NROTC side load scholarships

cmpaula

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I am thrilled to find this board! Our son has worked hard the past 4 years of high school, 4.0 GPA with AP classes, and has always wanted to serve in the Navy. We received word, through the NROTC website, that he was not awarded the scholarship. Does anyone know how the side load scholarships work? He has been accepted in the college of engineering at our state school, which has an NROTC program. Any help would be greatly appreciated! We were all very disappointed when we heard that he had been declined but we are viewing this as an opportunity to teach perseverance!
 
there is a lot that can be said about side-load (also called college program) scholarships. First off, I am actually in the process of trying to get a college program scholarship and I was informed by my NavSci teacher/ the freshman advisor that the Navy doesnt have the money. They have taken the funds that were orginally used for the sideloads and have put them into giveing four year scholarships to that your son just applied for. My teacher said this my change in the next 4 years but that for the next two there will be very few, if any, offered nationally. He told me that it doesnt make sense but thats life in the Navy lol

I know it seems that trying to turn you off from the entire idea but I am going to offer some advice. If you son wants to be a math, engineering, chem or other tech major like that and is willing to go to Nuclear school then he should deff ask the advisor at the unit about the Tweeddale Scholarship. Apparently the Navy is willing to do anything for midds who will go into the program.

What school is your son going to?
 
Thank you so much for the reply! Our son is going to Penn State in the fall and I will ask him about the nuclear school. We visited with the PSU NROTC office yesterday and they were very informative! She even suggested that our son take a Naval history class in the fall, see how he likes it and then sign on for the Spring NROTC. That way he can get adjusted to college life first. Our son is very focused and would be a great team member! It really amazes me the number of very fine and qualified kids did not get the scholarships. Best wishes to you and thank you so much for the advice~I wish I would have found this board last year!
 
Thats a good unit. I have a friend that I graduated with who is a college program mid there right now. He never informed me weather he was selected for the scholarship but he loves it. I took that class this spring. It is very interesting and it actually allows you to get to know some of the people for the unit. I go to Temple so my unit is at UPenn and I ended up making to fast friends with the marine options who I now car-pool with a few times a week. Its a great team to be part of. If you son does the scholarship thing mybe ill see him at nuke school. Best of luck!!
 
Thank you for your reply! I think the class will be very interesting and motivating for him. I am an Army brat and my husband is a former F-14 pilot from NAS Miramar so the military is something near and dear to our family. Our son has grown up with stories of carrier landings, cruises and the goofy things Naval aviators do. And he still wants to be a part of it! Although, I don't think he is interested in the flying part. Thanks again for your advice...I wish you all the best!
 
My son didn't get a NROTC scholarship either, but got accepted to his two top schools, UCLA and UC Berkeley. We discussed with the NROTC unit coordinators at both universities the scholarship options (including the sideload/leadership). Both said they were the only options available for college programmers because once you become a college programmer you are disqualified from applying for the 4-year scholarship. My son thought it over and decided to not enroll in the NROTC, but take some of the Navy sciences courses and then reapply for the 4-year scholarship. As the Navy has cut back on the sideload scholarships, he thought it best to go this route.
 
Very interesting....thank you for your post. I am glad our son doesn't have to committ until spring at the earliest....this gives us something to think about. I always assumed the kids with the scholarships had a "leg up" on the kids that joined without one. Not so, according to the person we spoke to last week. Good luck to your son!
 
My son thought it over and decided to not enroll in the NROTC, but take some of the Navy sciences courses and then reapply for the 4-year scholarship.
Isn't there a maximum number of college credits that you can have and still be eligible for a 4-year NROTC scholarship?
 
2010-2011 academic year NROTC 4 year and Side Load Scholarships per NSTC communication dated Oct 2009 and Feb. 2010

4 yr Scholarships:
Communication Oct. 2009 - offer 2615 to enroll 1050
Communication Feb. 2010 - offer 1532 to enroll 570.

Communication Feb. 2010 Side Load Scholarships:
2014 graduates, 3yr (85), 2 1/2 (35), 2 yr (22).

(Google "NSTC 2010 Scholarship" to review NSTC Oct. and Feb. communication)
 
Thank you so much for the reply! Our son is going to Penn State in the fall and I will ask him about the nuclear school. We visited with the PSU NROTC office yesterday and they were very informative! She even suggested that our son take a Naval history class in the fall, see how he likes it and then sign on for the Spring NROTC. That way he can get adjusted to college life first. Our son is very focused and would be a great team member! It really amazes me the number of very fine and qualified kids did not get the scholarships. Best wishes to you and thank you so much for the advice~I wish I would have found this board last year!


It is true that you can go through the PSU NROTC program as a college program student. The only thing I want to warn you about is that not all individuals who go in as college programmers receive scholarships. So that is always something to keep in the back of your mind. It is not assured.

Also, if your son does not receive a scholarship and remains a college programmer there is also the chance that he could achieve advance standing (those who do not achieve advance standing are not able to stay in the program) in which he would still be eligible to receive a commission after graduation but would only receive a monthly stipend.

They do hand out a few scholarships here and there, so don't NOT try, but it is something to keep tucked away in the back of your mind when planning financial and other such things.
 
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