sent one), which is a huge plus for them and the program. Whether that will continue next summer and beyond.....hard to tell. There were additional funds that NSTC had available this year that allowed this to happen, and with fewer national scholarship kids in the pipeline going forward, that may continue to be the case. From the individual units' perspectives, we liked this and will continue to push for it.
 
DS2 recently received a letter from an Ivy League ROTC Unit asking him to consider the various scholarship programs. Unfortunately, that particular school was not in his top 5, not sure that really makes a difference though.
@goirish1 Once your DS is awarded his NROTC scholarship, it will be placed with one of his 5 listed schools and the other 4 schools no longer factor in. He could then transfer that scholarship to any NROTC program as long as they have space. In my experience, most of the top 10 universities have low NROTC enrollments and your DS should not have an issue moving his scholarship to one of those schools if he is admitted. If he is interested in that Ivy follow up with the Battalion and apply to the school. The batallion may have some influence over admissions.
 
I know that this thread is about NROTC scholarships and how competitive that it is to obtain a 4 year and more coming for the side alongs. One thing that should you or your DD/DS be a STEM major check out the NUPOC and CEC programs as should you get accepted into either, it pays more than your monthly ROTC stipend. For more info on NUPOC go to https://nupocaccessions.blogspot.com/
 
Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies NavyNola. DS is a 3rd Class College programmer and very motivated. STEM major with 3.2 GPA and seems to have just missed both 4 year and 3 year side load. Your insight is encouraging. His primary goal is to commission no matter the method. If for some reason he doesn't receive 2 year next AUG is Advanced Standing a strong possibility?
 
Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies NavyNola. DS is a 3rd Class College programmer and very motivated. STEM major with 3.2 GPA and seems to have just missed both 4 year and 3 year side load. Your insight is encouraging. His primary goal is to commission no matter the method. If for some reason he doesn't receive 2 year next AUG is Advanced Standing a strong possibility?

Here is some of the "best of" posts I have complied from @NavyNOLA so you can determine your own opinion on DS chances. BTW, the post is long.

From Aug 9 2016
3-Year Scholarships
Nominations: 304
Selects: 60
Non-selects: 244

2-Year Scholarships
Nominations: 200
Selects: 19
Non-selects: 181 (automatically considered for Advanced Standing)

Advanced Standing
Nominations: 228 (181 carried over from 2-year applicants)
Selects: 121
Non-selects: 97

From July 27, 2016
Advanced Standing is getting EASIER to receive the past couple years, as there are significantly more slots recently. The selection rate for Advanced Standing last year was well over 50%, and it will be similar this year. If you fail to get selected for a side load scholarship or Advanced Standing before your junior year, you will be automatically be dropped from the unit.

From June 21, 2016
Not having Calculus/Physics complete is going to be a major roadblock. Last summer the board awarded 29 2-year Side Loads. Of those selected, 29/29 were complete with Calc 1 and 2, and 24/29 were complete with Phys 1 and 2. I don't see you getting past the 2-year board with Calculus 2 incomplete.

Advanced Standing is a different story. The selection rate was over 50% last year (vice about 15% for the 2-year). Only about half were Calc complete, and only about a third were Phys complete. GPA and aptitude were more important- the average GPA was 3.18.

From June 22, 2016
Last summer, 199 rising juniors applied for 2-year scholarships. Of those, 29 were selected for the scholarship. The remaining students competed for 118 advanced standing slots. So, it was well over a 50% selection rate for advanced standing.

From May 31, 2016

Here is the selection data from the Summer 2015 Navy Side load/advanced standing board (stats are reflective of the group of individuals who were SELECTED for scholarship/advanced standing, not the entire pool of applicants; the board is national):

3-year:
Nominations: 303
Selects: 66
Avg. GPA: 3.48
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 89.4%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 30.3%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 93.9%

2-year:
Nominations: 199
Selects: 29
Avg. GPA: 3.48 (not a typo, same as 3-year)
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 100%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 82.8%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 89.7%

Advanced Standing:
Nominations: 195 (all 2-year side load non selects are automatically considered)
Selects: 118
Avg. GPA: 3.18
% of Recipients Calc I/II Complete: 57.6%
% of Recipients Phys I/II Complete: 34.7%
% of Recipients Tech Majors (Tier 1/2): 56.8%

So here are the big takeaways:
-The Navy values technical majors
-If you want to pursue a Tier 3 major, that's OK, but you need to EXCEL if you expect to earn a scholarship
-Apply for ALL scholarship opportunities; don't just pigeonhole yourself into advanced standing
-Calc and Phys completion and grades mean something

This is from @bman from June 22, 2016
2014 NAVY ROTC STATISTICS
· 220 were nominated for 2 year scholarships, 64 scholarships were granted
· 127 were given an offer of advanced standing
· There were 25 who wanted advanced standing (I believe this was 25 who accepted the offer, but he may have meant that there were 25 who wanted advanced standing but not a scholarship?)
2013 NAVY ROTC STATISTICS
· 30 applied for 2-year scholarships, 5 were granted, others had option to apply for advanced standing
· 20 applied for advanced standing, all 20 were granted advanced standing
2012 NAVY ROTC STATISTICS
· They gave 950 four-year-scholarships with the intention of commissioning 725 officers in four years
· They had 330 college students nominated for side-load scholarships for 271 slots.
· They gave 251 of these scholarships. Their goal is to fill all of their spots with scholarships, but they still had twenty slots to fill.
· They had 58 students apply for advanced standing to fill the final 20 slots, and gave 20 of these advanced standing (34%). Those who received advanced standing were divided among all three tiers.
 
@nrotc86 from my interpretation of the data, it look like your DS would have a below average chance of getting a 2 year scholarship and an above average chance of getting Advanced Standing. Maybe you can use this information to motivate him to get his gpa up shooting for the average of 3.48. It should also provide that motivation to continue to excel in his battalion, because advanced standing is a strong possibility.
 
Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies NavyNola. DS is a 3rd Class College programmer and very motivated. STEM major with 3.2 GPA and seems to have just missed both 4 year and 3 year side load. Your insight is encouraging. His primary goal is to commission no matter the method. If for some reason he doesn't receive 2 year next AUG is Advanced Standing a strong possibility?

It's hard to tell at the moment, as projections for July 2017 Side Load boards are still fluid. 2-year Side Loads are expected to quadruple from 19 to 80, so that should give you some significant hope; concur on the need for him to up his GPA though. On the other hand, the Advanced Standing projection is at 18 right now. Over the last 3+ years, NROTC has received an allocation of 100 slots per year from Navy OCS, and those became Advanced Standing offers. If the same holds true this year, the projection of 18 could shoot up to 118 to match the last couple years. If that's the case, given your son's tier and GPA, he appears to be within the competitive window for Advanced Standing selection.

You all may be wondering why the Side Load/Advanced Standing numbers aren't more concrete- that's because they're all driven by attrition. The greater the attrition in a given year group, the greater the number of side loads in follow on summers. The new Precision Loading policy will drive Side Loads up significantly in general, but the precise figures will still be dependent upon attrition in the freshman and sophomore classes nationally. The NROTC units get notified of exactly how many offers there will be for the summer boards in the spring semester, typically in February or March. Until then, we rely on projections from OD/NSTC.
 
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