Question about scholarships

usnajosh

usnajosh

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I am currently a freshmen at a state university (Texas-Permian Basin) that does not have an NROTC program. Would it be possible for me to obtain an NROTC scholarship and transfer to a University with the program (say Texas A&M)? I realize I would be two years behind in the program, and I would finish my degree before I complete NROTC, but would it be possible to go on to graduate studies while finishing the NROTC?
 
You can transfer to another University (after your freshman year) and join NROTC. Don't worry about missing the first year they will get you caught up.

As for a NROTC scholarship, once you've started college the only scholarship that I am aware that you can get is an in-college scholarship which is handled by you college's NROTC Unit. BEFORE transferring you should call the NROTC Unit at your intended college and ask them specifically what you need to do to be eligible for a scholarship, what the "odds" are and when you might be able to actually receive one.
Good luck.
 
From what some NROTC people have told me, as long as you haven't affiliated with an NROTC unit at a college, you can re-apply for the NROTC scholarship the same way that a HS student would between junior/senior years (you still have to meet all the other requirements like age etc.). If you affiliate with ROTC without a scholarship as a freshman in college, however, you are no longer eligible to apply for a regular NROTC scholarship.

The NROTC officer I spoke with also said that actual college grades are weighted and considered heavily as they are actual indicators of college success, where high school grades and SAT/ACT scores are merely predictors of success.

So, I think the short answer to the first part of your question is "yes". As far as graduate school goes, I don't know.
 
I started to apply for a scholarship for next year, but I became so caught up in my USNA application, that I foolishly neglected to get everything in on time for NROTC. I have yet to hear whether I have been appointed or not to USNA. I did speak with the Chief who handles NROTC scholarships for my area, and he sounded like my present enrollment in college would not change how I applied for the scholarship.
 
I'd say just go to the source. Either contact the unit at the college you're interested in about what to do, or contact NROTC through here.

Ask directly and be sure that you get the full answer. An answer where you have to say "it sounds like" isn't much of one at all, since you're still unsure, right?
Make sure you get the direct answer to your direct question :thumb:
 
As soon as I hear a definite "yea"or "nay" from the academy, I will contact the the unit's office. Thank you everyone for your input.
 
Another piece of info I got from the NROTC guy I talked to, who is on staff at one of the NROTC units at a school my daughter is interested in....

If you attend an NROTC school and then affiliate with the NROTC unit as a non-scholarship student, you have 2 years to get picked up for the "College Program". If you are not picked up by the start of your Junior year, you have to apply for "Advanced Standing", which allows you to stay affiliated and graduate with a commission in the USN...otherwise you have to leave NROTC.

In the last 2 years, there have been 0 (ZERO) College Program scholarships awarded (in fact he told me this year there wasn't even a selection board). Next year, there are only enough College Program spots allotted NATIONWIDE for NROTC to get 2 people at each NROTC college into the College Program, if they spread them out evenly.

So....long story short...you have a much better chance of getting a regular NROTC scholarship by going the traditional route (like a HS student). As soon as you affiliate with a NROTC unit at a college, you make yourself INELIGIBLE to apply via the traditional route. If you have a good GPA at college and can submit transcripts when you apply, you make your application that much stronger since you show that you can be successful in college-level courses.

However, one thing he told me was that if NROTC is your intent, you can still take the Naval Science classes during your Freshman year just like an NROTC-affiliated student, and still be non-affiliated...that way if you pick up NROTC your Sophomore year, you won't be behind the curve for the Naval Science work.
 
I think the only way you can apply for a NROTC scholarship now is through the College Program. I believe the rule for applying for a 4yr NROTC scholarship (like a HS student) is you can't have completed 30 units by the time of your application. As a freshman you may have already surpassed 30 units (you should check your completed units to make sure).
 
FR4Y said:
I believe the rule for applying for a 4yr NROTC scholarship (like a HS student) is you can't have completed 30 units by the time of your application.
Click to expand...

Correct. Requirements from the NROTC website:

* U.S. Citizenship
* Not less than 17 years old by Sept. 1 of year starting college and no more than 23 on June 30 of that year
* Must not have reached 27th birthday by June 30 of year in which graduation and commissioning are anticipated
* Applicants with prior military service may be eligible for age adjustments for amount of time equal to their prior service, on month-by-month basis, for maximum of 36 months, if they will not reach 30th birthday by June 30 of year graduation and commissioning are anticipated
* High school graduation or equivalency certificate by August 1 of year of entrance into four-year NROTC Scholarship program
* No moral obligations or personal convictions that prevent conscientious bearing of arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic
* Physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards
* 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.
* Students may apply for only one of three program options-Navy, Marine Corps or Nurse
* Active duty Navy applicants are ineligible to apply for NROTC program through COMNAVCRUITCOM. Active members of other branches of the military may apply if granted a conditional release. Individuals who are scheduled for boot camp may apply provided they complete all required application evolutions (i.e. strong interest inventory, officer interview, etc.). NSTC will accept teacher evaluations, transcripts, and ACT/SAT scores dated after the applicants ship date.
* Navy and Nurse-option applicants should apply online or through Navy recruiting offices
* Marine Corps applicants should apply online or through Marine Corps recruiting offices
* You may start the process of applying during the second semester of your junior year of high school. Before the application can be finalized and forward for selection consideration, you must ensure that a copy of your complete transcript including your entire junior year is forwarded to your recruiter.
 
Ok well, that info directly answers my question. Thank you. I suppose if that option is not feasible, a reapplication to USNA is my last best hope.
 
I am a bit confused after ready all these posts and others on different links. My DS was accepted to the top two choices on his scholarship application, but didn't receive a NROTC scholarship. According to the unit coordinator at one of the universities, there is no appeal of the board's decision. He told DS that he could go the route of the college programmer, but if he did so he would lose the opportunity to apply for the NROTC scholarship next year. He advised the other option is to take the Naval Sciences that freshman would take although not in NROTC and reapply next year for scholarship. I've read on a number of posts that others reapply after being college programmers and get scholarships for 3.5, 3 and 2 years. How is this accomplished? Through the NROTC scholarship program or through the university's NROTC unit. The unit coordinator mentioned "leadership scholarships," but said they were getting harder to come by. Please advise. FYI, son just received TWE for Naval Academy and will be reapplying next year.
 
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