NROTC but not Navy

Ew3081

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2018
Messages
47
Naval Academy doesn’t offer the chemical engineering major, so I don’t know if I’m going to apply. My gut really thinks nrotc is the way to go, will that look bad if I don’t apply to a service academy in my ap for the nrotc scholarship? I’m NOT doing it for the money I really want to serve my country but chemical engineering is really the major I’m going for and I personally would rather do nrotc and not the Naval academy. Does every nrotc person apply to the service academy. Do they ask in the interview are you applying to a service academy? Will it look bad if I say no?
 
There is no problem with only applying for NROTC. It’s all about picking the environment you will thrive in. For some the 24/7 competitive environment is great, for others it sounds horrible and not where they would thrive.
 
Nothing wrong at all with not wanting to attend USNA. No shame at all in preferring NROTC. My only question is this: If at some point during college, you realize that chemical engineering isn’t all that you’d imagined and you decide to change your major, would you then regret not having apppied to USNA?

Your major will have virtually no bearing on what your job is as a naval officer. There are no chemical engineer jobs for naval officers. So my presumption is that you’re 100% committed to becoming a chemical engineer after you serve at least five years on active duty. If that’s the case, then your stated path makes sense. Otherwise, I think you might be thinking a bit myopically.
 
If you can I'd apply for both:
1.) Either way you end up an active duty Naval officer. Whether you will be working as a Chemical Engineer for the Navy depends on the needs of the service. I'm not sure what the knowledge turnover is in chemical engineering, but will anything you learned in your 2020 ChemE class be applicable to the job market in 2027 when you are done with your service obligation?
2.) Depending on your geographical location, it can be easier to get into the USNA than receive an NROTC scholarship.
3.) At your age, there is no point in closing doors. If you get an offer at both, make up your mind then.
4.) There is an advantage to applying to the USNA at the same time - DoDMERB. The medical review occurs much earlier in the process for academy candidates, and it is good for any ROTC scholarship. If you find out you need a waiver, you have a lot more time to play with.

Having said all that, if you are sure you don't want an academy, there is no need to apply.
 
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