NROTC Scholarship Delay?

patentesq

Parent
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DS's NROTC status hasn't changed since November. I am trying to figure out which is the most probable reason for this:

1. DS's credentials are not good enough to receive NROTC scholarship (although he did receive 3Q'd from USNA, and appointments from USMA and USMMA and AROTC and AFROTC 4-yr scholarships), so he keeps getting rolled over (credentials are not such that NROTC is quite ready to ding DS).

2. NROTC is waiting to make sure there is no VP or Supe nomination for USNA (even though he's 3Q'd) and thus awaiting word of USNA TWE before awarding NROTC scholarship.

3. NROTC knows that each of the schools listed on DS's application do not announce decision until late March/early April, so they are waiting to allow DS to update his list to remove schools where he has been dinged.

Any thoughts on which is most probable explanation?
 
IMHO which is completely based on reading numerous posts written by connected experienced SA And ROTC people.

1. Maybe.
Selection is not 100% objective. (above the line your in, below your out) Other offers, although impressive and important to your family, are irrelevant to NROTC selection staff. Operation goals/directives vary for each SA and ROTC orgainization. Good news, no TWE from NROTC or USNA. So yes, your DS impressive credentials are keeping him in the NROTC USNA game.

2. NROTC and USNA do not compare notes. USNA appointments and NROTC Scholarships are mutually exclusive. FWIW, many USNA appointees do not receive NROTC scholarships.

3. No, NROTC is not waiting for your DS to do anything with school list. Many schools don't finalize admissions until late March April. Last yr my DS was told the following by #1 school adviser (DS not accepted to #1 school). When awarded scholarship, NROTC assigns scholarship to school based on available space beginning with top school and working to last school on list. If nothing available on list, NROTC may assign scholarship to any school. It is applicants responsibility to apply and earn acceptance to listed schools.


4. Waiting Waiting Waiting.......is just tedious for us all!

Congrats to your son for all he has achieved to date.
 
Thanks, grtkidmom! The ROTC process seems so much more mysterious than SAs. At least with the SAs, you can look at last year's stats and get a rough feel for where you stand (as with any college), although the MOC nomination process can be arbitrary. But for ROTC, there are so many other considerations that appear to be in play that it's tough to get that same feel. Totally agree on the tedious nature of the waiting game!
 
patentesq, Our DS is in the same situation - I feel your pain. But, many have already received the "I'm sorry" emails, so at least you're still in the game!
 
DS in NJ is in the same boat. No I am sorry letter as well but did get nomination from AFA and West Point but have not heard anything. Did get a AROTC and accepted that as a back up. So we'll see what the powers that be have instore for our kids... they will land where they are supposed to land. But still we wait and wish for the mail to come or that ONE call to happen with good news! It's middle of March and we can't stand it anymore!
 
Do most people send in the money to all schools to hold the space and continue to keep fingers crossed for the scholarship? Any recommendations?
 
Do most people send in the money to all schools to hold the space and continue to keep fingers crossed for the scholarship? Any recommendations?
You should know by May 1st whether you are going to receive a NROTC scholarship. May 1st is also the deadline to submit a deposit for most colleges in the USA. I'd wait until mid-April before depositing to a certain school and except for unusual circumstances you shouldn't need to deposit to more than one....the one you can afford and expect to attend. Good Luck!
 
What does your son want? What is he waiting for? How was his visit to USMA~did that change his decision or help?
 
What does your son want? What is he waiting for? How was his visit to USMA~did that change his decision or help?

DS ultimately wants to be a military physician. He understands that there are multiple paths to get there, and in this regard, he is in a different category than most. There are countless things that will go into his decision. If his decision is ultimately USMA, he wants to make that decision knowing it was the right one. The only way to know whether USMA is the right one for him is to evaluate other all other options available to him.

When DS started down this path, the only thing he did NOT compromise on was his academic major. This likely hurt him with respect to AFROTC and NROTC, because he rejected the advice of ROTC advisors that he should pick an engineering major over biology/pre-med. I was very proud of him when he did that.

ROTC is yet unresolved. Believe it or not, DS has been advised by ROTC cadre that the ROTC route is the better path for commissioning, pointing out that the ROTC cadet has more time to study, more opportunties for research and study abroad, etc. However, DS's tremendous visit to USMA led him to believe that these claims may be overstated. Nevertheless, DS will explore the ROTC commissioning path fully before making any decisions. If USMA tells him to make his decision earlier than planned, then he will make his decision earlier than planned.

As for NROTC, it is not yet an option. However, suppose AROTC wants DS to attend School B while NROTC offers to send DS to School A, then DS has much more to think about than simply deciding between AROTC and USMA. Of course, if NROTC never materializes, then his decision will be largely focused on deciding between USMA and AROTC at School B. On the AFROTC side of the house, the Air Force has offered to send him to any school he selects (albeit as 4-year Type-2, which has a $18k cap on tuition). So if neither AROTC or NROTC want DS to attend School A, then DS has to decide between USMA and AFROTC at School A (which costs $80k more than USMA or AROTC) and School X for NROTC and School Y for AROTC.

In short, this is a very complicated process that can only be made after all of the cards have been dealt and DS knows what options are available to him. Those who play their hand before all the cards have been dealt are typically not very good card players.

Spending an overnight at an SA is an absolute MUST before attending. My DS truly thought it was a wonderful experience.
 
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