Tier 2 to Tier 3 NROTC Scholarship Change

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guydelarosa

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Oct 1, 2019
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I was recently awarded a tier 2 scholarship. When I was looking through the NROTC application, I saw that quantitive economics was a major in the tier 2 category. When I asked my economics teacher about the nature of quantitative vs normal economics he mentioned that they where practically the same thing (he's an ex-marine), and I shouldn't worry about it when choosing a tier.

I wrongly assumed that this major would be very similar to a finance major, since that major requires statistics classes and other mathematics classes, but as I do more research, I noticed that normal economics/ finance are most likely tier 3 majors. From what I've read its almost impossible to switch from tier 2 to 3. Is it better to wait until I get to my unit and try and move it up the CoC? Or, should I contact my coordinations soon to get it sorted it out sooner rather than later. Some of my LAC school sI'm applying to like Harvard and Princeton only offer economics as a major but not mathematical economics. I've also been thinking to double major in comp sci to fulfill the scholarship requirement, but the course load may be too heavy when coupled with ROTC work. I'm not sure if Finance would count towards a tier 2, and if not, I'm not sure what my next steps should be.
 
I would certainly reach out to the unit to at least make sure you understand the issues. They will know if the major is a Tier 2 or Tier 3. Depending on the college curriculum for that major it could be either. Also, if you're you are looking to avoid math, as a Navy Option, like Calculus etc. forget it. 2 Semesters of Calculus and 2 Semesters of Calculus based Physics are required of scholarship Navy Option midshipmen, regardless of major. Higher level economic courses will also require Calculus (as I can personally attest).
 
kinnem said:
I would certainly reach out to the unit to at least make sure you understand the issues. They will know if the major is a Tier 2 or Tier 3. Depending on the college curriculum for that major it could be either. Also, if you're you are looking to avoid math, as a Navy Option, like Calculus etc. forget it. 2 Semesters of Calculus and 2 Semesters of Calculus based Physics are required of scholarship Navy Option midshipmen, regardless of major. Higher level economic courses will also require Calculus (as I can personally attest).
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My issue isn’t really the math but the actual courses and major offered by schools. I’m applying to most ivies and a few other schools and they mostly all offer a B.A in economics regardless of the concentration (with the exception of Penn Wharton). Should I contact my host unit already even though I have not been admitted to the school yet? My scholarship was placed at Harvard where I know B.A are awarded, but is it true that the navy would require a B.S in economics?
 
quantitative econ is very different in its focus. Please do a very close comparison of the required course work at your target schools. You don't want any surprises you can avoid
 
Torero_dad said:
quantitative econ is very different in its focus. Please do a very close comparison of the required course work at your target schools. You don't want any surprises you can avoid
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I spent the better part of 12 hours yesterday individually going through all 24 schools I’m applying to. Not one school has any mention of quantitative economics other than Columbia who has mathematical economics (but still a B.A). Almost all school don’t offer a specific economics major and instead just offer it as plain economics.
 
guydelarosa said:
My issue isn’t really the math but the actual courses and major offered by schools. I’m applying to most ivies and a few other schools and they mostly all offer a B.A in economics regardless of the concentration (with the exception of Penn Wharton). Should I contact my host unit already even though I have not been admitted to the school yet? My scholarship was placed at Harvard where I know B.A are awarded, but is it true that the navy would require a B.S in economics?
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I just provide information. I really don't care if you're trying to avoid any math or not, I just want to make sure you're properly informed. For the second time, as I suggested earlier, contact the unit at the college where you plan on pursuing this major. If it isn't straightened out to your satisfaction you will at least have time to try to transfer the scholarship to another college or something. I do not know if the Navy would require a BS vs a BA... but the unit at Harvard would. Call them!
 
+1 @kinnem.

The majors listed under Tier 1 and Tier 2 on the NROTC website are a sample. But NSTC has binned every major at every NROTC participating school into a Tier. You will need to call the unit and ask if their schools economics major is considered Tier 2 or 3. And if you want this information for all 24 schools you applied to then you'll need to make 24 calls.

To your original post that moving from Tier 2 to Tier 3 is 'almost impossible'.....that's not even close to accurate. There are three Tier change boards per year (moving from Tier 2 to Tier 3 requires board/Admiral approval)....December, January, June. First board that freshman are eligible to apply for is January so they can have first semester grades.
 
guydelarosa said:
Thanks for taking a look at the majors. I’m a bit confused as to whether NROTC will accept certificates in quantitative finance while majoring in normal economics?
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So.... my surmise is that they are interested in the major, not certificates to round it out. If you want an authoritative answer, call the unit at the college this question applies to. I mean really, how many times has it been suggested you call the applicable unit on this thread? They are not going to bite you.
 
kinnem said:
So.... my surmise is that they are interested in the major, not certificates to round it out. If you want an authoritative answer, call the unit at the college this question applies to. I mean really, how many times has it been suggested you call the applicable unit on this thread? They are not going to bite you.
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I would call but I’m applying to T5 schools and have yet to be accepted at any. I was deferred from Harvard REA where my scholarship was placed. I feel like calling to inquire about majoring will sound like I’m assuming I’ll get in which is not the case
 
You are researching your path: “I am hoping to be accepted to Acme U where my scholarship has been placed. I am researching majors and have some questions. Do you have the time to work with me today on this? I’d really appreciate it.”

Write out your questions. Ensure they can’t be easily answered by online research at the primary sources. Think about what you’re going to say, be articulate, be appreciative. Phone skills in the military world are part of the expected excellence in oral and written communications expected of junior officers. Just dive in, practice makes perfect.
 
When you call the AFROTC host units for Columbia (Manhattan College—Det 560) and Princeton (Rutgers University—Det 485), you can confirm with them that "Operations Research" (Columbia Engineering) and "Operations Research & Financial Engineering" (Princeton) are Technical Majors for AFROTC.

Be aware that getting into any of H-Y-P-S-M is at best a 3-4% chance if you're not a recruited athlete or lack any other "hook." Ditto for Columbia, Cornell, and the tippy-top LACs.

You really should focus your efforts at this point on schools that are a good admissions match-- Michigan, the other B1G Engineering schools, maybe Carnegie Mellon, etc. Any university that offers a strong Engineering program will have an "Operations Research" major within Engineering. Again, quantitative finance today is almost entirely about the "quant" part. Finance is the easy part and can/will be taught to you by your investment bank or hedge fund (or MBA program). Get an O.R. degree with as much advanced math and computing and stats as you can while you're in undergrad.

Good luck!
 
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