DS has been accepted to Princeton and Duke and has AROTC, NROTC and AFROTC scholarships. He is in his final decision phase on this matrix of choices and would love to hear the thoughts of this group on the pros/cons of both schools and the various ROTC options. A great problem to have but a very tough decision.
ROTC at Princeton versus Duke
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The AROTC program at Princeton is really good, that school also has a long history with the Army. The most recent CJCS (Gen. (Ret.) Mark Milley) was a Princeton grad. I am pretty sure they were also the only Ivy to not kick ROTC off campus during the Vietnam War. NROTC is also definitely doable at Princeton too, but a little more complicated because you have to commute to Rutgers for it.
Duke is a good school as well of course, I’ve heard the NROTC program is great there too.
I think it ultimately comes down to deciding which branch of service he wants to pursue and then comparing the two schools together. For example, Navy top choice for him? Narrow it down to Princeton NROTC vs Duke NROTC to make it easier. Also, definitely visit both schools during their admitted students’ days in April to help with the decision. During those days, get involved with/reach out to the chosen branch unit at the respective schools to get more of a feel for what life is like as a cadet/midshipman at Princeton/Duke. I know Princeton AROTC will set him up to stay with one of their cadets during Tiger Tuesdays (or whatever they call it now).
Duke is a good school as well of course, I’ve heard the NROTC program is great there too.
I think it ultimately comes down to deciding which branch of service he wants to pursue and then comparing the two schools together. For example, Navy top choice for him? Narrow it down to Princeton NROTC vs Duke NROTC to make it easier. Also, definitely visit both schools during their admitted students’ days in April to help with the decision. During those days, get involved with/reach out to the chosen branch unit at the respective schools to get more of a feel for what life is like as a cadet/midshipman at Princeton/Duke. I know Princeton AROTC will set him up to stay with one of their cadets during Tiger Tuesdays (or whatever they call it now).
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First choose the branch. That will probably have a longer-lasting impact than anything else, i.e. from 5 to 20+ years, depending on how long he serves. It's a career choice first, not a college choice.
Then choose the school. That will have far more impact on day-to-day happiness than the ROTC unit. If the school isn't a good fit -- academics, athletics, social life, geography, etc. -- he won't be happy.
Keep in mind that ROTC will be but a fraction of his college time. And that leadership cadres do change regularly.
Then choose the school. That will have far more impact on day-to-day happiness than the ROTC unit. If the school isn't a good fit -- academics, athletics, social life, geography, etc. -- he won't be happy.
Keep in mind that ROTC will be but a fraction of his college time. And that leadership cadres do change regularly.
Ihavenoidea
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This is the best advice. Branch is the most important and school is second. The ROTC unit is a distant third because it is dependent on the other two choices.
My understanding is if you apply ED, you must go to that school if accepted.
I’ve been told that even USNA expects you to shutdown your application if you received an ED accept to another school.
It’s the reason why my DS did not ED any schools.
in terms of SAs, some ED schools will let you out to accept an appointment. But if accepted ED to Duke, if choosing between Duke and Princeton, you would certainly be expected to attend Duke.
Yeah, confusing. I don't think Duke has released regular decisions, yet, but maybe the OP's son got a 'likely letter' or something like that. Princeton's REA specifically says you cannot apply early to another private school (publics are fine). My son also turned down suggestions of applying ED to other private schools after he applied REA to Princeton.
I remember the good ol’ days of having to only choose between “early” and “regular”, many years ago at this point. Helping DD work through all the scenarios and considerations for her application process took all of my project management skills!
I try not to worry much about what anyone else is doing. So far the paths both my sons have taken and decisions they've made (for the most part) have been good for them. But if the OP's son was allowed to apply early to both those schools, that would be good info to know for future applicants in those positions.
Edit to add that the OP mentioned nothing about deciding on a service academy, so maybe his son did pull those apps. My older son did the day after he was accepted early to Vanderbilt.
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I have no affiliation with USNA, so I can only speak for DD’s interaction with WP and USAFA. She applied ED to an Ivy (in what was a very rushed and stressful week and half leading up to the deadline) after PMS told her during ROTC interview that they adopted a new policy to release ED students if the accept an appointment to an SA. We hurriedly confirmed with admissions (and got it in writing) - and other forum members here did as well - being told the same. DD communicated with the two SAs above, sharing this information and that, given that it would not preclude her from accepting an appointment, she was applying ED. She was told by both that this was fine. She is communicating with admissions at her ED school that she is still unsure.
I think the key here is proactive communication and transparency. So many schools have so many different ways of doing things, few things are truly absolute in this process anymore.
Good catch with REA and ED. I didn’t put two and two together that early this morning lol
If they did apply REA to Princeton and ED to Duke… good chance that both of the acceptances will get rescinded as that’s a fairly egregious break of the rules with those two schools’ REA/ED policies.
It could be a likely letter or maybe his son is a finalist for a big scholarship (like the Robertson) where acceptance is likely. Wasn't trying to open the pandora's box of ED discussions, ha! But if none of that is true and if ROTC scholarship winners are allowed to somehow circumvent the ED policies at some of these schools, that would be good to know!
Haha yea maybe, but even then a “likely” letter is still just “likely”, not automatic. Just like with SA LOA recipients still having to fulfill the medical requirement and get a nomination for an appointment.
I highly doubt ROTC allows one to be above the ED policies at a school, and I would be extremely skeptical of any “gouge” about this. Princeton’s SCEA policy of no other early private school applications is in fairly large text on their website page
gniyji
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If college applications are independent from ROTC scholarships -- the ED/REA policy should be same for everyone. I remember DS had to sign (also parents ) a document from his high school counselor office to honor ED commitment. He did not apply ED because he wanted to attend SA. In fact he dropped off his RD college applications as soon as he received West Point appointment.
To circle back to considering the units at the two schools, I’d choose the branch then the school first as well like others have said, but I would also add that it could be important to consider cross-town unit vs hosted on-campus unit.
If Navy is your #1 branch, well Princeton has a cross-town affiliation with Rutgers while Duke hosts it on their campus. Something to factor in. It’s not impossible to do Navy at Princeton, I’ve met people who have successfully commissioned from that program, but just know that you’ll be spending quite a bit of time in the car or public transportation instead of sleeping, studying for classes, hanging out with friends at Princeton, participating in other clubs/eating houses/secret societies, etc…
If Navy is your #1 branch, well Princeton has a cross-town affiliation with Rutgers while Duke hosts it on their campus. Something to factor in. It’s not impossible to do Navy at Princeton, I’ve met people who have successfully commissioned from that program, but just know that you’ll be spending quite a bit of time in the car or public transportation instead of sleeping, studying for classes, hanging out with friends at Princeton, participating in other clubs/eating houses/secret societies, etc…
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Our son was extremely careful when applying to private universities due to the legally binding attributes of Early Decision.
He applied Restrictive Early Action to Princeton but was deferred for another look during the Regular Decision cycle.
He’s been awarded AFROTC with an approved waiver. He’s been awarded NROTC and placed at Princeton but is pending a waiver plus their admissions decision. He had his Army ROTC PMS interview at Princeton since they’ve always been his first choice civilian school. He also did his NROTC PNS interview at Rutgers since they’re the crosstown host for Princeton.
Early Action state schools are a good way to spread opportunities across the spectrum.
His goal was to have as many school and commissioning program options as possible, including some reach schools because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take (credit to Wayne Gretzky).
He applied Restrictive Early Action to Princeton but was deferred for another look during the Regular Decision cycle.
He’s been awarded AFROTC with an approved waiver. He’s been awarded NROTC and placed at Princeton but is pending a waiver plus their admissions decision. He had his Army ROTC PMS interview at Princeton since they’ve always been his first choice civilian school. He also did his NROTC PNS interview at Rutgers since they’re the crosstown host for Princeton.
Early Action state schools are a good way to spread opportunities across the spectrum.
His goal was to have as many school and commissioning program options as possible, including some reach schools because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take (credit to Wayne Gretzky).
Exactly what my son did, REA to Princeton and early action to UT-Austin and UNC Chapel Hill and was so fortunate to be accepted to all. He just has one pending RD application, but I have a feeling he'll probably decide before he has a decision there. And, yes, I think we read the early action guidelines a few times to be sure he was good to go (and even checked with his counselor). Fingers crossed for your son at Princeton!