USNA or NROTC

militarygirl33

New Member
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
1
hi, so i'm stuck in a really hard place. Since I was in 8th grade I thought my dream was to go to the Academy and i even went to the Summer STEM last year but now that i'm about to finish up my sophomore year a lot has changed. I began to realize that there's going to be limited freedom for myself and being a military kid my whole life I always thought that college would be my time to finally live a more normal life. My end goal regardless of where i go is to commission into the Navy to do engineering or naval architecture. My dad is all for me going to the academy and has a lot of connections to the academy. even after i brought up that I maybe wanted to start looking for ROTC scholarships instead he is persistent on me going to USNA and is still going to have me go to summer seminar and go through the whole application process. I've been kind of leaning towards NROTC at a regular college and get to experience somewhat of a normal life, but still a part of me wants the academy for the sake of my parents and because I want to know that i'm strong enough to go through it all for four years idk its kind of really hard to explain why I want to prove myself. I know either way ill get my end goal but i also want to live life, life is a journey and i want to take it all in. I know that i still have some time but thinking about what i'm going to do keeps me up at night and sometimes they're tear filled or just tossing and turning. Idk what i really want anymore, i just want to make my parents proud but also be happy with my life and choice. i've been reading a lot on here lately and some people say that they wish they chose ROTC instead of the academy but others say that the Academy is the best choice they've made
 
Hey man this is 100% your choice. Your parents can always influence you, but choose what you want to do. It sounds to me the only reasons you want to go to USNA is to prove yourself and to make your parents happy. That’s a great mindset, but either way NROTC and the Academy lead to the same outcome - a commission. You’re still going to go to Naval OCS, which is where you’ll prove yourself as a leader. Whatever happens/you choose, your parents should and will be proud of you.

NROTC does allow that college experience/freedom whereas the Academy is ALL about prepping you to be an Ensign or 2NDLT - which makes it hard to lead a normal college life. Again whatever you decide ultimately ends in a commission.

From what it sounds like I highly suggest that you talk more with your parents about pursuing an NROTC scholarship. (If you’re applying to the Naval Academy and are a strong applicant, you should have no worries about receiving a scholarship)

I had the same dream as you, I wanted to attend the Academy, but as I got closer to that point I chose to pursue NROTC to lead more of a normal life - knowing that it will allow me to commission as a 2NDLT in the Corps In the coming years.

Anyways man hope this helps a little, good luck! I look forward to hearing about your journey!
 
hi, so i'm stuck in a really hard place. Since I was in 8th grade I thought my dream was to go to the Academy and i even went to the Summer STEM last year but now that i'm about to finish up my sophomore year a lot has changed. I began to realize that there's going to be limited freedom for myself and being a military kid my whole life I always thought that college would be my time to finally live a more normal life. My end goal regardless of where i go is to commission into the Navy to do engineering or naval architecture. My dad is all for me going to the academy and has a lot of connections to the academy. even after i brought up that I maybe wanted to start looking for ROTC scholarships instead he is persistent on me going to USNA and is still going to have me go to summer seminar and go through the whole application process. I've been kind of leaning towards NROTC at a regular college and get to experience somewhat of a normal life, but still a part of me wants the academy for the sake of my parents and because I want to know that i'm strong enough to go through it all for four years idk its kind of really hard to explain why I want to prove myself. I know either way ill get my end goal but i also want to live life, life is a journey and i want to take it all in. I know that i still have some time but thinking about what i'm going to do keeps me up at night and sometimes they're tear filled or just tossing and turning. Idk what i really want anymore, i just want to make my parents proud but also be happy with my life and choice. i've been reading a lot on here lately and some people say that they wish they chose ROTC instead of the academy but others say that the Academy is the best choice they've made

First things first: relax!! Give yourself some grace. You do not have to make this choice now. You have (potentially) almost two years to hit accept on either options, should you be so fortunate to recieve either offer....ROTC scholarship or SA.

My mom advice, is to go for both. It’s relatively easy to parallel apply. It’s also prudent to apply for both as there is no guarantee of either offer (even if your dad is connected, if that’s what you meant). IF you have both offers, THEN you toss and turn, with seeing what to do.

In the meantime, your preparation is the same for both options. And that’s what you focus on now. Developing leadership. Academics. Physical fitness. It’s not for another another year that you apply. Focus on strengthening your package.

Your points are very valid. There are benefits to either route. There are people graduating usna that wish they had gone the NROTC route. It’s all a commission!

I would advise to delve into each lifestyle as much as possible once things “open up”. Do an overnight visit at usna if possible. I also know our state U NROTC unit provides a “shadow a mid” type program.

As far as your parents go, that’s a tough one. But ultimately it’s youR decision to make, should you receive offers of both. Neither is a given. It’s a TOUGH competition. But putting in thought, effort, research...I personally as a mom would be very proud that my child has thought it through So much!! How can one argue with that?

Cannot emphasize enough, though, that until you have BOTH offers, you dont even have
the problem that is presently keeping you up at night. I would advise my child to apply for both, and not worrry about choosing until you actual have a choice to make.

I would also like you to know that your parents will not be disappointed in you. They may still make suggestions, perhaps even verbalize a disappointment in the choice you make, but don’t confuse that with disappointment in you as their daughter. I promise they will be proud of their daughter no matter what. Even if you choose a whole different path!!

I’m proud of you and I don’t even know you. Your parents are, too.

Adding this: it’s completely normal for your 8th grade self to think differently that your 12th grade self. It’s ok to change your mind.
 
it really depends on your ultimate goals. both paths will take you to the same goal of commissioning, but not all NROTC schools are the same. think about where you can be accepted to. can you get into a top tier college and does that school offer NROTC ? if so, that path can take you a great career in the Navy, similar to USNA. but the college life at top tier schools is not all that wild and crazy like some other schools. think about the amount of work you are willing to put into those 4 years in both academics and naval sciences. If you can attend a top university then it all comes down to your preference of a full time in uniform regiment or part time in uniform regiment. thats my 2cents. also the connections you are likely to make at your college, how will they be different than the connections at USNA, think about that as well. professors at research universities may provide you with opportunities not available at USNA, and vice versa. you should look at the whole university, not just the ROTC unit. as you get closer it will become more apparent. if i were you id apply to both USNA and ROTC and then you hold all the cards. good luck!!
 
I am a former Naval Officer that took the NRTOC route. My goal was to get commissioned. I chose the NROTC route for many of the reasons you outlined: I wanted a college experience, not a Service Academy experience - they are not even close to the same, but both will get you to the same place. Honestly, once you are commissioned, nobody cares if your commissioning source was USNA, NROTC, or OCS; they care about your decision-making, performance, and leadership.

My son is currently applying to both NROTC and USNA. We have spent many, many hours discussing the plusses & minuses of each. He has toured USNA, USCGA, and USMA and ROTC Units. He has spent time with mids / cadets from service academies & ROTC units. I want him to fully understand the lifestyle differences of college vs a SA. From my perspective, that is the most significant question he must answer.

You need to dig down deep and really evaluate what you want. If it's NROTC, then so be it; similarly if you are totally in to USNA, then do it! But, it MUST be YOUR choice. If you go to USNA and are not 100% committed, struggle, and are not happy, I doubt your parents will be proud and will probably be disappointed.

Again, do what is right for YOU. I am quite confident which ever route you choose, if you work hard, do well, then you will make your parents proud.
 
keeps me up at night and sometimes they're tear filled or just tossing and turning. Idk what i really want anymore, i just want to make my parents proud but also be happy with my life and choice.
Ugh. Being a teen is hard, and having parents is hard. I don't know your parents, but i am willing to bet that they really have your best interests at heart. And at the end of the day they want you to go to the best place FOR YOU.
My suggestion is also to continue to look at both. When the time comes and you have made the best choice for you - then I would suggest you formally sit down with them to discuss (phone away, TV off, and time blocked). You should give them your point of view, pros and cons, of each option you have and TELL them what your decision is. The more mature your insights/observations and approach - the more comfortable your parents are going to be with YOUR decision.
Take a deep breath. Continue down the path, and be confident that at the end of the process you will be able to articulate your rationale for your decision.
 
There is a ton of crap you have to go through at USNA that you don't have to put up with at a civilian college in ROTC.
With that said, my DS is thriving at USNA. He wouldn't have it any other way. He thinks all the extra crap makes him harder and helps forge stronger bonds with his fellow prisoners. He also feels that the opportunities that they have (faculty, visiting lecurers, travel, summer training, etc.) far outweighs that extra stuff that they have to get through. It's different for everyone though. In the end, you commission as an O-1 and then you get to be a nobody again.
 
My dad is all for me going to the academy and has a lot of connections to the academy. even after i brought up that I maybe wanted to start looking for ROTC scholarships instead he is persistent on me going to USNA and is still going to have me go to summer seminar and go through the whole application process.

First, I concur with all the comments about not having to make a decision now. Drawing a line in the sand with parents doesn't work -- ask my daughters how I know !

Second, the decision whether to attend USNA or NROTC is yours, not your parents. There is nothing worse than being at USNA if you don't want to be there, or being there because you felt pressured by your parents.

Finally, you have a pretty good rationale for wanting to attend "regular college." I've never really thought about it before, but someone who grew up in a military family could probably benefit from a few years "away from the military," just to get a better understanding of how the civilian world lives and thinks. Broadening your horizons may actually help you be a better leader.

My advise ..keep and open mind and work toward your goals, and when the time comes, hopefully you will have the opportunity to make the choice between USNA and NROTC. Consider your parents advice, but in the end, you are the one that needs to live with the choice. Your parents will be proud of you ,no matter which way you go. Good Luck !
 
Chances are, if you apply to USNA, you will also apply NROTC as a "backup" plan--you'd be crazy not to and when you interview for nominations, MOC's may question whether you really want to be a naval officer. So if you get into USNA, you will also probably get an NROTC scholarship. You may not even have your mind made up until then as you have a lot of thinking and growing to do over the next two years. It also obviously deepens on what other college you get into for NROTC and their NROTC program. My son was convinced if he got appointed he would attend USMA. He got an LOA and then withdrew after he got accepted ED2 to Vanderbilt, a total shock that he made that decision. You can read my post about it here.


So, the best advice is to keep your options open and know that you really can't stress about it too much right now. Try to maximize your application / credentials so the choice is YOURS. Both would be awesome outcomes.
 
Many, many years ago, I made the decision to go NROTC and didn't even apply to a SA. ROTC offered a balance of civilian and military that I wanted (I was prior enlisted so had a fair idea of what the military was like). So believe me, I know where you're coming from.

Fast forward to my own daughter. She really wanted to go to either USNA or USCGA but didn't get into either the first time she applied. She was so set on a SA that she didn't apply to NROTC as a backup, despite my urgings. After getting turned down, she ended up in a NROTC unit anyway, but without a scholarship. She liked the NROTC unit but (unlike me) wanted an even more structured military experience. This year she applied to only one SA--USCGA--and, learning from last year, applied for a NROTC national (4-year) scholarship as a backup. With a much-improved application package, she was fortunate enough to get accepted by both.

So I guess the moral of that story is, like others have said, in the end you need to choose want you want to do, not what your parents would want to do.
 
Last edited:
.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.” — William Blake

“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” — Edgar Allan Poe

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”— W.B. Yeats

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” — Lao Tzu
.
Explore all of your opportunities. Listen to what others have to say. Make your own decision and don’t look back.
.
 
Last edited:
My son was adamant he hoped the decision “was made for him” ie he got into one but not the other do he didn’t have to make the hardest choice. When he received the NROTC scholarship but ultimately not the appointment to USNA he struggled at first, but then realized his wish had been granted just NOT in the direction he assumed it would. He has embraced his path 100% and is thriving. The academy can be wonderful and a hard but great experience; NROTC can be a wonderful and a hard but great experience. Ultimately you must follow your options, head, and heart; and thrive where you end up. Or course correct and thrive there as well. It’s not as finite as it seems but ultimately you must have the conviction to follow your path.
 
Hey, I'm a sophomore too. I think you should totally go to NASS because that is where you will learn more about life at the academy. Hope to see you there!
 
Back
Top