Is it hard to get an ROTC Scholarship?

Paying for College
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<p>My son is not interested in ROTC or the military, but he has a good friend who is. I don't know much about it, and I'm looking for some general information. His mother is a friend of mine, and she has concerns and I told her I would ask here (since CCer's know everything!)</p>

<p>This kid is a junior now. He had OK grades his freshman year (3.2-ish), and bad grades last year (2.8-ish, including a couple D's or F's), mostly due to personal problems (stepfather died after prolonged illness, girlfriend dumped him and he didn't get over it well). He is in a couple AP classes this year, and hopes to have a good year. </p>

<p>To be really honest, I don't think he's extremely bright. I mean, he isn't stupid, but he's never had great book smarts. He likes to work hard physically (football, mixed martial arts). </p>

<p>So - I guess I always assumed the good ROTC Scholarships were pretty competitive, but i don't really know for sure. Is it likely that if he has a great year this year, he could get a scholarship? If not, what would the ROTC program have to offer him? is it something you can participate in and become an officer after college, even if you don't have a scholarship? Do you have to be studying certain fields?</p>

<p>If he's in ROTC and doesn't complete college successfully, what happens then - does he still owe active duty in the service?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>from what i heard, it depends on which branch of rotc your son wants…army is easiest, then air force, and then navy…some years everyone seems to get full rides…others, just getting any money is hard…people say that the process is generally harder than most would think</p>

<p>leadership and strength (physical and mental) are what each branch is looking for…also future engineers tend to have a better chance at getting one</p>

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<p>ROTC scholarship have gotten very, very competitive the past few years. The D and F will pretty much put him out of the running. ROTC is not a good idea unless the student’s main goal is to become an officer. Those that are not sure or do it for the money are weeded out pretty quickly. </p>

<p>Depending on the service branch there is a date that the scholarship recipient has to sign a contract. For Navy it is day 1 of the sophomore year. If they flunk out or change their mind they either have to pay back all of the scholarship money or they go into the Navy immediately as enlisted personnel. The choice is not the students - it is the Navy’s.</p>

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<p>Thanks folks. Your answers reinforce what my instincts were.</p>