Reapplying

[sidneybarnes]

Quick question... if it turns out I don’t get the NROTC scholarship I was hoping for, is it possible to take a year to work and improve PFT scores, and reapply for the 4 year ROTC scholarships when they open again? I’m currently a senior in high school and can’t afford college. I was going to enlist but reapplying for the scholarship is my last chance to go to college before the military. In short, can you still apply for the national scholarship if you’re not currently a senior in high school, or a freshman in college?

 

[rocatlin]

As long as you don't have hours that push you into the sophomore class standing (usually about 30 hrs), you can reapply for the 4 year scholarship. You can start the reapplication process as soon as it opens up again -- usually in April.

I would not make a hasty decision to enlist, however.

Are you going for the Navy side or the Marine Option side?

Can you afford to take classes at a community college and establish yourself as a college student? What other financial aid options are available to you? Do you have any scholarship to a school that has an NROTC program?

A little more context on your background may yield some better advice. Is there any reason you think you wouldn't get the scholarship this year? What backup plans have you made so far?

 

[kinnem]

Have you looked into National Guard/Reserves and SMP? If you're not hung up on getting active duty then that might be a good source of monies. The unit's ROO at the college you wish to attend can explain this complicated program to you. I don't usually recommend it to folks but it might be a good fit for you as long as you're OK with not getting active duty.

 

[Tbpxece]

Quick question... if it turns out I don’t get the NROTC scholarship I was hoping for, is it possible to take a year to work and improve PFT scores, and reapply for the 4 year ROTC scholarships when they open again? I’m currently a senior in high school and can’t afford college. I was going to enlist but reapplying for the scholarship is my last chance to go to college before the military. In short, can you still apply for the national scholarship if you’re not currently a senior in high school, or a freshman in college?

Not sure if you're long gone, but figure out if you are going military to pay for college or going to college to commission into the military.

If it's the former, then just look at whatever program will pay you (ROTC, SMP, GI Bill, etc.), do any service commitments, and then press.

If it's the latter, then it wouldn't be the worse thing in the world to enlist. I'd avoid the SMP route, though.

Via enlistment, you can get 1-2 years of college done pretty easily in a 4-year enlistment, and then you can separate, use your GI Bill to pay for the last two years while completing ROTC in the branch of your choice, and then commission as an O-1E (significant bump in pay vs. regular O-1).

No stress about scholarships, you get paid a housing allowance for your dorm or apartment, and school is 100% paid for-- any school, any degree.

Every ROTC unit has prior-E folks that went this route. Some of the most stress-free cadets they have. Usually they do very well.

 

[Dckc88]

If you really want to go to college, have you looked into other forms of financial aid? Have you filled out the fafsa? Have you thought about community college and live at home? In our state if you graduate from high school with a 2.7 gpa you get your first two years of community colllege almost free (I think it costs $50 a term). If commissioning as an officer is number one, then explore all your options, including what you asked above.
Not sure how kids transfer into ROTC from a junior college with a scholarship but I know at my daughters school (Army) it has happened.

Lots of good solutions above too. Remember there are several paths you can take, like mentioned above, decide which of these goals (college, serving, leading, which branch, etc) are the top priority, that should help you to sort your options and find the right path.

And if a recruiter gives you a solution, do yourself a favor and look at oak your options until you are sure. A lot can change in a short time in what exactly it is what you want.