ROTC and College Honor's program

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MoS&T_mom

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Curious what the views are on ROTC cadets and belonging to the "Honor's" program at their University. My DS has been invited to join. If he was staying a civilian I would encourage him to join, but I'm not sure the value past landing your first job (straight out of college).
 
I agree with you. If he wasn't doing ROTC, I'd say go for it. But with ROTC, I am not sure the added academic and extracurricular responsibilities area really necessary or advisable.

My two cents.
 
My DS is in both (AROTC) and enjoying them. Achieving academically is important in ROTC and it does have benefits at his school. He registers for classes first I know that. You can always drop it if it doesn’t seem worthwhile. That was his thinking.
 
Two of my children are honors college members at their respective universities.

Honors college commitments vary greatly by college - some programs are like living communities with a scavenger hunt of activities / a couple of classes over 4 years - others are 9+ specialized courses, a thesis defense, a service project that can take a significant commitment, travel etc. Confirm which is which at your school, and armed with a baseline of how effective your young adult is at time management, you can decide accordingly.
 
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Also, although they are in ROTC crap can happen and it might not end up with them going into the military. Have a back up plan just in case… if the honors program will help I think it’s worth a try.
 
College professor here, whose classes include honors students and ROTC cadets/mids. Also the parent of an ROTC cadet on four-year scholarship, taking a challenging STEM major and holding a significant non-ROTC leadership role. My advice: Go for it! You’re gunning to be a military leader — why shrink from the challenge? Why pass up the opportunity for an enriched college experience? Why skip the chance to be a warrior and a scholar? (I believe the good General Mattis has a thing or two to say about that.)

Most colleges don’t hand out Honors invitations like candy. That invitation is earned. It’s given because the college believes the student is worthy of it, and will benefit from it while benefiting others. Worried about the time commitment? It’ll make you a better time manager. Worried about the rigor? It’ll strengthen your ability and resolve. Worried about not devoting enough to ROTC? Your cadre will tell you that academics come first. I don’t see the downside.
 
MidCakePa said:
College professor here, whose classes include honors students and ROTC cadets/mids. Also the parent of an ROTC cadet on four-year scholarship, taking a challenging STEM major and holding a significant non-ROTC leadership role. My advice: Go for it! You’re gunning to be a military leader — why shrink from the challenge? Why pass up the opportunity for an enriched college experience? Why skip the chance to be a warrior and a scholar? (I believe the good General Mattis has a thing or two to say about that.)

Most colleges don’t hand out Honors invitations like candy. That invitation is earned. It’s given because the college believes the student is worthy of it, and will benefit from it while benefiting others. Worried about the time commitment? It’ll make you a better time manager. Worried about the rigor? It’ll strengthen your ability and resolve. Worried about not devoting enough to ROTC? Your cadre will tell you that academics come first. I don’t see the downside.
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I appreciate your unique perspective as a prof/parent. Agree with everything you say!

I think it boils down to what a student wants. If they really WANT IT, then all the extra responsibilities won't seem a burden. But if they know they don't want it, or they are really into the military aspect and want to treat ROTC as their honor program by investing more into it and pursuing extra opportunities there for battalion leadership, summer schools and internships, that's OK too.
 
My middle son is an Honors College member. He gets the perks. Good freshman dorm, smart freshman friends, smaller class sizes and an extra advisor counselor on campus. He is a hardcore intellectual though. There is a balance. He was also on volleyball team and ranger challenge team as a Freshman. He had to miss volleyball nationals due to ROTC commitments and practices put a strain on his studies. I advised him he didn't want to hear it from dad....He didn't play volleyball this year and he doesn't mention missing it. He is dialed in on ROTC and his pre-med/honors college academics and he seems less stressed and very on top of a huge course load. There is the right mix for every student/cadet. It isn't always the same. There are cadets each semester who are honored that have a much easier major/course load as well.....it works for them. Figuring out that balance is not always very clear....you can advise a child but they are at that stage where the decision is theirs to make.
 
MoS&T_mom said:
Curious what the views are on ROTC cadets and belonging to the "Honor's" program at their University. My DS has been invited to join. If he was staying a civilian I would encourage him to join, but I'm not sure the value past landing your first job (straight out of college).
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In addition to the excellent advice from the professor, consider what the Honors program offers. At some large universities, Honors students are able to take smaller classes and avoid large seminar classes in their freshman and sophomore years. Bottom line, the challenge these courses offer will be nothing compared to the challenges a newly commissioned officer will face. Embrace the suck….and he will gain more confidence.
 
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