NROTC Tier 3 Scholarship Advice

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NROTCDAD55

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I have a D who has great creds and ECs, and is interested in a Tier 3 NROTC scholarship. We recently did a "college tour" of several schools and they were not too enthusiastic once she indicated that although she has very good math skills (all As in math, AP Calc and 670 math SAT), she wants to major in a humanities. Understand Tier 3 majors are limited to 15% of all NROTC scholarships, but cannot get a feel for what that means (eg, does it mean that it is next to impossible in contrast to Tiers 1 and 2 applicants or does it mean that, if only 15% of all scholarship applicants are Tier 3, then it is no more difficult than for the tech majors?) Also, she may double major in a foreign language that is on the list of critical languages - would that help? Any advice would be appreciated.
 
I'm guessing the lack of enthusiasm you are referring to was coming from the ROTC Staff? Probably because they know that her chances of getting a scholarship are much greater with a technical related degree of some type (the Tier 1 and 2 majors). Essentially what she is looking at is out of every 100 scholarships available she is only eligible for 15 possible scholaships (Tier 3). The kids looking at the Tier 1 and 2 majors can be put in for the 85 possible scholarships so their chances of getting one of those are greater. "Needs of the Navy" and all :smile::smile: Even in the technical fields there are certain ones that the Navy would like to see students steer towards more than others once they are in school although it is not required.

Tier 3 scholarships are certainly doable. If that is what she wants she can't get one unless she at least tries.
 
Thoughts on chances

I am reminded of the old story about the two springbok who were being chased by a jaguar, when one said to the other, "Isn't it rediculous that we think that we can outrun the jaguar," whereupon the other replied, "Oh, I don't have to outrun the jaguar. I just have to outrun you." If there are 1000 slots annually and 15% are dedicated to Tier 3, I guess that she has to "outrun" all but 149 of the other Tier 3 applicants. It is a shame because she is a fine pilot already but really loves her English and theater - just a few years ago her choice of major would have been irrelevant.

I have heard of more than one story of a Tier 3 candidate being telephoned from P'cola with the inquiry of whether s/he would be interested in changing majors to secure the scholarship. Just hoping that doesn't become an issue.
 
My son's interest was in an English major when the process started as well. We played the odds, went with a general science major since he could always take the extra English courses and nearly double major if not double major. He likes science and does well in it and it markedly improves the scholarship odds. Just a couple years ago students could select tier 1 or 2, get the scholarship, and then change to tier 3 without any effect on their scholarship. I believe this is the first year that changing to a tier 3 major once a tier 1 or 2 is awarded will probably cost you your scholarship.
 
I can't speak for NROTC, but always have hope. Our DS is a Tier 3, gov and politics with an AFROTC scholarship. They are rare, but if your DD has the credentials she'll get it, afterall they have to give it someone! That being said be realistic that they are hard to get. Also, most SA candidates will do their back up and apply for the ROTC scholarship too, which adds even more comp.

I am surprised that it has only been this yr that you can't switch over from Tier 1, 2 to 3 it has been that way for the AF for several yrs now. You can ask to switch, but usually you risk losing the type that you have.
 
Switching NROTC tiers

I don't think it is problematic switching from T1 to T2, and the literature indicates that the Navy is happy if a scholarship recipient wants to switch to a lower tier (T3 to 2 or 1, T2 to 1). If you go from T1 or 2 to T3, you have to go before a board and it is problematic, because it does resemble "bait and switch" and does not comport with what the Navy believes is in its best interests.

I think that the other strategy of double majoring or doing a T2 and backfilling with humanities/ss courses as electives has its own risks. My S (not any kind of ROTC participant) was a NMS with an 800 Math SAT, who started college life double majoring, with math being one of those majors. Anyway, all it took was his first bad calc class (ok, largely because of an inept teacher, but a turn-off nontheless) for him to drop math as one of his majors. He had that latitude because he was not locked in. I cannot imagine what the pressure would be, especially at an expensive school, for a 19 year old to be faced with the dilemma of giving up her NROTC scholarship because she wants to change majors without authorization or sticking with a major that she didn't like/didn't do well in for 3 additional years so that tuition would be paid. College life can be tough enough.

I want to thank the posters for their input. Unlike many parents whose kids are merely facing the choices of state/private, large/small, urban/rural, we ROTC app parents and S/Ds face additional challenges, and the feedback is invaluable.
 
Just a couple of thoughts since I know you are not getting a huge response here. ROTC is not a popular topic on this board. Have you tried the "other board" (sorry all- I'm not trying to drive away business). Might be worth a shot however :rolleyes:

In addition another reason for such a negative reaction from your visits could be that funding seemed to be so drastically cut this year for scholarships. Right about now is when the units have been notifiying their college programmers, for Navy anyway, that almost no one received scholarships. Not very good news to be handing out. In addition it means that many of those college programmers will opt to leave the program rather than put another year into it as it is an awful lot of time and work if they feel there is no scholarship opportunity for them.

I know you are trying to figure out a way to make it work for your daughter. You are right on when you say that college is stressful enough. I was actually shocked at how much work NROTC really is. And even if she does major in humanities- she'll be stuck taking Calculus and Physics anyway :biggrin: It's required !!!
 
NROTC & Tier 3 as well

Hello everyone, I read the posts here and everyone seems to be so knowledgeable and so helpful, so I thought I would ask my question here.

I am also a tier 3 major, either Interior Design or Political Science, leaning more towards political science, I just wanted to know the chances of getting the scholarship because my ACT/SAT English score was bout the requirement, but math and science not so much, but I have a good class rank, and my #1 school that I indicated is a very big school (if that plays any role in this) so my question is.....

Q:) I know there are only about 15% scholarships for Tier 3 majors, but honestly, what do my chances look like? I want this more than anything, and also what role did the Officer Interview play in the scholarship?

I appreciate this so much for those who take time and reply to this :w00t:
 
Are you set on Navy? The majority of AROTC cadets usually fall into the social science/humanities category of majors and there are no restrictions or distinctions made between tech and non-tech (besides OML for accessions). From just personal experience I would say that political science, history, criminal justice and psychology are the most chosen majors.

Just a suggestion because it seems most of the NROTC DS/DDs on here tend to be tech and 15% odds wise isn't all that great. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents regarding AROTC if you hadn't considered it already.
 
Won't speak for NROTC, but since AFROTC mimics in selection with the 85% going to tech, I would say you may be in for an uphill battle. Here are the reasons why:

1. AGAIN (AFROTC experience, not NROTC), the non-tech candidates typically have the same if not higher SAT scores.

Rationale for this is because only 15% are non-tech, they are fighting against more people for fewer slots. DS received his scholarship with a 33 or 34 ACT and a 1390 out of 1600 SAT.

The applicants just because they decide to go non-tech are not necessarily low scorers on the tests. Unfortunately for you, you have stated your Eng. is @ the requirement, but the Math is below, and when vying for a NROTC scholarship you never want to be at the mins since PAR is 60% of the selection process.

PAR will include your SAT, gpa, class rank, and course curriculum rigor, so you may be able to overcome the SAT issue if the rest are high. Thought process would be you are not a good test taker.

2. NROTC assigns the scholarship to the mid, but ties it to the school too.

That means as you stated your number 1 choice is a big school and with big schools you tend to have more competition, which brings it back to point 1.

Yes, they may have more scholarships, but very few mids will be on scholarship. They are actually the minority, and becoming smaller every yr due to budget crunches in the DOD.

Is the school a match, or is it a reach? That will also be a player in the equation. If it is a reach, than most likely there will be higher scoring candidates, if it is a match than your chances increase.

Is the school OOS or private, or is it IS. NROTC requires at least 1 IS college, but you do not address if you are IS. For example, you may want Notre Dame, a big school, but that is private, or you may want UNCCH as an NC resident, which would make it IS.

I am kind of shocked that they even allow Interior Design as an acceptable major for NROTC scholarship. AFROTC has limited majors, and although I haven't looked to see if ID is one of them, it would make no sense to me that they would from a career perspective for the AF. The fact is although not every major a newly minted O2 ROTC grad will match up to their career field, most of them are majors that can be used in the AF. I.E. Business can be used for Accounting and Finance or Personnel. Political Science can translate over into Public Affairs or Intel. Criminal Justice into Police force. I don't know where Interior Design can translate into, and I would suggest if you want to go this route, to take the time to investigate what career field actually exists in the Navy. I am more than willing and happy to eat crow if there is one for an O2 with a degree in ID.

PS. I do know at our DD's college there is a major that is called Architectural Interior Design. Basically you get a dual degree in architecture an interior design. That program I could see why they offer it for NROTC programs because it would equate into designing new buildings for the Navy.
 
Twin 14

I echo the above comments about considering not just NROTC if you are not attracted to a STEM major.

My DD was all set on Biology as a major, Tier 2 for NROTC, and exactly on 3 Jan, 2011, asked me if she could still do NROTC but not take Calculus or Physics. Well , her application had been into NSTC for four months at that point, as Tier 2.

I suggested she consider Army ROTC since the Academic Major tiers exists, but seemed at the time to be less biased toward STEM. She also has a primary interest in Military Intelligence, and actually AROTC allows for that Branching, albeit competitive, right out ouf college. In contrast, NROTC only allows a LT to request the Military intelligence specialty after first spending 2-4 years in their first, primary community -- Surface, Subs, Aviation. So she was fine with two apps being in, and didn't have any particular reason to prefer Navy over Army other than having a cousin at Annapolis. AROTC application done in four days, just prior to the 10 Jan deadline. Application later updated by the 28 Feb deadline for the last Board, early March. She received a 3 yr. AROTC scholarship, did not get NROTC scholarship. I think this was in part due to her being specific in her application, and interviews, about Military Intelligence being her primary goal. AROTC was a better fit for her, and that's the way it turned out.
 
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