NROTC Acceptance & Scholarship Questions

[k.guillot]

I am applying to the Naval Academy, Airforce Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy. However, I recently was awarded a scholarship that pays full tuition at Notre Dame valued at $240,000 ($60,000 a year in tuition). At this point, I have guaranteed admission to Notre Dame with tuition paid in full. That being said, I decided to apply for a Navy ROTC scholarship for Notre Dame. When it comes to NROTC scholarships, I have a couple of questions:

Since I already have guaranteed admission to Notre Dame with tuition paid in full, what are my chances of being awarded the NROTC scholarship?

Since this scholarship I earned already covers tuition, is what the NROTC scholarship covers negotiable? I'm assuming they would be happy to pay only $17,000 a year for room and board rather than $60,000 a year in tuition .

NROTC only takes the Math section and English section of the ACT into account. I have a 28 in Math and a 30 in English giving me a 29. I also have a 4.5714 weighted GPA converting to a 3.85 unweighted GPA (I am at an all honors highschool). With such a relatively high GPA, a 29 ACT score, guaranteed admission to Notre Dame with tuition paid in full, along with other impressive accomplishments (12 years of Taekwondo w/ certification to teach students, Level 1 U.S. Sailing Certification w/ Certification teaching students, CPR Certified, Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Track, National Honors Society, Key Club, and many other activities)… am I deemed competitive enough for a scholarship Notre Dame?

Finally, how flexible is NROTC if I would like to switch between tier 2 majors while on scholarship? Could I lose it?

I know it's a lot of questions. Thank you.

 

[Capt MJ]

Have you thoroughly reviewed the NROTC website and scholarship information in detail?

The NROTC scholarship is a nationally competed opportunity. You may or may not be awarded one. There are likely a few people out there with impressive accomplishments. It’s up to the scholarship winners to successfully apply and get accepted to schools on the approved list where they want to use the scholarship. You’ve already done that, but that’s not necessarily something that factors into scholarship selections.

The NROTC website details how the money can be used. See screenshot below.

You are a long way from needing to worry about switching majors. Why not show the initiative you will need as a future junior officer and put the work in to research a primary source, the Notre Dame NROTC website, read through all the information there, especially the “Prospective Student” section, then contact them with your question(s) using the Contact Us options? This is an anonymous Internet forum, and the advice you receive here is usually well-meant, based on experience and anecdotal observation, with a few posters qualifiying as “primary sources.”

Speaking of anonymous, if you are using your real name here, I recommend changing your user name. This is not personal social media with privacy settings. Look around at the user names and avatars and have some fun. Speculating on whether the NROTC scholarship is negotiable for what it can be spent on, before you have been awarded one, might not come across well in the flat medium of internet posts, with no facial expression, voice tone or body language as context.

Please reassure us you used “Air Force,” not “Airforce,” in any application materials to USAFA. You are relatively new here and very welcome. Be sure to browse the ROTC forum and the SA forums. The same questions often come up every Admissions cycle.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

Firstly, congratulations on your full scholarship to Notre Dame. If you received an NROTC scholarship, it could cover room and board up to 11K. That would leave you with a 6K bill.

While you could mention your scholarship in your essays, that won't factor as much as your leadership skills demonstrated by your sports and volunteer factors.

My one piece of unsolicited advice would be to be on guard that the pride you have in your accomplishments thusfar does not come off as hubris.

Saint Augustine had some great words:
"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance."

 

[hopjop]

I would say getting a full ride scholarship and guaranteed admission into ND with a 29 ACT is amazing considering how competitive ND admission is. Was this a particular scholarship you applied for? My understanding is that a NROTC scholarship will cover either tuition OR room and board.

 

[k.guillot]

The scholarship is called POSSE. 10 people are selected to go to a specific college (Notre Dame). The idea is that you are going into a new environment with a group of people you know and can get support from. POSSE’s purpose is that no college student should drop out due to feeling alone. This Tuesday I received the phone call that I was awarded the full tuition scholarship. I’m just hoping that if I get a NROTC scholarship, they can cover a nice amount of room and board.

 

[justdoit19]

One thing I am a fan of, and share, is visiting a unit as part of an admissions tour of a college. At least here at our State U, the various ROTC programs offer this as an option when attending an admissions visit. All 3 of my boys attended, and each was very informative. They also got to ‘feel the culture’ of the unit. Since they were individual meetings, they were able to ask questions. I sat in the back, amazed at how mature and professional these rugrats of mine, who fight and do other things, actually were .

Know that, as stated already, a ROTC scholarship is highly competitive, nationally, from the git-go. Removing your scholarship, how you compete nationally academically, physically and hold the potential to be a Military Officer, is what matters.

*Should you attend an admissions visit, don’t ask questions easily found via your own research.

Good luck!

Adding this: I was curious about that program and briefly looked into it. One thing to make sure you understand, and are clear about, is whether you actually CAN use this scholarship along WITH another. Specifically ROTC in your case. I have no idea. I do know, from going through the college scholarship process with my own 4 kiddos, that some do not allow xxx. So make sure, that you are very clear of all the rules and fine print, as with anything, before you sign on the dotted line.

 

[hopjop]

The scholarship is called POSSE. 10 people are selected to go to a specific college (Notre Dame). The idea is that you are going into a new environment with a group of people you know and can get support from. POSSE’s purpose is that no college student should drop out due to feeling alone. This Tuesday I received the phone call that I was awarded the full tuition scholarship. I’m just hoping that if I get a NROTC scholarship, they can cover a nice amount of room and board.

Congratulations!

 

[k.guillot]

Firstly, congratulations on your full scholarship to Notre Dame. If you received an NROTC scholarship, it could cover room and board up to 11K. That would leave you with a 6K bill.

While you could mention your scholarship in your essays, that won't factor as much as your leadership skills demonstrated by your sports and volunteer factors.

My one piece of unsolicited advice would be to be on guard that the pride you have in your accomplishments thusfar does not come off as hubris.

Saint Augustine had some great words:
"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance."

I’ve been looking around. Where did you find that 11k of room and board would be covered? Thank you!

 

[k.guillot]

One thing I am a fan of, and share, is visiting a unit as part of an admissions tour of a college. At least here at our State U, the various ROTC programs offer this as an option when attending an admissions visit. All 3 of my boys attended, and each was very informative. They also got to ‘feel the culture’ of the unit. Since they were individual meetings, they were able to ask questions. I sat in the back, amazed at how mature and professional these rugrats of mine, who fight and do other things, actually were .

Know that, as stated already, a ROTC scholarship is highly competitive, nationally, from the git-go. Removing your scholarship, how you compete nationally academically, physically and hold the potential to be a Military Officer, is what matters.

*Should you attend an admissions visit, don’t ask questions easily found via your own research.

Good luck!

Adding this: I was curious about that program and briefly looked into it. One thing to make sure you understand, and are clear about, is whether you actually CAN use this scholarship along WITH another. Specifically ROTC in your case. I have no idea. I do know, from going through the college scholarship process with my own 4 kiddos, that some do not allow xxx. So make sure, that you are very clear of all the rules and fine print, as with anything, before you sign on the dotted line.

I’ve asked the coordinators and yes I can stack scholarships with the POSSE scholarship. I just hope I can get a NROTC scholarship and negotiate with them to cover room and board.

 

[Capt MJ]

I’ve been looking around. Where did you find that 11k of room and board would be covered? Thank you!

See my response, Post #2, with the screenshot from the NROTC scholarship web pages, confirming NROTC scholarships can be used for room and board.The specifics on the amount take a deeper dive. They won’t pay more. Negotiation doesn’t come into it with Federally-funded programs, but I’ll defer to @GWU PNS .

@GWU PNS is the Commanding Officer (Professor of Naval Science, PNS) of the large George Washington University NROTC unit. He is a primary source here.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

I’ve been looking around. Where did you find that 11k of room and board would be covered? Thank you!

There was an internal memo circulated to the NROTC units. I honestly don't know if that was broadly circulated. But I have some pretty good Intel on how these things work.

 

[k.guillot]

There was an internal memo circulated to the NROTC units. I honestly don't know if that was broadly circulated. But I have some pretty good Intel on how these things work.

Okay . So it maxes out at 11k a year. Notre Dames room and board is roughly 16.7k a year. If I get the scholarship, 5.7k is not much! However, would paying 6k a year at Notre Dame with an NROTC scholarship compete with going to USAFA, USNA, USCGA, or USMMA?

 

[justdoit19]

Are you a senior, applying for the C/O ‘27? If so, have you completed your applications? Applied for your noms?

What is your understanding of your financial obligation at USAFA/USNA/USCGA/USMMA?

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Okay . So it maxes out at 11k a year. Notre Dames room and board is roughly 16.7k a year. If I get the scholarship, 5.7k is not much! However, would paying 6k a year at Notre Dame with an NROTC scholarship compete with going to USAFA, USNA, USCGA, or USMMA?

Do you want to serve or are you looking for the most cost-effective way to go to college? Your posts are kind of all over the place and don't really show any personal research or knowledge of a candidate for the SAs or ROTC programs. Because your ND scholarship is a pretty sweet deal as-is. If you aren't really interested in serving for 5-8+ years, then you should probably be looking into how to fund/finance your room and board a more traditional way (school scholarships, community scholarships, work study, student loans). When all is said and done, you are committing to give the US military a substantial part of your life (up to and including your actual life) for the "debt" you are incurring for a "free" college education. If military service is what you are striving for, I hope your research and understanding is much more in-depth than your posts are coming across. If not, you have a lot of catching up to do and asking questions on this forum is probably not the most efficient way to do that. You need to start diving deep on all the SAs websites, and the ROTC websites.

I realize tone cannot be conveyed in text. This is not at all meant to be snarky. I sincerely hope the best for you and this post is sent from a place of concern as a parent of a similarly aged child.

 

[Capt MJ]

Okay . So it maxes out at 11k a year. Notre Dames room and board is roughly 16.7k a year. If I get the scholarship, 5.7k is not much! However, would paying 6k a year at Notre Dame with an NROTC scholarship compete with going to USAFA, USNA, USCGA, or USMMA?

Let’s hope you have to weigh those challenging decisions, if you manage to land them all! It’s not a matter of “competing with.” Set all the $$$ piles aside. You are going to have to take that bright mind of yours and assess the tangibles and intangibles of each program, the Service, the potential officer communities or civilian employment, the culture, the lifestyle (full immersion vs “regular college”) and find your people, your fit, your path. It will take hard thinking and an adult decision.

Did you attend any of the service academy summer programs designed to help you see if the SA is the right environment for you? Have you visited colleges and NROTC units yet? If you can swing it, that f2f conversation with midshipmen or cadets a few years ahead of you and getting a glimpse of what the environment is like, are priceless.

 

[k.guillot]

Let’s hope you have to weigh those challenging decisions, if you manage to land them all! It’s not a matter of “competing with.” Set all the $$$ piles aside. You are going to have to take that bright mind of yours and assess the tangibles and intangibles of each program, the Service, the potential officer communities or civilian employment, the culture, the lifestyle (full immersion vs “regular college”) and find your people, your fit, your path. It will take hard thinking and an adult decision.

Did you attend any of the service academy summer programs designed to help you see if the SA is the right environment for you? Have you visited colleges and NROTC units yet? If you can swing it, that f2f conversation with midshipmen or cadets a few years ahead of you and getting a glimpse of what the environment is like, are priceless.

Do you want to serve or are you looking for the most cost-effective way to go to college? Your posts are kind of all over the place and don't really show any personal research or knowledge of a candidate for the SAs or ROTC programs. Because your ND scholarship is a pretty sweet deal as-is. If you aren't really interested in serving for 5-8+ years, then you should probably be looking into how to fund/finance your room and board a more traditional way (school scholarships, community scholarships, work study, student loans). When all is said and done, you are committing to give the US military a substantial part of your life (up to and including your actual life) for the "debt" you are incurring for a "free" college education. If military service is what you are striving for, I hope your research and understanding is much more in-depth than your posts are coming across. If not, you have a lot of catching up to do and asking questions on this forum is probably not the most efficient way to do that. You need to start diving deep on all the SAs websites, and the ROTC websites.

I realize tone cannot be conveyed in text. This is not at all meant to be snarky. I sincerely hope the best for you and this post is sent from a place of concern as a parent of a similarly aged child.

I know a lot of coast guard academy and Naval Academy alumni that have given me the inspiration to apply to these academies, as of now I am more than committed to serve my country for as long as possible. I have completed my nomination interviews and am working on getting medically cleared. I’ve done some extensive research and I’m just trying to balance the benefits of each opportunity if I were to pay little for Notre Dame or go to an Academy. I am planning on visiting both the Naval and Coast Guard Academy over the winter break.

 

[Capt MJ]

Good thinking all around. Do try to take the long view of what service and officer role might appeal to you. The SA or NROTC is a 4-year way station, whereas it’s 5 or more years of obligated service after that.

 

[k.guillot]

Good thinking all around. Do try to think of the king view of what service and officer role might appeal to you. The SA or NROTC is a 4-year way station.

That is part of what I’m trying to figure out. From what I understand, academy graduates are first hired and last fired . What I’m worried about in ROTC is can I still serve a full 20 years? What exactly are the technical differences between the two after graduation? I’m trying to take it all into consideration while choosing.

 

[Capt MJ]

“first hired and last fired” - what?! Please go research primary sources and take anecdotal comments and other informal insights with a big helping of salt.

Once commissioned, all are at the same rank, same pay (unless they have some prior service time), same benefits, same opportunities to advance and serve, same kinds of jobs, etc.

No one cares where you were commissioned while you are serving - it’s performance, performance, performance that will move you forward, and your sailors don’t give a rat’s patootie where you got a degree and a commission. Your people will want fair and consistent leadership, a good workplace culture and appreciation for their hard work.

My usual thing I say here (26 year Navy career, 2 CO roles, and oh yes, a product of Navy OCS), is that after years of observing seniors, peers and junior officers, the SA grads are by far the most professionally prepared to succeed as an officer, a benefit of that immersion environment, already being on active duty (except for USMMA) and the huge exposure to senior officers and enlisted, plus the training opportunities. NROTC folks are no dummies, get excellent professional training, are exposed to officers and enlisted on a smaller scale, and are ahead in life management skills in terms of managing college life, apartments, rents, food, bills, etc. They are also very well prepared. OCS folks are cherry-picked in a highly competitive way to round out the new Ensign ranks in any given year; they are no dummies either. After 1-2 years, the “Service Academy effect” wears off, and it’s down to competitive performance at an even level. The Navy tells you how long you get to stay in the service; if you fail to promote at certain career points, out you go. Did I mention performance, performance, performance?

Whether you stay your minimum obligated service years or a 20-30 year career (no one knows how that is actually going to unfold for them, despite early thoughts), as a veteran, you earn the same rights and benefits as any other commissioning source.

I will grant the bond among SA classmates and grads is awesome to behold, which can certainly be beneficial in later civilian careers. Military people and veterans share a common, appreciative bond - you’ll see it in the joking and inside references here on SAF - but the SA folks share something quite unique, and it is a special thing for them. The pain, discomfort and unending suck factor of the SA bonds them, and then they all go work for the same “company.” They hold each other up and stay tightly knit decades after graduation.

Keep thinking about these things. You nice you have actual offers of SA appointment in hand, then you can decide.

 

[k.guillot]

“first hired and last fired” - what?! Please go research primary sources and take anecdotal comments and other informal insights with a big helping of salt.

Once commissioned, all are at the same rank, sane pay (unless they have some prior service time), same benefits, same opportunities to advance and serve, same kinds of jobs, etc.

No one cares where you were commissioned while you are serving - it’s performance, performance, performance that will move you forward, and your sailors don’t give a rat’s patootie where you got a degree and a commission. Your people will want fair and consistent leadership, a good workplace culture and appreciation for their hard work.

My usual thing I say here (26 year Navy career, 2 CO roles, and oh yes, a product of Navy OCS), is that after years of observing seniors, peers and junior officers, the SA grads are by far the most professionally prepared to succeed as an officer, a benefit of that immersion environment, already being on active duty (except for USMMA) and the huge exposure to senior officers and enlisted, plus the training opportunities. NROTC folks are no dummies, get excellent professional training, and are ahead in life management skills in terms of managing college life, apartments, rents, food, bill, etc. They are also very well prepared. OCS folks are cherry-picked in a highly competitive way to round out the new Ensign ranks in any given year; they are no dummies either. After 1-2 years, the “Service Academy effect” wears off, and it’s down to competitive performance at an even level. The Navy tells you how long you get to stay in the service; if you fail to promote at certain career points, out you go.

Whether you stay your minimum obligated service years or a 20-30 year career (no one knows how that is actually going to unfold for them, despite early thoughts), as a veteran, you earn the same rights and benefits as any other commissioning source.

I will grant the bond among SA classmates and grads is awesome to behold, which can certainly be beneficial in later civilian careers. Military people and veterans share a common, appreciative bond - you’ll see it in the joking and inside references here on SAF - but the SA folks share something quite unique, and it is a special thing for them. The pain, discomfort and unending suck factor of the SA bonds them, and then they all go work for the same “company.”

I

Thank you for your time. This is very reassuring and only makes my decision a million times harder . I was definitely wrong about “first hired last fired.” I will be taking my applicant fitness assessments for NROTC next week and all I can do for now is hope, wait, wait, and wait…