NROTC at Norwich?

B

bootdad

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My DS did not get accepted to USNA, so he's deciding on plan B options. He has a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to Penn State and a 3-year Army ROTC scholarship to a smaller, local university, but wants more of a military school experience and definitely prefers the USMC officer route over Army. He's been accepted to Norwich, but would be a programmer in NROTC. The coronavirus canceled his scheduled visit.

Does anyone have any insight into these questions?
1. How large is the NROTC Marine Option contingent at Norwich? What are the odds of earning a 3-year scholarship assuming good grades, a 230-240 PFT, and other qualifications met?
2. We see that Army at Norwich offers Mt. Cold Weather Co., Ranger Challenge, etc. Are there any similar, exciting options for Norwich Marine cadets?
Thanks.
 
Norwich was on DS's short list a few years ago and is a good school. I'm sorry that I cannot address your Norwich-specific questions since he did not attend there. When you say 230-240 PFT, I am assuming you are talking about the Marine Corps PFT. If so, I would comment that IMO your DS is going to need to work on that score to be competitive for a MO scholarship or Advanced Standing to commission. The Norwich website states "Must achieve a minimum score of 235 on Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test." as a requirement. It is often reported on SAF that a score closer to 275 is needed to be competitive. For Marines, the higher the better.

4 yr Army ROTC in hand is pretty impressive, but only he knows if that is right for him or if taking a shot at Marines is the way to go. Tough decision for a young person. Best of luck to him as he tries to sort this all out.
 
Mountain Cold Weather is not limited to AROTC Cadets.
Competition for scholarships is a factor at SMCs.
Lots of motivated individuals., particularly the MO types
 
@kinnem is a good resource for the MO side-load process. I know it is very competitive. I agree with @Dadof2 that a 275 PFT should be the minimum goal.

One other point. I commend your DS for wanting to be a Marine, but that's a tough call passing up a 4-YR AROTC. Remember, the first year of ROTC Scholarship is free (no pay back if your DS changes his mind). Another big consideration is that Norwich will give you room and board with a 4-Yr AROTC scholarship.
 
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Norwich via NROTC was our son's Plan B, and a good one. In a recent survey (2015) it was ranked 5th in the USA for military colleges. It is considered the birthplace of ROTC. All of our interactions with both admissions and the cadre were stellar.
 
Some great advice above. Thanks. We're hearing good things about Norwich, but it's tough without the campus visit.

We really hadn't considered that the first year of ROTC is free.
1. But he couldn't attend PSU for a year on an Army scholarship and then apply for NROTC right? (That must be a no)

That raises another question that might be ridiculous:
2. Could my son lock in the 3-year AROTC scholarship to the local school, go to Norwich for a year and try for NROTC MO, and if he doesn't get it, transfer back home for the Army 3-year program?

This one is probably a better question:
3. Can he go to Norwich and simultaneously apply for both NROTCMO and AROTC 3-year scholarships?
 
bootdad said:
Some great advice above. Thanks. We're hearing good things about Norwich, but it's tough without the campus visit.

We really hadn't considered that the first year of ROTC is free.
1. But he couldn't attend PSU for a year on an Army scholarship and then apply for NROTC right? (That must be a no)

That raises another question that might be ridiculous:
2. Could my son lock in the 3-year AROTC scholarship to the local school, go to Norwich for a year and try for NROTC MO, and if he doesn't get it, transfer back home for the Army 3-year program?

This one is probably a better question:
3. Can he go to Norwich and simultaneously apply for both NROTCMO and AROTC 3-year scholarships?
Click to expand...

Has your DS inquired about transferring his AROTC to Norwich?
 
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I think you have until tomorrow to request a transfer. The instructions are in your DSs portal under "additional information"

I would call the ROO at Norwich if you are serious about it and get their help.

Good Luck.
 
He made the call to Norwich this afternoon.
He's had his heart set on USMC officer for several years, but his PFT score wasn't up to speed for the national scholarship. Army PFT was a breeze for him. If this transfer works out, he may not be able to pass up the sure thing.
This has been a long road. I'm just stunned how one inquiry on this board can so quickly change the direction 180 degrees.
 
let me put in a shameless plug and say if he would prefer warmer weather The Citadel is an option. Its one of the few and in fact the first Marine oriented NROTC program in the country and typically commissions the most Marine Officers of any college, so many in fact that more than a century ago it got the nickname "The Military College of the Marine Corps".
 
conrack said:
let me put in a shameless plug and say if he would prefer warmer weather The Citadel is an option. Its one of the few and in fact the first Marine oriented NROTC program in the country and typically commissions the most Marine Officers of any college, so many in fact that more than a century ago it got the nickname "The Military College of the Marine Corps".
Click to expand...
You should have talked to us in November. It's a little late to apply now.
: )
 
So, if seeking to transfer the 4'year AROTC scholarship to another college, please be sure to have your DS confirm with the Army he can transfer the full 4 year scholarship. In some past years, our Finance Director at The Citadel has mentioned transfers were required to go down to a 3 year as a condition of the transfer. Things change rapidly - so best to confirm.
 
glen said:
So, if seeking to transfer the 4'year AROTC scholarship to another college, please be sure to have your DS confirm with the Army he can transfer the full 4 year scholarship. In some past years, our Finance Director at The Citadel has mentioned transfers were required to go down to a 3 year as a condition of the transfer. Things change rapidly - so best to confirm.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Glen. Will do.
 
bootdad said:
My DS did not get accepted to USNA, so he's deciding on plan B options. He has a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to Penn State and a 3-year Army ROTC scholarship to a smaller, local university, but wants more of a military school experience and definitely prefers the USMC officer route over Army. He's been accepted to Norwich, but would be a programmer in NROTC. The coronavirus canceled his scheduled visit.

Does anyone have any insight into these questions?
1. How large is the NROTC Marine Option contingent at Norwich? What are the odds of earning a 3-year scholarship assuming good grades, a 230-240 PFT, and other qualifications met?
2. We see that Army at Norwich offers Mt. Cold Weather Co., Ranger Challenge, etc. Are there any similar, exciting options for Norwich Marine cadets?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Northfield, Vermont is in the middle of nowhere, in a state that is mostly in the middle of nowhere. It's about 30-45 minute from the nearest Interstate Highway (Route 93). A rural backwater, albeit with lovely autumn foliage and a variety of craft beer joints. About 45-60 minute drive from the state's "big city", Burlington (population 45,000).

For ROTC Norwich is great, from what I've heard. For the "college" experience, not so much.

But I'm biased having grown up in Boston (population 700,000; greater metro area 4+ million or half of all New England). Anything outside of the Route 128 (now called US Route 93/95) beltway we referred to as "Kansas" - and not in a good way.

In all seriousness, though, a 4 year (!!!) scholarship to a great school like Penn State & the other 3-year ride you spoke of should be seriously considered. Just my two cents.
 
Day-Tripper said:
Northfield, Vermont is in the middle of nowhere, in a state that is mostly in the middle of nowhere. It's about 30-45 minute from the nearest Interstate Highway (Route 93). A rural backwater, albeit with lovely autumn foliage and a variety of craft beer joints. About 45-60 minute drive from the state's "big city", Burlington (population 45,000).

For ROTC Norwich is great, from what I've heard. For the "college" experience, not so much.

But I'm biased having grown up in Boston (population 700,000; greater metro area 4+ million or half of all New England). Anything outside of the Route 128 (now called US Route 93/95) beltway we referred to as "Kansas" - and not in a good way.

In all seriousness, though, a 4 year (!!!) scholarship to a great school like Penn State & the other 3-year ride you spoke of should be seriously considered. Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

As a graduate, I will agree that the immediate area is in the middle of nowhere but it isn't to say that the area isn't nice. If you are a outdoors person the Norwich campus will be right up your alley. You are hard pressed to have a school that owns a former ski mountain that students can use to hike/mountain bike/ski (in the winter)/snowshoe/practice military activities on. If you really want the "college experience" there is a bar on campus as well as a decent bar in town that students of age can go to. If you have a buddy who has a car in only 45 minutes you can be up in Burlington which is home to 2 colleges and over 13,000 students. Burlington's main street has a few bars and clubs and it isn't like a New York City or Las Vegas but it definitely is fun. Each student's mileage may vary but in general I thought it was a great balance between "college life" and a true SMC experience.
 
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