Undecided major for AROTC scholorship???

futureusna

5-Year Member
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Oct 10, 2011
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What am I supposed to do if i have not fully decided on the degree I wish to major in??? I have it narrowed down to a couple but am still unsure. I'm pretty sure the way the scholorship website is set up you are only allowed to choose one major.


Any advice???
 
ALSO: The two majors I am looking into are mechanical engineering and some sort of enviornmental degree. I have also noticed there aren't many enviornmental degrees listed on the scholarship website. Is that true or am I just not looking hard enough???
 
The Majors are within categories called "Academic Discipline Mix" = ADM.

It is easy to switch from the ADM you list on your application to a more technical one, or to switch majors within the list contained in your ADM. It is more difficult to switch to an ADM less technical, as that requires cadre approval. Last year and all years prior I was told it didn't matter, so this is a NEW policy about swithcing to less technical majors than the one listed on your Scholarship Award letter. I was told 18 months ago by a PMS that switching to a less technical ADM would require formal approval starting with the freshman cadets who came in this past Aug/Sept. The Scholarship Award letter also stipulates the Academic Discipline Mix for which the Scholarship is awarded.. i.e. Academic Discipline Mix: Technical/Management.

ADM4: Engineering
ADM3: "Physical Sciences/Analytical": Math and Sciences
ADM2: "Technical/Management" -- Most social sciences and business
ADM1: "Generalist" -- Liberal arts (languages, english, history, sociology, anthro, music, etc.)

I assume there is a list in your application, but the ADM categories are shown here, starting in Appendix B, page 20. Notice the rationale for awarding Scholarships based on ADM is discussed, and further notice that switching "down" to a less technical major is beyond the authority of the Battalion PMS. http://www.rotc.armstrong.edu/Documents/Scholarship Regulations/CC Reg 145-1.pdf
 
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dunninla, This is good info. The first I have seen that defined targets for different majors.
Engineering has an edge on number of scholarships and also the ability to switch to engineering from any major relatively easily. It seems if one really couldn't decide between environmental and mechanical engineering a strategy could be to state environmental knowing one would likely be able to switch to mechanical engineering.
 
dunninla, This is good info. The first I have seen that defined targets for different majors.
Engineering has an edge on number of scholarships and also the ability to switch to engineering from any major relatively easily. It seems if one really couldn't decide between environmental and mechanical engineering a strategy could be to state environmental knowing one would likely be able to switch to mechanical engineering.
Packer, this regulation could have been written several years ago, but in the ROTC upsizing of 2007-2010, nobody apparently cared much about these details. As I mentioned in a different post, around Fall, 2011, PMSs were briefed that the ADM regulations would be adhered to again, starting, as I was told, with the Class of 2016.
 
Packer, this regulation could have been written several years ago, but in the ROTC upsizing of 2007-2010, nobody apparently cared much about these details. As I mentioned in a different post, around Fall, 2011, PMSs were briefed that the ADM regulations would be adhered to again, starting, as I was told, with the Class of 2016.
Last year my son was cautioned by a PMS that if he changed his mind on majoring in mechanical engineering it may not be approved and could cost him his scholarship. Apparently that PMS had read the regulation.
 
Last year my son was cautioned by a PMS that if he changed his mind on majoring in mechanical engineering it may not be approved and could cost him his scholarship. Apparently that PMS had read the regulation.
Ah, OK, so basically, effective immediately, and to include existing cadets!
 
Let me say that my son ended up declining the scholarship and is not in AROTC so I do not actually know that the regulation is being enforced but that is what he was told while he was still weighing his options.
 
Is there any possible way I could apply for two different majors at two different schools??


Example: Applying to Purdue University for engineering and to IU for an enviornmental science degree??
 
Is there any possible way I could apply for two different majors at two different schools??


Example: Applying to Purdue University for engineering and to IU for an enviornmental science degree??

A lot of freshman are hesitant on a first major which is fine but for ROTC purposes it would be best to hone in on one general area you are interested in. This is especially important in lieu of CC cracking down on people flip flopping and missing 4 year graduation dates.

Engineering and environmental science are two completely different concentrations and vary extremely in terms of difficulty. Environmental science at my school is in a sense a liberal arts degree with some geology, ecology and sociology thrown in. Engineering is...well...hell.

Pre-engineering or pre-professional (dental, medicine, law) are not areas to go into without some thinking. Engineering is commonly a 5 year program and notorious for punishing unsuspecting freshman, same goes for pre-med. Waking up one morning before registration and saying hey I want to be an engineer is never a good idea especially with the consequences of a bad GPA and jacked up 104-R. These implications can devastate your OML and scholarship.

Think it over.

To answer your question I would just go with one (I know Purdue is a top tier engineering school so if you want engineering go for it )
 
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The Majors are within categories called "Academic Discipline Mix" = ADM.

It is easy to switch from the ADM you list on your application to a more technical one, or to switch majors within the list contained in your ADM. It is more difficult to switch to an ADM less technical, as that requires cadre approval. Last year and all years prior I was told it didn't matter, so this is a NEW policy about swithcing to less technical majors than the one listed on your Scholarship Award letter. I was told 18 months ago by a PMS that switching to a less technical ADM would require formal approval starting with the freshman cadets who came in this past Aug/Sept. The Scholarship Award letter also stipulates the Academic Discipline Mix for which the Scholarship is awarded.. i.e. Academic Discipline Mix: Technical/Management.

ADM4: Engineering
ADM3: "Physical Sciences/Analytical": Math and Sciences
ADM2: "Technical/Management" -- Most social sciences and business
ADM1: "Generalist" -- Liberal arts (languages, english, history, sociology, anthro, music, etc.)

I assume there is a list in your application, but the ADM categories are shown here, starting in Appendix B, page 20. Notice the rationale for awarding Scholarships based on ADM is discussed, and further notice that switching "down" to a less technical major is beyond the authority of the Battalion PMS. http://www.rotc.armstrong.edu/Documents/Scholarship Regulations/CC Reg 145-1.pdf

Does anyone know how this works out if the school does not have a strong engineering program?
 
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