I have been awarded an NROTC Marine option scholarship to UVA and I have also received an appointment to USNA. However, I am torn between both options. My only goal going into either program is to be comissioned a Marine Officer. While I would not mind going into the navy, becoming a Marine is my sole focus for now. Furthermore, I am interested in playing college rugby and choosing a non stem major. Any advice on what to choose?
NROTC or USNA
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USMCGrunt
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The quick answer: NROTC MO puts you on the path from the start and you will become a Marine Officer as long as you pass all the requirements. Going USNA requires you to apply for the Marines and there is a chance (however slight) that you wouldn't get it. Given your stated objective and interests, I recommend NROTC.
See this thread for a recent discussion on this topic. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/marine-option-question.60494/
See this thread for a recent discussion on this topic. https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/marine-option-question.60494/
I always find a small amount of humor in these types of questions. This isn't like comparing a Georgetown and GWU or a USC and UCLA.
Very similar schools, in the same area with similar academic standing.
The only similarities here are they are exceptional schools 3 hours apart. OK, OK, 4 with D.C. traffic.
What kind of college experience do you want? What type of environment will you thrive in?
One is extremely structured, planned, and executed. You will have relatively few decisions to make with limited freedom. When you sleep, eat, and study is largely part of a schedule that is set. Certain people thrive in this structure, they expand themselves with the extra time created by not having to work, cook, do laundry, shop. Where else will you get to go to school, for free BTW, where you have a single mission, self development professionally and personally to become a leader?
You will be going to school with other service oriented like minded people. You will develop bonds that very few people could ever understand. You will forever get to respond "Annapolis" when asked where you went to school and see the reverence in people's eyes.
The other you are on your own. You have to decide where to live, what/when to eat, when you shop, study and yes even do laundry. Frat or Sorority, you decide. Drinking on a Tuesday night, going home for the weekend, what to wear to class, you get it. Don't want to go to class? No one is going to say anything. The unit will monitor your academic progress and get in your grill, but typically after the fact and sometimes too late. You will likely have to incur some debt to cover room and board or dedicate some of your time to working.
You can choose to make military a regular part of your day or you can be a ghost MIDN, participating only when required. Although ghosting as a MO is much harder.
You have have a wider variety of classes to take, a much more liberal student body, a wide variety of diverse thought and some who will not like you because of your choice to serve. (This is much more rare today then in days past, but still exists.)
Common ground? Not much except as an MO you will have to complete Bulldog at both schools and owe 4-8 weeks the other summers for training.
You can't go wrong with either choice. You need to decide what you want out of a college experience. Visit both of you can. Talk as many MIDN at both schools you can. Then go with your gut.
Congrats on your success!
OS
Very similar schools, in the same area with similar academic standing.
The only similarities here are they are exceptional schools 3 hours apart. OK, OK, 4 with D.C. traffic.
What kind of college experience do you want? What type of environment will you thrive in?
One is extremely structured, planned, and executed. You will have relatively few decisions to make with limited freedom. When you sleep, eat, and study is largely part of a schedule that is set. Certain people thrive in this structure, they expand themselves with the extra time created by not having to work, cook, do laundry, shop. Where else will you get to go to school, for free BTW, where you have a single mission, self development professionally and personally to become a leader?
You will be going to school with other service oriented like minded people. You will develop bonds that very few people could ever understand. You will forever get to respond "Annapolis" when asked where you went to school and see the reverence in people's eyes.
The other you are on your own. You have to decide where to live, what/when to eat, when you shop, study and yes even do laundry. Frat or Sorority, you decide. Drinking on a Tuesday night, going home for the weekend, what to wear to class, you get it. Don't want to go to class? No one is going to say anything. The unit will monitor your academic progress and get in your grill, but typically after the fact and sometimes too late. You will likely have to incur some debt to cover room and board or dedicate some of your time to working.
You can choose to make military a regular part of your day or you can be a ghost MIDN, participating only when required. Although ghosting as a MO is much harder.
You have have a wider variety of classes to take, a much more liberal student body, a wide variety of diverse thought and some who will not like you because of your choice to serve. (This is much more rare today then in days past, but still exists.)
Common ground? Not much except as an MO you will have to complete Bulldog at both schools and owe 4-8 weeks the other summers for training.
You can't go wrong with either choice. You need to decide what you want out of a college experience. Visit both of you can. Talk as many MIDN at both schools you can. Then go with your gut.
Congrats on your success!
OS
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What Oldsalt said!
Also, once you commission people generally don't care what your commissioning path was. They care about results. They care if you play well with others while deserving of their respect, and you respecting them. They care if you can complete the mission. My NROTC MO son who is serving as a 1st Lt in Okinawa has more colorful language to describe these attributes, or the lack thereof. However, I cannot repeat them here, except the pejorative "He's a box of rocks".
Also, once you commission people generally don't care what your commissioning path was. They care about results. They care if you play well with others while deserving of their respect, and you respecting them. They care if you can complete the mission. My NROTC MO son who is serving as a 1st Lt in Okinawa has more colorful language to describe these attributes, or the lack thereof. However, I cannot repeat them here, except the pejorative "He's a box of rocks".
5Day
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You cannot go wrong with either option. +1 to what @Oldsalt said. My DS is at UVa and NROTC Navy Option and and the unit is excellent. He is able to manage his commitments to academics and NROTC and still participate in a few clubs and a fraternity. UVa was the right choice for him. But the experience is totally different than USNA. Which one is right for you? You are the only one that can make that decision.