Spring Semester? WT_?

NJROTC-CC

NJROTC-CC

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DS just heard from his first choice school that he has been accepted, but for Spring Semester 2023, instead of Fall semester 2022, for which he applied. I have never heard of this, but that is the fact.

QUESTION: Can he start NROTC or NROTC-MO as a college programmer in the Fall 2022 even though he is not admitted to the school until Spring 2023? I suggested to DS that he call the NROTC Cadre himself and ask them. He needs to start standing on his own.

Also, he is still waiting on a NROTC-MO scholarship. Not sure how that would work if he gets it.

Finally, he is admitted for the fall semester to another state school across the state that has NROTC (his second choice.) He could start there and then transfer -- I guess. But that seems overly complicated.

Weird.
 
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NJROTC-CC said:
DS just heard from his first choice school that he has been accepted, but for Spring Semester 2023, instead of Fall semester 2022, for which he applied. I have never heard of this, but that is the fact.

QUESTION: Can he start NROTC or NROTC-MO as a college programmer in the Fall 2022 even though he is not admitted to the school until Spring 2023? I suggested to DS that he call the NROTC Cadre himself and ask them. He needs to start standing on his own.

Also, he is still waiting on a NROTC-MO scholarship. Not sure how that would work if he gets it.

Finally, he is admitted for the fall semester to another state school across the state that has NROTC (his second choice.) He could start there and then transfer -- I guess. But that seems overly complicated.

Weird.
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As you indicated... have him contact the 1st Choice ROTC program. Do they have an affiliated Community College? He might be able to take academic classes there and be enrolled in NROTC as a college programmer for the 1st semester if he doesn't get the scholarship. At my son's college, and others I know, some students are changed from Spring to Fall enrollment with some pushback by the student and a compelling reason... ROTC might be a compelling reason. This would require your student to contact the Admissions Dept. If he gets the NROTC MO scholarship it would definitely be a compelling reason for Admissions to change to a Fall start. They aren't likely to turn down the $$.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
DS just heard from his first choice school that he has been accepted, but for Spring Semester 2023, instead of Fall semester 2022, for which he applied. I have never heard of this, but that is the fact.

QUESTION: Can he start NROTC or NROTC-MO as a college programmer in the Fall 2022 even though he is not admitted to the school until Spring 2023? I suggested to DS that he call the NROTC Cadre himself and ask them. He needs to start standing on his own.

Also, he is still waiting on a NROTC-MO scholarship. Not sure how that would work if he gets it.

Finally, he is admitted for the fall semester to another state school across the state that has NROTC (his second choice.) He could start there and then transfer -- I guess. But that seems overly complicated.

Weird.
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This is a very very unique situation. I knew someone awhile back, when covid first hit in March 2020 that got this offer, and after informing the school that he did get the ROTC scholarship, the school quickly move him from Spring 2021 start to Fall 2020 within 5 hours of contacting the school, as I'm assuming they wanted to get the full tuition from the govt. While I know your child hasn't gotten the scholarship yet, I am very very familiar with college admissions and would say the majority of colleges would do the same.

As to your actual question; 100% agree with your advice to have your DS contact the school's unit. Again this is a very specific situation.

As for your transferring suggestion, I would not recommend doing this. Transferring is a LOT of steps, and is up to the navy's discretion if they will let someone transfer.
 
I agree with contacting the unit. They may be able to sway the decision with or without a scholarship.

One hurdle faced by starting in the spring is that initial Naval Science course is fall semester only. The same may be true for other courses. He'll have trouble getting back on a normal track. It might help for DS to call admissions as well if he hadn't already done that.
 
kinnem said:
I agree with contacting the unit. They may be able to sway the decision with or without a scholarship.

One hurdle faced by starting in the spring is that initial Naval Science course is fall semester only. The same may be true for other courses. He'll have trouble getting back on a normal track. It might help for DS to call admissions as well if he hadn't already done that.
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Agree. I was able to get the name and phone number of his assigned admissions counselor and I gave it to DS and DS said he will call as soon as he can and start working the phones and pulling strings. He is in school right now and then has practice and then work until 10:30 tonight. Tomorrow we have a competition. Monday is MLK Day. I told him to get on it on Tuesday.

Also, his high school NSI's have some pull at the University. One has a son who is a recent NROTC alum from that school and is currently a LCDR in SWO and the NSI (a Senior Chief) and the son recently did a presentation at the unit. So, I am betting after DS goes down there and sells himself to the cadre, they just may go to bat for him. Moving him up a semester isn't like moving heaven and earth. PS our #1 DS is currently a senior at the same university.
 
Well, DS wrote a letter to the O-6 CO of the NROTC unit and asked for his help with admissions. The CO really went to bat for DS and sent DS a copy of his e-mail chain with Admissions. Unfortunately, CO struck out. Admissions says the they had record applications for Fall 2022, and the best they will do for DS is Spring 2023. We just need to figure out when DS can start NROTC.

If he gets the NROTC-MO scholarship, he can use it an another school for which he is already admitted for the Fall of 2022.

I believe college programmers can start NROTC or NROTC-MO as sophomores. So I guess he could take fall classes at community college, start University Spring 2023, and then start NROTC in the Fall of 2023 as a college programmer when he will be a sophomore in terms of credits. Not the best scenario, but he does have options.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
Well, DS wrote a letter to the O-6 CO of the NROTC unit and asked for his help with admissions. The CO really went to bat for DS and sent DS a copy of his e-mail chain with Admissions. Unfortunately, CO struck out. Admissions says the they had record applications for Fall 2022, and the best they will do for DS is Spring 2023. We just need to figure out when DS can start NROTC.

If he gets the NROTC-MO scholarship, he can use it an another school for which he is already admitted for the Fall of 2022.

I believe college programmers can start NROTC or NROTC-MO as sophomores. So I guess he could take fall classes at community college, start University Spring 2023, and then start NROTC in the Fall of 2023 as a college programmer when he will be a sophomore in terms of credits. Not the best scenario, but he does have options.
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In my humble opinion, if he does get the scholarship, I would suggest he take it now and start school at the school in which he was admitted. He may end up enjoying that school and unit more, but perhaps more importantly, is that if he gets the scholarship, there is no guarantee that he will again be offered one after attending as a programmer. Best of luck to him!
 
momx3 said:
In my humble opinion, if he does get the scholarship, I would suggest he take it now and start school at the school in which he was admitted. He may end up enjoying that school and unit more, but perhaps more importantly, is that if he gets the scholarship, there is no guarantee that he will again be offered one after attending as a programmer. Best of luck to him!
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Thanks. I agree with you. If he gets the scholarship the school he put down as choice #1 gives free room and board.
 
Your son should complete full due diligence on his options. He could speak to his number one choice unit and admissions about options to take courses at any of the four community colleges near campus - confirm he can transfer in credits from the fall. He could Rent a room by month near the school,start his NROTC training or commute if you live in the area. This Fall even if unofficially perhaps attend their NSO, drilling etc. He can work part time and this summer to cover the costs. To me the free room And board and his preferred experience far outweigh the delayed start inconvenience if he gets the scholarship. Delaying the scholarship start by one semester - confirm that it will still be in place. A full year delay means you compete again the next year for that window but you could still finish in four years if you can work it out.

You all got this, will work it out. Good luck.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
Your son should complete full due diligence on his options. He could speak to his number one choice unit and admissions about options to take courses at any of the four community colleges near campus - confirm he can transfer in credits from the fall. He could Rent a room by month near the school,start his NROTC training or commute if you live in the area. This Fall even if unofficially perhaps attend their NSO, drilling etc. He can work part time and this summer to cover the costs. To me the free room And board and his preferred experience far outweigh the delayed start inconvenience if he gets the scholarship. Delaying the scholarship start by one semester - confirm that it will still be in place. A full year delay means you compete again the next year for that window but you could still finish in four years if you can work it out.

You all got this, will work it out. Good luck.
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One way or the other it will work out. The school that he wants to attend and to which he was admitted for the Spring 2023 is a large state university in town. He will eventually live in a NROTC dorm, but can start taking classes this fall at community college and live at home.

The question - - to which we do not yet have an answer from the cadre - - is whether he can start NROTC as a college programmer this fall if he is at community college. The community college is not currently considered a "cross-town affiliate" for Navy ROTC (although it is for Air Force.) This could be the solution, but we don't know yet.

Another option is the expensive in-town private university - - which IS the official cross-town affiliate of state u. We cannot afford it. But since the NS1 classes are at State U anyway, maybe getting a letter of admission from the expensive cross-town affiliate is enough to let DS start the NROTC program at State U. He will be a student at State U in the Spring anyway. So what would be the harm in letting him take a semester of NSI at State U before he is officially admitted to State U. He will have credits from AP and from community college, so I don't see graduating in 4 years being an issue.

Of course, if he get the NROTC-MO scholarship (admittedly a long shot) he could start expensive private u (which gives free room and board to scholarship winners) and then either stay there, or transfer the scholarship to State U (which would save the Navy big $$$ and would be a no-brainer because he would already be in the same NROTC unit.)
 
I think I have thought of the perfect "hack" - - if it works. Enroll at the very expensive private university that is the cross-town affiliate of host State U, but sign up and pay for only one class, Naval Science 1 (which would be held at host State U.) He could live at home, and we can afford to pay for three credits. This would get DS into the NROTC unit at State U and allow him to start in the Fall. At the same time, also take a few classes at community college, so not to fall behind credit-wise. Then, in Spring of 2023, "transfer" to State U as-offered and take the normal full load. This makes sense and I can't imagine why it would not work. The only thing that sounds a bit funky is he would have to accept admission to two schools at the same time this Spring. We are still trying to get a meeting with the NROTC cadre to discuss ideas, but communications has been difficult.
 
Something both the navy retention and pilots often refer to (my DS is a commercial pilot) is brilliance in the basics. The proposed solution above offers your son a path to move forward at his dream school, on a 4 year plan, start with his class of 2026 at his actual unit , and contains costs- sounds brilliant to me. I would think you would need to get the 3 schools expressly on-board with this plan including exactly which courses would transfer, approval to take just 3 credits at the private school. If it helps, research UNF rules for non-degree seeking vs degree seeking students - they don't allow first time freshmen to enroll as non-degree seeking so complete your research and approach accordingly - it's 30.00 to apply that way, but avoid reaching a dead end by knowing the rules.
 
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Herman_Snerd said:
Something both the navy retention and pilots often refer to (my DS is a commercial pilot) is brilliance in the basics. The proposed solution above offers your son a path to move forward at his dream school, on a 4 year plan, start with his class of 2026 at his actual unit , and contains costs- sounds brilliant to me. I would think you would need to get the 3 schools expressly on-board with this plan including exactly which courses would transfer, approval to take just 3 credits at the private school. If it helps, research UNF rules for non-degree seeking vs degree seeking students - they don't allow first time freshmen to enroll as non-degree seeking so complete your research and approach accordingly - it's 30.00 to apply that way, but avoid reaching a dead end by knowing the rules.
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We will make sure to check out the rules. BTW, UNF is not one of the schools involved in this scheme. I hope it would be o.k. to PM you.
 
USA1962 said:
You need to be enrolled in 12 credits for NROTC
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He will be under my plan. Just not all at one school. We can’t afford 12 credits at private college. And, we are talking about one semester only.
 
So, this morning, there is was area drill meet hosted by our local State U's NROTC unit (as I write this it is still going on.) DS is the armed regulation drill team commander. DS went up to the 0-6 CO of the NROTC unit (the same one to whom he had written the letter that is mentioned above) and introduced himself. I wasn't there, and only spoke to DS briefly, but he told me that the 0-6 told him not to give up and keep trying. So, by writing the letter and meeting the 0-6 in person (and while he was in uniform and looking marvelous) at least DS has gotten on their radar. Also, one of the judges of the drill comp. is a mid and went to high school with DS. So they know him.

Our next step is setting up an in-person meeting to discuss whether it is even possible to start NROTC this fall at State U. If there is a way, we will find it.
 
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