ROTC decisions

[Dzall]

1) So I received a couple of full tuition AROTC offers, and I accepted one to an expensive private school. I didn't really want to have to choose as early as I did, but I only had 30 days to make my decision. I'm just starting to hear back from the school that I declined the offer to, which is offering me extra scholarship money and admittance to an honors program. I still haven't been admitted to the first one or received any honors program info, and I won't find out until close to the date for when all final transfer decisions to be made. Finally, I'm still waiting back on my first choice civilian school which I was not offered a scholarship to. So my situation is complicated, but if I wanted to try to transfer my scholarship around April 1st, how challenging would it be? The deadline this year is supposed to be April 12th.

2) I am also waiting back on a response from the USNA. If I was to get an appointment, is it possible for me to get out of the ROTC offer and what steps would I need to take to do so?

I really appreciate the offers I have received, and I am only trying to make sure I go to the school with the best academics and ROTC unit. No matter what, I am looking forward to eventually commissioning and serving my country.

 

[ca2midwestmom]

2) I am also waiting back on a response from the USNA. If I was to get an appointment, is it possible for me to get out of the ROTC offer and what steps would I need to take to do so?

If you get an appointment and hold onto your ROTC scholarship until you report this summer, the scholarship will be voided once you start BCT (it's in the scholarship paperwork). It would be best to notify the PMS at the school you accepted the scholarship to.

There are several threads on this subject, and differing opinions re. keeping a scholarship until you report or giving it up once you accept the appointment, and when the best time is to notify the ROTC unit.

 

[Thompson]

1.) I don't think anyone here can tell you difficult it will be to transfer scholarships for this year group - since the budget changes. But I think it's safe to say that the general rule of thumb, is that transferring a scholarship from one brigade (geographic region) to anther is more difficult than from within the brigade (ie: Drexel to Pitt). However another consideration is what type of school do you want to transfer from/in to. If you want to transfer the scholarship from a private to a public state school, it's much more economically feasible for Cadet Command to transfer it that way, versus trying to transfer from public to private school. ... and you also have to look at whether you are transferring out of state to in state or vis versa.

... a lot of moving parts, no guarantees.

I know when I got my scholarship last year, I did not get it to the school I was planning on attending. Sent in a transfer request, it was approved. However, I found out from another member here, that originally all transfer requests were denied. But then CC realized that, for one reason or another, a lot of HS applicants requested transfers. So ultimately they approved the transfers.

Best of luck!

 

[Dzall]

Both of these responses are particularly helpful. Not sure yet if I'll transfer the scholarship, but I'm glad now that I chose the scholarship where tuition was ridiculously expensive. It may make it easier to change it.

 

[Thompson]

Well, in any case, whatever may happen, don't get too discouraged if everything doesn't turn out as planned - that's life, and especially being a future 2LT. You're going to be tasked with things that may change in an instant. And it will be up to you to use your better judgement to adapt to that change, rather than getting a clouded judgement.

I've personally always believed that things happen the way they do, whether it be for better or worse. Sometimes what may seem really crappy now, may turn out to be not so bad after you've had some time to look back and reflect upon it.

If you have any questions what freshman/MSI year is like feel free to ask.