USNA or ROTC?

Shoompy32

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Mar 22, 2021
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So here is my situation.

I am a current freshman at Ohio State with a four year NROTC scholarship. I recently got accepted to USNA, after my second time applying.

USNA used to be my absolute dream school, but after spending a year of NROTC, I love my friends and my unit, and it will be hard to leave. However, I still want to attend USNA because I know an appointment is the offer of a lifetime. The officers from ROTC tell me to stay and officers from USNA tell me to go. At the end of the day, either path, my dream is to commission.

Any advice? I am stuck 50/50.
 
So here is my situation.

I am a current freshman at Ohio State with a four year NROTC scholarship. I recently got accepted to USNA, after my second time applying.

USNA used to be my absolute dream school, but after spending a year of NROTC, I love my friends and my unit, and it will be hard to leave. However, I still want to attend USNA because I know an appointment is the offer of a lifetime. The officers from ROTC tell me to stay and officers from USNA tell me to go. At the end of the day, either path, my dream is to commission.

Any advice? I am stuck 50/50.
Go USMA and annoy both lol. Follow your dream
 
Read the recent thread regarding why some people are unhappy at the Naval Academy. Consider: Do you want to be immersed in Navy culture all day, every day? Do you want to experience the Academy traditions and be surrounded by people with similar goals? Do you want that highly structured and strict lifestyle? Are you okay with starting over and going through a year of plebe indoctrination?If it’s an enthusiastic “yes” to all of the above, it could be the right choice for you. If there’s hesitation, maybe it’s not. The simple fact that an offer of appointment is a scarce opportunity is not a compelling reason in my opinion. There are great things about the Academy but it is still a means to an end—commissioning and getting to the Fleet, which you are already on a path to yourself. Personally if I was in your shoes I would stick with ROTC especially since that lets you accomplish your goal in a year less than the Academy would take, but I would never tell someone they shouldn’t pursue their dream, if it is in fact still your dream. If you want the unique experience of a service academy by all means go for it. Have you done a candidate visit? If not, that could help you reach your decision. You’ll get a close look at daily life of a mid and ask a lot of plebes about their experience.
 
So here is my situation.

I am a current freshman at Ohio State with a four year NROTC scholarship. I recently got accepted to USNA, after my second time applying.

USNA used to be my absolute dream school, but after spending a year of NROTC, I love my friends and my unit, and it will be hard to leave. However, I still want to attend USNA because I know an appointment is the offer of a lifetime. The officers from ROTC tell me to stay and officers from USNA tell me to go. At the end of the day, either path, my dream is to commission.

Any advice? I am stuck 50/50.
My friend in ROTC stayed than going to naval academy.He told me: why waste more years in the academy when you can be an officer when you graduate college. He also had many friends and was enjoying himself. He liked the lifestyle of ROTC as it suited him. Lesser stress on himself after all.
 
If it is a question, then it really isn't in the end. If you have doubts after receiving the appointment, your body is telling you that you are no longer as passionate about the opportunity as when you were originally applying. There is nothing wrong with a change of heart - good that you know it now rather than resetting the clock as a college freshman in a 4-year system. Clarity is a good thing.
 
There are opportunities USNA offers that NROTC does not. Do those things matter to you?

For example, USNA gets more slots for NSW, EOD, MC, and both USN/USMC cyber. Some would argue superior preparation, or even just better exposure to those communities as well.

IMO a year isn't that much time, and there will be opportunities to turn that extra year into validation, dual major, and special programs like Trident Scholar or VGEP so it won't feel like "wasted time." The validation policy on the website is not the end, and you may not necessarily have to repeat your current courses if they are similar to the plebe core courses.

If those more niche advantages in opportunities and service assignment don't apply to you, then pick the environment. Nothing wrong with wanting to stay because you like it and are comfortable. You shouldn't pressure yourself (or let others pressure you) into thinking that USNA is something you can't pass up. It's a decent school, but not that great. Step back and try not to put it on a pedestal as you make this decision.

There's no wrong choice here. I would weigh the benefits of each choice and pick based on your personal preferences.
 
I have one DS at USMA and one DS who declined USMA for Army ROTC. They were each presented with the same opportunties (USMA vs Army ROTC) and they chose different paths for their own reasons. Go with your gut. The truth is you may have regrets no matter what avenue you choose, but that is life.
 
@Shoompy32. Congrats! I hear you, this is indeed a very difficult decision, especially now that you have found a tribe at OSU you really enjoy. Both will get you to the same goal, commissioning as a Naval Officer. However, your personal balanced CIV/MIL experience at OSU maybe better. While, you will be more involved into Navy way of life including politics, culture, mandatory responsibilities at USNA. There are more you will personally sacrifice going to Annapolis, that's for sure.

I have DS graduating from Annapolis this May. Another, DD, a 4/C at an NROTC. DD also considered USAFA and USNA. When I ask them, would you like to switch places, they both said no thanks! They like where they are. Even though Annapolis was especially hard for the Class of 2021-2022 in every ways, my DS is very happy he's graduating from Annapolis. My DD, I don't know where to begin and end. She is truly in her element and loves her Battalion. And I gather, it is mutual.

If you have found something to love then hold on to it and continue to excel in it. If not, then it can be a good time to move on even if that includes pursuing your original aspiration. My DD rowed with a top D1 Rowing Club in the Westcoast during high school and received a Silver Medal in the US Open. But she found her niche in boxing. She boxed since 2018. She's only 5'6" and 120lbs, and not a pro boxer level. Yet, she really enjoys the sport and quite good at it. She practices with her Navy SEAL trainer 3-4 times a week at her Battalion. And after a month into their practice, about half of her battalion including her faculty OI's, MICEPs, and Midshipmen are training together. She's now a trainer to many of them. I think she earned her Battalion's respect last quarter. They made her Battalion Platoon Chief in charge of 3 Squad Leaders who are active duty Petty Officers and 4/C-2/C Midshipmen.

I don't think my DD can be persuaded to go anywhere but stay where she is, where she is truly happy. She does 65% of her activities together with members of her Battalion, inside and outside NROTC. She has other things she enjoys like core fitness, dancing, music, songwriting so she has plenty of other things she enjoys doing. I think, what she enjoys will be hard to do at Annapolis. One of her classmate also turned down USNA for her Battalion. But there were also 2 that turned down her BN and went to USNA.

So, if you think you have all the elements to succeed and enjoy at OSU, you may want to stay the course. Otherwise, I am certain you can find many things at Annapolis that will keep you busy enough and challenged while getting the coveted USNA degree. You are actually the best person to help you make this decision!

Good luck on your way to commissioning!
 
I have one DS at USMA and one DS who declined USMA for Army ROTC. They were each presented with the same opportunities (USMA vs Army ROTC) and they chose different paths for their own reasons. Go with your gut. The truth is you may have regrets no matter what avenue you choose, but that is life.
Same for me; One kid went service academy and one went the ROTC route. They both were happy with their choice and no regret. I would did down deep and see if you will always wonder "what if?" or having feelings of regret if you pass on USNA. If so, seize the opportunity. Obviously you still had a passion for it when you went for it the 2nd time around. To go through all the hoops to get you there, must have meant you really wanted to go there......
 
My son just received the NROTC scholarship after walking on as a college programmer for his freshman year. He is happy with it and challenged well to succeed. But he still has his hat in the ring with a NROTC nomination for c/o '26. He has stated, so far, that if he received an appointment, he would take it. If he doesn't get it? He is happy with his current situation and said he doesn't plan to apply for c/o '27.

As it sits, he will graduate with his commission the same time as c/o '25, just not the way he originally planned (got the TWE last year in April)!

It all depends on what your goal is for your school. If it is to get a commission, you will have already knocked out a year, and have your tuition and fees covered through graduation with your scholarship. If it is to challenge yourself in a very different environment with 1100+ other young adults in the exact same boat as you? Then choose the Academy.
 
It’s a hard question and only one that you can answer yourself. Both are great paths and both offer unique opportunities that you cannot get outside of the military environment.

There will be rough days and days where you question your decisions to choose a certain path. If you come to the academy and are doing a one mile bear crawl in full uniform at 0530 in the pouring rain you may think “dang I really should have stayed in rotc.” However you always look back on the hard days and form an incredible bond with your classmates who are all going through the same thing.

The most important question is not whether you should attend USNA or ROTC. At the end of the day you should ask yourself if your sailors or marines are saluting you because of the person and leader you have become or because you have bars on your lapel.
 
Does what you major in have any bearing on you choice? And does the undergraduate education you receive have importance to you when you leave the Navy (or is your unswerving plan to make Navy your career - which is not completely in your hands)? I rarely see this brought up in discussions about NROTC vs USNA. It's a very difficult evaluation to make when you are 18-19 years old and have no idea what college is really about or what you want to do with the rest of your life.

The advice you have given are that NROTC and USNA are both paths to the same place - commissioning as an ensign in the Navy - and that is true. And the 4 years in NROTC will be quite different than the four years at USNA. But what kind of education are you wanting to receive for your significant commitment? How important is the balance between military classes (or mandatory non-military classes) and electives and/or depth of course work in your major? I'm not suggesting any answers to these questions but I do suggest that you ask them of yourself, along with the others that have been offered.
 
It comes down to really examining your goals. It's not about money or outcomes, since both are covered and you end up in the same place, so it has to be more is serving soonest more important than the academy experience? Do you think you'll be as successful at USNA as you are in NROTC? If you haven't been to the academy then I would suggest a visit just so you have all the info available and in front of you, and then pick. This is going to come down to a gut feeling, but if it helps at all know that both are excellent options. Good luck.
 
my DS was in this same position last year. he loved his NROTC unit but felt like he should accept the USNA. he talked it over with the Unit commander (USNA grad) who advised him that his degree from a top 5 engineering program was equal to a degree from USNA so he chose to stay with his "brothers" and never looked back. plus he commissions earlier :)
 
My DS was in your same position at a rival Big 10 school. He did make the switch and has been very happy at USNA. He is especially looking forward to another summer of training opportunities. He also worried about leaving his NROTC friends and has been able to maintain relationships these last 3 years. While he will commission a year after them, he will join soon after and they will continue to build on their experiences.
You reapplied for a reason. You will not regret the USNA experience and will have a solid advantage entering plebe summer.
Congrats and best wishes on your decision.
 
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