NROTC Scholarship

MOFT: NICE set of options. The only one I don't see is AROTC, but having AFROTC as well as the USMA locked up is SWEET! I suspect the color thing is as important in NROTC as it is at the USNA.
 
dunninla said:
MOFT: NICE set of options. The only one I don't see is AROTC, but having AFROTC as well as the USMA locked up is SWEET! I suspect the color thing is as important in NROTC as it is at the USNA.
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And I thought, based on what I've read in this forum, that the color thing is even more important with AF.
 
kinnem said:
And I thought, based on what I've read in this forum, that the color thing is even more important with AF.
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DS received e-mail from Navy ROTC last night congratulating him for being awarded a scholarship but in the medical section stated that color vision is non-waiverable and that the scholarship will be rescinded if the recipient is deemed to not have normal color vision. Well, we already know that to be the case so they will be taking it back once they check through with DODMERB. It says that it is not an issue with Marine option or the Nursing option, neither of which appeal to DS. As far as USAFA and AF ROTC...it may come into play for those down the road who wish to fly but it is not an issue for medical qualification to attend the academy or for AFROTC, nor is it for USMA. He is medically qualified for both academies, as well as for AFROTC. The Navy is the only one who has had an issue with it.
 
This just in

DS status on NROTC just updated to:

Congratulations!
You have been selected for a 4-yr Navy Option scholarship.
Your scholarship has been placed at YALE UNIVERSITY. Your host unit will be YALE UNIVERSITY.

Others should be hearing soon! Good luck!
 
kinnem said:
And I thought, based on what I've read in this forum, that the color thing is even more important with AF
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Believe it or not I know several fliers in the AF that were DQ'd by Navy for color vision issues, but the AF didn't have the same problem. It all comes down to the lights they use for landing, and where that deficiency is.

I am curious like dunninla, it seems you did plan B for every branch, but Army, was there a reason why? I.E. the schools didn't have a host ROTC unit and he would have to do x-town?
 
DS received his rejection notice last week from the selection board. Today he received the official letter from the Navy with his options. Between the status change last week and the letter he spoke with the unit at the college he wants to attend. The LT told him he had 2 option, the college program or to reapply through the NROTC web page like he did this year. He was told he had a better chance of receiving a scholarship if he applied through the web page as opposed to the college program but wasn't given much other information. Does anyone know why that would be?
 
jac2331 said:
DS received his rejection notice last week from the selection board. Today he received the official letter from the Navy with his options. Between the status change last week and the letter he spoke with the unit at the college he wants to attend. The LT told him he had 2 option, the college program or to reapply through the NROTC web page like he did this year. He was told he had a better chance of receiving a scholarship if he applied through the web page as opposed to the college program but wasn't given much other information. Does anyone know why that would be?
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If your DS doesn't participate in NROTC as a college programmer he will be reapplying as part of the high school scholarship program. There are more scholarships available for that pool than there are scholarships available for NROTC College programmers (referred to as in-schoool or sideload scholarships). Thats a statement of numbers however, and not odds.

My personal opinion (and I am definitely biased here)...
if the goal is the scholarship follow the LT's advice. If the goal is to commission, enroll in the College Program and try to get a sideload scholarship.

One more alternative, if your DS is pursuing Marine Option is to look at PLC.
 
He is definitely interested in a commission and will go wherever his best chance of that is. So would a larger unit have move side load scholarships and what's the success rate of candidates applying through their units?
 
It's still a national competition and, to my knowledge, has nothing to do with the size of the unit. There are a certain number of sideload 3 year and 2 year scholarships set aside for each class year. For example, for class of 2015 there are 80 3 year scholarships and 108 2 year scholarships have been set aside. So there are not many scholarships available in these times. I have no idea what the numbers might be for class of 2016. Your guess as to the number of people competing for these is as good as mine, but I'm sure the LT was making a valid point.

There are many advantages to participating as a College Programmer, hence my remarks. You bond with the other folks in the unit, especially the freshman during orientation. You learn time management out of necessity. You learn leadership skills and discipline. All these can be useful in making the college transition. I know my DS is far exceeding his performance in high school and my own expectations for him. I have no doubt this is due to his NROTC participation without the scholarship. YMMV. However, his participation does not assure him a commission. He will need to be awarded Advanced Standing in his rising junior year if he is not awarded a sideload scholarship. Advanced Standing will win him a monthly stipend and the privilege to continue in the program.

All ROTC participants are treated the same. Scholarship or not, they all get the same opportunities and demands for performance. There is no path thru NROTC that guarantees a commission without hard work and dedication. Some are disenrolled for failure to meet the standards. Some leave voluntarily.

Not sure how to guide you in making a decision. Clearly $ are important in obtaining a college education. My DS was lucky to obtain a merit scholarship that allowed him to attend his #1 choice school for near in state tuition. He has to maintain a 3.0 to keep the scholarship which is more demanding than the NROTC GPA requirements. Some schools offer in state tuition for ROTC participants. The alumni of some units offer financial aid for tuition for college programmers. Some schools offer room and board. It all varies by the unit/school. You might try contacting the units at schools he is accepted to, or their financial aid offices, to see if there is anything that can be done financially for a college programmer. Certainly apply for any scholarship for which your son is eligible. It may be, given your financial situation, that following the LTs advice might be your best option.

Good luck to you and your DS. I hope his dreams come true.
 
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jac2331

For me, business is business. I don't support the college program for non-flying technical majors. The STEM student's time is valuable. I believe that academic efforts should be redoubled rather than investing in uncompensated ROTC efforts.

Reapplying with 24-29 semester units (there's a limit) and a high GPA is a better strategy. Completion of calculus, physics, and chemistry requirements makes for a strong application. Top it off with Uebermensch PT scores and you're in a strong position. Apply to all services and may the best offer win :thumb:
 
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kinnem said:
My personal opinion (and I am definitely biased here)...
if the goal is the scholarship follow the LT's advice. If the goal is to commission, enroll in the College Program and try to get a sideload scholarship.
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Is there a 3rd option -- that is, do not participate as a college programmer, reapply for a scholarship as a college freshman through the HS application process, and then, failing to secure a HS scholarship during freshman year, jump in as a college programmer at tje end of freshman year, or the beginning of sophomore year?
 
dunninla said:
reapply for a scholarship as a college freshman through the HS application process
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Confused here, you can't apply as a college freshman through the HS application program because for the plain fact you are not in HS.

Maybe I am mis-reading your post.
 
From NROTC website:
•Students w/30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application or students already enrolled in NROTC College Program are not eligible for four-year NROTC Scholarships; these students should see professors of naval science at host university's NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.

So college students can apply.
 
Wow, that is very interesting.

I am shocked that you don't see this forum filled with posters stating they are applying for what in the AFROTC world would be classified as HS.

The AF has three tracking routes, HS you click on one link. College you click on another.

HS students do not compete against college...HSSP High School Scholarship Program
College students compete against only college. IS. In School.
Enlisted.

Learn something new everyday.

That now begs me to ask questions.

The way I am reading this is HS students can compete with people who are freshman and sophomore students in college.

Is there something in the system to equal it out? For example, I would think a mid with a 3.1 in NROTC at a college would be a stronger candidate than the 3.5 in NJROTC at HS.

They have proven they transitioned well.

Additionally, it removes the whole unit wish list issue. Easier personnel planning on the Navy's part.

Do they place the commissioning yr into the equation. I.E. right now it would be 14,15, and 16. 25% to 14, 25% to 15 and 50% to 16?


Again, maybe it is the polish person in me, but reading this it states NROTC mids can fight for the same scholarship pool over a course of 3 yrs. Making sense now to me why a poster asked about the bennies of going side load and not doing NROTC.

My hearts out to NROTC parents because that is not a roller coaster ride I would want to be on for 3 yrs.
 
catena said:
From NROTC website:
•Students w/30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application or students already enrolled in NROTC College Program are not eligible for four-year NROTC Scholarships; these students should see professors of naval science at host university's NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.

So college students can apply.
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So if my DS did not receive a scholarhip this year as a HS senior and will now attend a college that does not have NROTC. Can he take the AROTC classes as a freshman and as long as he does not earn more than 30 semester hours of credit apply for a NROTC scholarship online next year? Then if receives the scholarship then transfer to a school that offers the NROTC scholarship. At the same time apply for the AROTC 3 year scholaship in case he doesn't receive the NROTC scholarship again.
 
I was thinking the same thing as you tuba.

Here is the funky issue, with so many kids having APs and Jump Start it is possible to enter college with close to 30 credits.

EX:
APLIT
APENG
APGOV
APUSH
APEURO
APCALC
APCHEM
APBIO
APPHYSICS

Will equal 27 credits to some schools depending on they work it. Add in Jump Start on they are over 30.

That brings it back to only Freshman applying along with HS srs.
 
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We're making an assumption here... and yes, I'm guilty too. What we do know is the application process is the same. There may be scholarship set asides specifically for college students. We don't really know that. Perhaps someone in the know can confirm one way or the other.

As far as taking classes, at least with NROTC, the Naval Science classes are generally open to all students. It's enrollment in the labs that force you to enroll in the college program. I would think the other services are the same but I would bet no more than a plain pizza on it.

Certainly the wording on the website implies you can be enrolled as a college programmer in another services ROTC program. It makes a certain amount of sense, since the student is not contracted. It wouldn't surprise me though if there is some checkbox on the application asking if you were previously enrolled in xROTC which would at least prevent bouncing back and forth. Just conjecture on my part though. If I were going to attempt participating in one program while applying for a scholarship in the other, I wouldn't do it without speaking to someone with in depth knowledge on the scholarship process. I would expect there are at least some checks in place to prevent people gaming the system.
 
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