<p>S just got a call from Pensacola about his NROTC application. Apparently, he is a very strong scholarship candidate, but is pursuing a tier 3 major, which puts him at quite a disadvantage since 85% of NROTC scholarships go to technical majors. NROTC wants to discuss a change in major with my son. S definitely does not want to be an engineer (his dad is an engineer and both of them have been heavily involved in youth robotics since S was in 5th grade). But S also dreams of being a navy officer, hopefully in aviation. And in these times - with an underemployed mom and a shrunken college fund, the pull of a full tuition scholarship is strong.</p>
<p>While the decision belongs to my s, I wonder how to advise him...Any thoughts anyone?</p>
<p>Since your son is such a strong scholarship candidate, he should be eligible for other scholarships offered by the colleges. I'm not sure which state you are in, but some states offer really low tuition rates. If he could get some scholarship $$ from the college he could still participate in ROTC and study the major he wants.</p>
<p>I think (just my opinion) he should call them and ask what they would like for him to consider. There may be something he would enjoy that is still technical but not engineering.</p>
<p>My son has been offered an Air Force Scholarship for a technical major, but he did have several choices within that category. He has also been offered scholarship $$ at almost every college he has been accepted to---BUT, the NROTC does not seem at all interested in him. So, if they are calling your son, I think that is a VERY good sign!</p>
<p>It wouldn't hurt to call and find out exactly what they want him to do.</p>
<p>The navy.mil website say they prefer " selected engineering, math and science majors".
It sounds like he doesn't specifically have to choose engineering. Maybe he would be interested in something in a math/science field. The website says this change was specifically made to boost passing rates in aviation and nuclear power schools. Studies have shown that those who majored in a technical field were much more likely to get through these schools successfully.</p>
<p>My S is a NROTC senior. He is not majoring in engineering. Most of the guys in his unit who were changed their major. I guess too many did that so it's not an options anymore.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice! Son will call the navy rep tomorrow (not his recruiter, but someone who described his job as helping scholarship candidates 'strengthen' their applications). All of the the tier 1 majors are engineering majors, but there are things that may interest my son in tier 2. Changing majors from economics could be a problem at some of the schools he applied to because the more technical majors are in a different college than the one he was admitted to. I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out over the next few days. </p>
<p>simpse01, scholarship winners have been notified monthly since the October, I believe.</p>
<p>Just wanted to drop in with my son's experience. He was denied NROTC, with no explantion. A bit of searching helped me to find out that they really only want technical majors, which he did not put down on the application. He had a strong application, since he later received an appt. to USNA, but he was crushed when he got the thin letter from NROTC.
They fact that they called you is huge. He should change his major, if it is the scholarship you want.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight, kevinsmom. I remember finding your son's story when my son decided to apply for the NROTC scholarship. I guess my son has some soul searching to do over the next few days.</p>
<p>simpse01, I was notified in October regarding my ROTC scholarship. I was awarded one to Notre Dame, but had found out 2 weeks earlier about my appt. to USNA! The chief was understanding when i told him i would probably go with USNA. He said that there are a lot more people doing ROTC that wish they were at USNA than those at USNA wishing they were in ROTC.</p>
<p>Son applied for a Tier 2 major, General Engineering, not realizing that a Tier 1 would make him a stronger candidate. Ironically, he has already been accepted into the Chemicall Engineering program at NC State, which happens to be a Tier 1. Should he contact NROTC to let them know and potentially change his NROTC major? (Chem Eng. is what he is interested in). USNA is of course first choice, in any case he wants to be a Naval Officer.</p>
<p>USNA was definitely my son's dream, but all he had heard and read was that it was more of a sure thing to get NROTC. So when he got the thin letter from NROTC, he figured no way was an appointment offer coming, but he beat the odds! Hard to understand this process sometimes, best wishes to all on decisions to be made this spring.</p>
<p>Just an update: Son changed his major from a tier 3 to tier 2 biology on Monday. Yesterday, his application status page was changed to Congratualions! Son was awarded the scholarship to attend his first choice Macalester College (cross-town with UM-Twin Cities).</p>
<p>s1732,
Congratulations on the scholarship. My son was interested in an English major and I suggested to go for the bio major since he has a flare for it to increase his scholarship chance. It worked, got a tier 2 scholarship and now can take a few extra english courses and go for the double major or a heavy English minor.</p>
<p>Thank you. An interesting development happened today. Son received his scholarship paperwork and it states that his scholarship is for a tier 3 major. Go figure.</p>
<p>what do you mean by “selected engineering”? I applied with mechanical engineering and still havn’t found out yet:( but am enlisted and am leaving for bootcamp in the Marines on june 22 so either way i’ll become a Marine :)</p>