Process question

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JDBx3

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Probably an obvious answer, but in applying for an ROTC scholarship, do you contemporaneously apply to colleges that offer the program? I assume if awarded a scholarship, you also have to be accepted to a college with an ROTC program and go through the normal college application process as well. Could you theoretically be awarded a scholarship but then be denied admission to colleges that you applied to? Lastly, thoughts on schools with good Army ROTC programs and do the senior military colleges fall into that category? That is, can you use an ROTC scholarship at those schools? Thank you.
 
JDBx3 said:
Probably an obvious answer, but in applying for an ROTC scholarship, do you contemporaneously apply to colleges that offer the program? I assume if awarded a scholarship, you also have to be accepted to a college with an ROTC program and go through the normal college application process as well. Could you theoretically be awarded a scholarship but then be denied admission to colleges that you applied to? Lastly, thoughts on schools with good Army ROTC programs and do the senior military colleges fall into that category? That is, can you use an ROTC scholarship at those schools? Thank you.
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DS only applied Naval ROTC. In his application, he is required to list 5 colleges (although he is only interested in top 2). If he is awarded the scholarship (usually goes to the first choice of the 5 colleges) then he needs to be admitted to the top choice college. It is very possible to be awarded the scholarship but not being accepted to the college of his first choice which is an independent application from ROTC.

However, it is still possible to transfer the scholarship to one of the five colleges (if he is admitted to ) --- depending if or not that college has a spot of ROTC for him.
 
I see. So is it a potential mistake to select a reach school as #1 that you don’t get admitted to and then the scholarship may not transfer? Thank you.
 
The short answer to your question is you must apply individually to each college for which you are considering applying an ROTC scholarship to. It is entirely possible to be approved for the ROTC scholarship and not get accepted to a school you apply to. This happened to my son with one of the three schools he listed as his top 3 for the ROTC scholarship. In some cases, if you earn the scholarship but are not accepted into the college of your choice, you can contact the ROTC department who may have some pull to get your admission reconsidered. As mentioned above, it is also not that difficult to transfer your scholarship to another school that you may get accepted to.

As for your question about good schools, there are many high quality Army ROTC programs around the country. Many of those are affiliated with small schools that may not get as much attention. In fact, some of the best opportunities in Army ROTC are with smaller schools. The senior military colleges are excellent.
 
JDBx3 said:
I see. So is it a potential mistake to select a reach school as #1 that you don’t get admitted to and then the scholarship may not transfer? Thank you.
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Other other hand, if the scholarship is awarded before submitting the college application, it "MIGHT" be helpful for admission -- at least you may waive to be considered "need base financial aid"
 
Yes, Senior Military Colleges are a good place to use ROTC scholarships. I'll leave it to you to decide which SMCs are "good," but I can certainly endorse Texas A&M, where my son is a senior in the Corps of Cadets and on an Army ROTC scholarship.
 
gniyji said:
Other other hand, if the scholarship is awarded before submitting the college application, it "MIGHT" be helpful for admission -- at least you may waive to be considered "need base financial aid"
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I think your overall point that you'll be a student for whom the US Government pays the full ticket price potentially helps is valid. However, just because things can change (what if Susie breaks her leg playing softball in April of her senior year. or what if Joey fails his DODMERB Physical) , even if awarded a ROTC scholarship and accepted into a dream school, I would not turn off or waive your FAFSA application or award, especially if you may qualify for aid from that source. At some schools, a student on a full ROTC scholarship may receive a check back from the university that they can apply toward room/ board if they receive Bright futures in Florida, financial aid, other merit scholarships. My son did not receive financial aid, but did receive a check back each semester that he used to cover rent, food while off campus from his merit scholarship surplus. He and others actually made money in college.

On a separate thought, one can be awarded an ROTC scholarship, accepted at a school, and yet not necessarily be able to use that scholarship at that school. Some schools are popular choices for ROTC and "fill up" or have implemented size limits of how many of the scholarship recipients/ college programmers can train in ROTC there. Different processes for Navy, Army in this regard but it's not a slam dunk to transfer a scholarship, nor is it a guaranteed to transfer between Navy Option or Marine Option NROTC scholarship paths. I believe all Air Force recipients can use the scholarship at any detachment, though fewer scholarships are awarded through their high school applicant HSSP program now than in the past. Most are granted now for Air Force through ICSP.
 
The SMC colleges and universities offer you a variety of college experiences. Their commissioning opportunities are all through a DOD ROTC program, or the Coast Guard college program. TAMU and Va Tech are large universities with an option to join a Corps of Cadets. Norwich and North Georgia are smaller universities with a mix of civilian student undergraduates and an optional Corps of Cadets. Citadel is a small college with all full time undergraduate day students, except a small number of active duty and veteran students, required to be in the Corps of Cadets. VMI is a small college and only has undergraduates, all of whom must be in the Corps of Cadets. These colleges and universities have large numbers of cadets in their AFROTC, AROTC and NROTC programs which may or may not suit your interest. North Georgia is limited to AROTC.
The only difference between an SMCs and a regular college is that SMCs all have a Corps of Cadets that operates as a military organization during the academic year, and all require cadets in their Corps of Cadets to enroll in an ROTC program at least for two years. After this, completing the ROTC program depends on your being accepted into the advance ROTC course your junior and senior year. If you are on an ROTC scholarship, your scholarship contract will specify your obligations to meet academic, medical and military requirements while in college, whether you commission into the active duty or reserve component and for how long you must serve. all of the SMCs are a good option if you value a very structured organization, learning time management and want a larger ROTC organization than at most civilian universities. The larger SMC universities like TAMU and Va Tech, offer more majors and big university experience. The smaller SMCs offer classical small college liberal arts, engineering and sciences. Best of luck to you
 
glen said:
The SMC colleges and universities offer you a variety of college experiences. Their commissioning opportunities are all through a DOD ROTC program, or the Coast Guard college program. TAMU and Va Tech are large universities with an option to join a Corps of Cadets. Norwich and North Georgia are smaller universities with a mix of civilian student undergraduates and an optional Corps of Cadets. Citadel is a small college with all full time undergraduate day students, except a small number of active duty and veteran students, required to be in the Corps of Cadets. VMI is a small college and only has undergraduates, all of whom must be in the Corps of Cadets. These colleges and universities have large numbers of cadets in their AFROTC, AROTC and NROTC programs which may or may not suit your interest. North Georgia is limited to AROTC.
The only difference between an SMCs and a regular college is that SMCs all have a Corps of Cadets that operates as a military organization during the academic year, and all require cadets in their Corps of Cadets to enroll in an ROTC program at least for two years. After this, completing the ROTC program depends on your being accepted into the advance ROTC course your junior and senior year. If you are on an ROTC scholarship, your scholarship contract will specify your obligations to meet academic, medical and military requirements while in college, whether you commission into the active duty or reserve component and for how long you must serve. all of the SMCs are a good option if you value a very structured organization, learning time management and want a larger ROTC organization than at most civilian universities. The larger SMC universities like TAMU and Va Tech, offer more majors and big university experience. The smaller SMCs offer classical small college liberal arts, engineering and sciences. Best of luck to you
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Thank you. Very helpful
 
1st Brigade are all the SMC's.
Huge plus for attedning an SMC:

Another distinction of the SMC system is that all cadets at the senior military colleges are guaranteed active duty commissions when they graduate:

The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that a graduate of a senior military college who desires to serve as a commissioned officer on active duty upon graduation from the college, who is medically and physically qualified for active duty, and who is recommended for such duty by the professor of military science at the college, shall be assigned to active duty.
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This is important if you attend a traditional college without a scholarship.
 
banjoppd said:
1st Brigade are all the SMC's.
Huge plus for attedning an SMC:

Another distinction of the SMC system is that all cadets at the senior military colleges are guaranteed active duty commissions when they graduate:



This is important if you attend a traditional college without a scholarship.
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Actually, the federal law on active duty status for graduates of a SMC only applies to cadets who successfully complete the Army ROTC program - and the “guarantee” is subject to the PMS recommending active duty.
 
glen said:
The only difference between an SMCs and a regular college is that SMCs all have a Corps of Cadets that operates as a military organization during the academic year, and all require cadets in their Corps of Cadets to enroll in an ROTC program at least for two years.
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VA Tech does not require students in the Corps of Cadets to be enrolled in any ROTC. They have a pretty good sized contingent of civilian leadership track students.
 
Bushrod said:
VA Tech does not require students in the Corps of Cadets to be enrolled in any ROTC. They have a pretty good sized contingent of civilian leadership track students.
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Ok, thanks I didn’t know this. I wonder if TAMU is the same - no requirement for ROTC to be in their Corps of Cadets?
 
JDBx3 said:
I see. So is it a potential mistake to select a reach school as #1 that you don’t get admitted to and then the scholarship may not transfer? Thank you.
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No. It's not a mistake. You almost always get to transfer the scholarship. They want you to have and use the scholarship, so they will work with you to the extent they can
 
glen said:
Ok, thanks I didn’t know this. I wonder if TAMU is the same - no requirement for ROTC to be in their Corps of Cadets?
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TAMU is the same, just first 2 years. We called them D nd C cadets.
 
banjoppd said:
TAMU is the same, just first 2 years. We called them D nd C cadets.
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The Citadel and VMI are similar to TAMU - cadets are just required to take the first 2 years of an ROTC program unless the cadet is on scholarship or approved to continue as a college programmer. At The Citadel, cadets not under a contract and who are not selected to continue in an advanced program, must complete an alternative leadership program at the Krause Center. At VMI, cadets not under contract to commission take Army ROTC leadership classes, but do not participate in the Junior and Senior year ROTC labs, and instead take alternative VMI leadership courses.
 
Thank you for asking this! I had the same question, trying to decide if I should list in order of preference or just pick a couple from each category (safety, target, reach). I do have what should be a safety on mine, since my state school is great for my major and has all three ROTC programs. I won't have a problem getting into the school, but the major is much harder to be accepted into
 
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glen said:
Ok, thanks I didn’t know this. I wonder if TAMU is the same - no requirement for ROTC to be in their Corps of Cadets?
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TAMU Corps of Cadets requires two years of ROTC. To be clear, there is no military obligation for those two years of ROTC.
 
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