<p>My DS got a very nice scholarship from USC for around 80k/4 w/ a $500 cash kicker. Very generious of USC!</p>
<p>I have questions...</p>
<p>My son was accepted into the College of Engineering, he is an NROTC awardee (180k), and was just invited to Capstone.</p>
<p>What should he request when it comes to housing, Capstone or the College of Engineering?</p>
<p>If I secure USC now do I loose my money if he gets into the Naval Academy? </p>
<p>I understand with the amount of money he is getting a few hunded should not make a diff; however, I can better use that for the University my other son attends.</p>
<p>Feedback please...</p>
<p>I’m not sure the relevance of the NROTC scholarship as I’m not familiar with that but I’ll try to answer the other questions as I have a son who is a freshman at USC now and a daughter who is a HS senior and accepted into the Engineering program as well. </p>
<p>As far as payments, you have until May 1 to pay your ‘Acceptance’ deposit so no rush on that. Housing is determined based on your application date (the date you applied to the university) so that won’t make a difference whether you sign up for housing now- OR choose to wait until closer to the May 1st deadline- your priority for your first choice housing will be the same either way. I actually like that about USC because other schools either have a priority housing deadline before May 1st and/or the housing is essentially first-come first serve in terms of where you end up- either way, forcing you to shell out a housing deposit before you’re sure of where you’re going. </p>
<p>Because you have until May 1 and you’re still holding out for another school, you may as well wait until you hear from that school before paying the $200 acceptance deposit. IF you still want to sign up for housing sooner (so you can get in the roommate matcher sooner), you can do that- it’s $150 I believe- with $50 of it being non-refundable… so if you ended up going to another school, you’d lose $50 provided you cancel within the timeframe to get the other $100 back. </p>
<p>That said, if you happen to get busy and lose track of days (I do that) and don’t pay your acceptance deposit by May 1st then you risk (most likely based on last year) losing your acceptance to the university- at least for the fall term. </p>
<p>Now, re: where to request…. it depends because the Capstone dorm is literally the opposite end of campus from the engineering building; however, if your son has some general college or ‘core’ classes he needs to take, Capstone might be better than the Engineering LLC because that is currently at Bates West I believe, which is quite a hike to central campus (both are on the outskirts, just opposite ends). Also, Capstone is suite style whereas Bates West is apartment style so it’s costlier to live there too (approx. 2k more a year). Personally, I think Capstone is the better choice because the suite style dorms are traditionally more for freshman and closer living quarters so it’s easier to meet people than it is in the apartment style. </p>
<p>Naval Academy appointments should be announced by April 15. So, assuming that May 1 is the deadline for paying the acceptance deposit, the smart thing to do is to wait until you hear from the Naval Academy. If you do not hear by, say, April 17th then contact the Naval Academy directly and ask for an update. See this webpage at USNA: <a href=“http://www.usna.edu/AboutAIS/Appointments.html”>http://www.usna.edu/AboutAIS/Appointments.html</a></p>
<p>For what it is worth, my advice is that your son should NOT base his Naval Academy decision on money. Period. Yes, it is a slightly better deal financially, but that is offset by all the extra demands at the academy. It is not college! It is military training plus college, and challenging in both.</p>
<p>He should only attend the Naval Academy if he is sure that he wants all the extra challenges there, and that he will not regret not getting what is available at U.South.Carolina. If in doubt, take the NROTC scholarship.</p>
<p>@ NROTCgrad - just curious, I noticed that 3unitsIlove indicated that the NROTC scholarship is 180k (i.e. $180,000) so I’m assuming that is spread out over 4 years but even still, that’s $45,000 a year… Way more than the cost of OoS tuition and expenses so does that mean that scholarship literally pays 100% and the extra goes to the student? (extra sounding like ~ 10-15k/year). If so, how could the Naval Academy be any better of a deal than that??</p>
<p>Thank you for the feed on the Academy; however, I’m all set with how that works. All candidates will know by the 15th this year. </p>
<p>He attended NASS over the summer, a sports camp for a week and we have been there as a family about 4 or 5 times. We have learned a lot just by siting in the admisions brief and by reading a book on getting into the Academy. In all I think he has at least 3 weeks where he was at the Academy, he knows it’s for him and what he really wants. We have kept or disctance on his applcation to both the Academy & NROTC. His journey he has to know what he is getting into. We fully support him, it just has to come from him. As a Navy veteran it holds a special place in my heart.</p>
<p>USC is were all the questions fall more for us them him. He researched I think 12 NROTC schools for his choice of 5. USC came out on top. 2. NC State (accepted), 3. Penn St (accepted), 4. BU (accepted), & 5 U. of Maryland (accepted). </p>
<p>Coleman, If accepted to the Academy everything is taken care of by the academy. The Academy is is a very different set-up all together. In fact if accepted he has to report on July 1st for what they call Plebe summer. Six weeks of breaking them into the foundation of becoming a Naval Officer. The Universities have them show up only a week before everybody else. For USC he would need to be there Aug. 13th. </p>
<p>Both get him to the same goal of becoming a commissioned Naval Officer. That said for him and us it really is not a cost issue or better deal thing. The more important thought is him becoming an officer and serving. He has done a lot of research on this and is already planning to make it a 20 year hitch. </p>
<p>Forget to add that NROTC does not cover room and board but again that is not a big deal.</p>
<p>In short, I’m just trying to put my thought into what his options are for housing at USC and what works best for the college of engineering and the NROTC unit.</p>
<p>Coleman4,</p>
<p>I missed part of the reply. In regard to the NROTC scholarship, no the candidate does not get anything that is left, that gets pulled back to the Navy. The candidated does however get $250 a month the for the first year, $300/mth the next, $350/mth the third year & $400/mth for their Sr. year. They also have obligations as they go through college. </p>
<p>They will be lucky to get two weeks leave in the summer. It goes deep, I’m just scimming the surface. Along with their class load they also have to take Naval Science classes as well as leadership classes. There really is way too much to list and explain. </p>
<p>We have been watching and reading about all this for a year now and we learn something every day. The NROTC kids are very, very busy for lack of better words. </p>
<p>NROTCgrad could you please explain this better for me… Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>@3unitsllove – Glad to hear that both you and your son are fully informed about the Naval Academy. Many people have not explored as thoroughly as you have. It sounds like your family is very well prepared. Congratulations to your and your son for a job well done.</p>
<p>@coleman4 – I am not sure where the 180k figure comes from, but no, the student/midshipman does not get to keep extra funds. In addition to tuition, the 180k probably includes the monthly stipend mentioned by 3unitsllove, and perhaps includes the expenses for summer military training. It might actually be the “cap” beyond which the Navy will not pay more.</p>
<p>Often engineering majors take more than 4 years to graduate. This is true even for engineering students not in ROTC. The extra demands on NROTC midshipman make it almost guaranteed that at least an extra semester will be required and perhaps two extra semesters. NROTC usually pays for the additional tuition, but there is a limit. The Navy might pay for five years of tuition, but it will not pay for six. So, my guess is that 180k is a “cap” not the actual amount.</p>
<p>At the Naval Academy everything is covered including health care, as well as room and board. Plus the midshipmen get paid almost $1,000 per month (although they do have significant costs to pay for, such as all those elaborate uniforms). In any event, if a person attends the academy, then the family might not ever need to give their son or daughter any more money. This is not true for NROTC, which is generous but does not cover absolutely everything.</p>
<p>However, the Naval Academy is not going to let midshipmen take more than 4 years to graduate, no matter what their major. That, along with more extensive demands, makes the Naval Academy much more challenging than NROTC at a civilian university.</p>
<p>Thanks to both…Wow, and to think I’m worried of how my daughter will fare just in the Engineering program! She got in the honors college so I know there’s some honors level courses she’ll have to take but that is nothing compared to the workload you both describe. Good luck to your son… he sounds very committed! If he ends up at USC maybe our kids will meet in one of their engineering classes. (small world)</p>
<p>Thank you NROTCgrad…</p>
<p>Coleman4, If he ends up at USC my son will be the handsom one in summer whites, he will also be the one that talks like a New Englander. Between the two she can’t miss him! He has one very strict clear rule for dating. Treat any girl you meet as you treat your own mother and sister.</p>
<p>He is indeed very committed, just had his Navy shirt on going to school today. When school was over he stopped at the barbar shop for a high and tight. He would like to be a Naval Pilot and fly the Super Hornet. Ove the past year he has researched each Naval community and know quite alot. In the past 4 months he has done a lot of research on the jets the Navy has. </p>
<p>The obligated service for a Naval Officer is 5 years after graduation, if he becomes a pilot it is a 9 year obligation which he is fully aware of this is why he wants to make it at least a 20 year hitch.</p>
<p>It is difficult to speak for the kids that want any ROTC unit or service academy. The only way to get a better understanding is to meet and talk to them. </p>
<p>By the way… Getting into honors is very impressive, I’m confident that if she wanted NROTC or the Academy she would have done well. By the way, it’s never too late for her to think about it. She can apply for NROTC and get picked up in her 2nd year and she can apply for the Academy. The only differance with the academy is she would start as a Plebe. There are kids that go through two years of college, re-apply to the academy and start as a Plebe.</p>
<p>Have her check of the Academy web page, there is a lot of information and the 2019 class application opens on April 1st.</p>
<p>Coleman, the engineering honors students my D knows have had a good experience. You can now look at Fall 2014 honors courses on the honors site - notice there are a number of engineering classes with honors sections. Same for math and science. I won’t say that there won’t be places where to satisfy honors you take a class you wouldn’t have otherwise needed, but for the most part my D (double major) has taken courses she really wanted. She had to add a class to satisfy not honors, but gen ed for her second major and chose to find a honors course that would work because she enjoys them. She always prefers honors sections. You can’t underestimate value of having the better teachers in understanding and enjoying the class.</p>
<p>@scmom12, thanks for the feedback about the honors courses. D is pretty set on USC now. We are touring UF over spring break but only because she got into their honors program as well and they have a very good engineering program- and her best friend is going there so my d said she’d take a look for her friend. 
… But she looked at some of the courses for USC last night and was getting excited- not sure how she plans to fit in everything she wants to take! In fact, she signed up for housing last night (I paid the bill and she completed the roommate questionnaire). It’s funny, she’s an introvert and I was surprised at how many other students were introverts as well in the roommate finder. I didn’t notice that last year for my son because he’s more of an extrovert (or a least closer to one than she is). </p>
<p>@3unitsIlove, I’m not sure my d is cut out for a rigorous program like that… She’s a little thing- 100 lbs, and barely has the stamina for her soccer team. She had to quit the swim team a few years back b/c she literally had no reserves of body fat so with every practice she’d have to get out and puke. Her lips were always purple, skin mottled, just wasn’t working for her. She’s more into reading, drawing, painting, creative writing, stuff like that. </p>
<p>Coleman4,</p>
<p>You might be surprised at the power that can come from the “little things”. When I was at NASS I saw plenty of 100lb little things; they were just as tough as the guys. </p>
<p>If they have classes together she will spot him. Just a reminder, summer whites and has the New England accent. As of right now USC is his firm “A2” plan with the NROTC scholarship. This will change if he gets the Academy. The tension is growing in him. Although he is one of the most confident and calm young adults I know I can see a little wondering. He does not show thing much at all. What we do know from two solid sources in the know is that he will know by the end of March. That said all of these candidates are told by April 15th. I’m not sure why he is being told the end of March but we are hoping it is for all the good reasons. Either way, once he is in we will not see him much for the next nine years. The upside is knowing that at the end of college he already has a job and one that he may stay with for 20 years.</p>