Undergraduate to Graduate degree AROTC

zachcleigh

zachcleigh

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Joined
Jul 6, 2015
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162
Hello. I am a 4 year scholarship AROTC MSI cadet. I joined the program and contracted with intentions of doing an undergrad degree. However I'm finishing extremely early. I will be starting my first masters course this summer semester of 2017.

Is there a way to have a scholarship converted to fit the graduate degree timeline? I'm worried that I will lose my scholarship for not meeting "contract reqs" even though the Army would still be paying the same amount of money to get a more highly educated individual.

If not what do I do? Another undergrad degree? OCS? Enlist as E4?

P.S. I'm still only 18, so OCS is not on the table for a very brief period of time until that 19th comes around.

Any advice is appreciated. Everyone has different views and collectively they help to create the best answer.
 
zachcleigh said:
Hello. I am a 4 year scholarship AROTC MSI cadet. I joined the program and contracted with intentions of doing an undergrad degree. However I'm finishing extremely early. I will be starting my first masters course this summer semester of 2017.

Is there a way to have a scholarship converted to fit the graduate degree timeline? I'm worried that I will lose my scholarship for not meeting "contract reqs" even though the Army would still be paying the same amount of money to get a more highly educated individual.

If not what do I do? Another undergrad degree? OCS? Enlist as E4?

P.S. I'm still only 18, so OCS is not on the table for a very brief period of time until that 19th comes around.

Any advice is appreciated. Everyone has different views and collectively they help to create the best answer.
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I recommend you follow your 104R. If it says you are graduating in 2020 with the classes for a BS/BA all listed and full class load (generally 12 credits per semester) then add some graduate course work summers and bump up your classes each semester with a graduate level course.

Discuss the plan with your MS level instructor. You won't likely be able to continue on scholarship once you graduate with your BS/BA but with the right timing and coordination with your cadre you might be able to also complete the vast majority of your masters. If you finish your BS/BA early your cadre would know if you can commission with an earlier year group/mission set.

Edit: Meant to say (.... at least 12 credits...) for full time enrollment. ROTC won't pay for your summer classes. If you can't graduate with both degrees at the same time, hold off on your final masters course for the summer after you graduate and commission. Request a late BOLC date and you will still have your masters prior to BOLC.
 
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Not possible to be full time for 4 years and only do degree reqs. I'd have to take extra classes to meet 12/semester
 
zachcleigh said:
Not possible to be full time for 4 years and only do degree reqs. I'd have to take extra classes to meet 12/semester
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Did your 104R you signed with your cadre indicate you are graduating early or did you take extra classes both semesters freshman year causing a change to your 104R? If the 104R indicates you are graduating a semester early then that is likely what is already expected by your cadre.

The only semester you do not have to be enrolled full time and still collect scholarship benefits is the final semester.
 
104r indicates I will graduate may 2020. In reality that isn't possible though. A lot of the classes on it I didn't need
 
The scholarship won't cover both a Bachelors and Masters degree. You are currently contracted and received a scholarship for your bachelors degree. You are expected to follow the 104-R that you contracted with. You can complete a double major to fill in the extra class slots, but you would need to get the new 104-R approved by your PMS.

Why did you submit an incorrect 104-R if you knew you were not going to graduate in 2020?
 
Couldn't you just fill your senior year with graduate level courses to put you that much closer to getting a Masters Degree at a later date?
 
5Day said:
Couldn't you just fill your senior year with graduate level courses to put you that much closer to getting a Masters Degree at a later date?
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Grad courses usually cost more per credit hour than undergrad courses. He would run the risk of the grad courses not being paid for, as they are not required for the degree that he was contracted for.
 
If I fail to meet 12 credits per semester can I be dis enrolled or do I just not get payed scholarship for that semester? I.e. If I'm taking like 6-9 undergrad credits and 3-6 grad credits, and they say that's not ok. Do I run the risk of having my contract dropped and not commissioning or do I just not get the scholarship pay out.
 
Can't answer the specifics of the last question. Ask your cadre.

It seems to me you could attend for 4 years and take whatever courses you like (ignoring any cost differential) as long as you didn't complete ALL the requirements for your BA degree (and/or major) until the final semester of your senior year. You should be able to rack up some grad courses if cost differential is not an issue and you're taking a full class load. Again, I would discuss with cadre.
 
zachcleigh said:
If I fail to meet 12 credits per semester can I be dis enrolled or do I just not get payed scholarship for that semester? I.e. If I'm taking like 6-9 undergrad credits and 3-6 grad credits, and they say that's not ok. Do I run the risk of having my contract dropped and not commissioning or do I just not get the scholarship pay out.
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You need at least 12 credits or you will be in breach of contract and can be disenrolled.
 
I just typed this answer before I looked at Kinnem's post...I think I just echoed his thoughts. You need to be a full time student for 8 semesters while you take an ROTC class a semester. Just keep taking classes, don't graduate early, and you'll be fine. As long as your school considers you full time, no sweat. And you can take less than a full load your last semester. You aren't required to be full time.
 
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