CU Boulder (Not really a reach because they use weighted GPA and super scores)
Have him look at the Naval Academy also. They have a summer camp for rising seniors that gives a feel of life there. Here’s a link. Applications opened last week. http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS/Basic-Eligibility.php
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It’s not mandated that your son enroll at an NROTC college to end up as a Industrial Engineer or Supply Logistics Officer in the Navy. I read on the US Navy website that the preliminary qualification for Supply Logistics Officer is a bachelor’s degree. You said that money will not be a obstacle in his selection of a college, therefore he can target any college that offers his desired programs and where he has a good chance of admission, whether it’s an NROTC college or not.
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I think the above is good advice. He can join the navy after college w/o doing ROTC.
My nephew was “certain” that he wanted to become a naval officer. In high school, that’s all he talked about. His parents paid for him to go to VMI (OOS) because they believed that they were supporting his dream. He liked VMI, but at some point decided that a military career wasn’t for him. Thankfully, his parents paid for his education so he wasn’t under any obligation.
High school kids do change their minds…even when they seem to be intensely set on a goal. Sometimes they’ve romanticized their goals, and when realtity bursts that bubble, they completely change paths.
A low GPA will not get a student into Annapolis.
It could however get him into the Naval Academy Prep School.
How severe is your son’s speech problem? The current Naval medical standard reads:
“Any current receptive or expressive language disorder, including but not limited to any speech impediment (stammering and stuttering (307.0» of such a degree as to significantly interfere with pro- duction of speech or to repeat commands, is dis- qualifying.”
Has he had speech therapy? He may need a medical waiver to participate in NROTC or to enlist. Just a heads up.
Used to be disqualifying, nowadays he doesn’t have issues getting his point across.
“What’s basically a No as far as the military is being medicated for ADHD, not having ADHD”
Well the information I read says you can’t have been treated for it for at least 1 year and it places significant restrictions on being able to enlist. Having ADHD may also restrict the individual from certain duties or positions. So unless the OP’s son really needs ADHD help I would try and figure out some other way to keep him on his path.
I cannot fathom withholding help for the sake of a career path which might be 6 years down the road.
People have issues all the time- kids get injured doing sports, kids end up needing meds for chronic conditions, kids develop asthma, depression, thyroid problems.
You’re going to ignore the ADHD for the sake of a career which may or may not materialize for other reasons?
Tough crowd.
I think OP already stated that her son had been tested and that he DID NOT have ADHD. I have 2 kids with ADD/ADHD If OP’s son really had ADHD I think it would have come up in the testing. To go back now and retest and maybe get a doctor to prescribe medication “just” to see if it may help (and there are doctors out there that will do just that) could end up being a mistake that will hurt OP’s son.
Plus I would not want my kids on the medication they currently take if they didn’t absolutely need it. We are talking about class 2 drugs.
You can’t have been treated WITH MEDICATION for at least one year. You can have had other kinds of treatments.
Even that’s very iffy, especially considering he’s not prior-enlisted as such prep schools give preference for those who are prior-enlisted.
Son has never had significant behavioural issues and is always cooperative (Even though he slacked off, he’s maintained a good rapport with many of his teachers). I don’t think testing for ADHD again can do anything but harm. He has always coveted a military career since he was little, and made it clear to me he wanted absolutely nothing to do with the private sector, saying he’d “rather enlist or join the FFL”. Now that he’s picked up his grades, I don’t want to risk putting him on meds.
Last time we had him tested there was a lot of resentment he had towards us, and he although he’ll do what you ask, I feel like he doesn’t really trust me anymore and sometimes reacts with hostility to me (Something he never did before), something that none of his teachers or friends have ever mentioned or he has ever done in public.
Some things to keep in mind:
He doesn’t necessarily have the choice on whether to stay in the military for a full 20+ year career or to avoid the private sector.
He could be cut due to budget reductions in the military as happened to a Naval Aviator cousin in the late '90s despite the fact he still had a few years left in his service obligation by virtue of his aviation training(Minimum 8 years active duty in his case). Made worse by the fact he had just gotten promoted not too long before receiving the news.
He could be forced to leave if he was passed over for promotion twice at each given rank due to the US military’s “up or out” policy for officers. Something to keep in mind as promotions beyond Army/Air Force/Marine Captain or Navy/Coast Guard Lieutenant are competitive.
He could be forced out due to a serious injury or medical condition which disqualifies him from further military service.
His potential future GF/spouse may strongly suggest he leave the military for a more stable and possibly lucrative civilian career.
Assuming one has met physical and background checks to join the FFL, one signs up for a full 5-year contracted stint one cannot easily get out of barring death or severe physical injury. He will also often be sent to some of the most remote and dangerous areas of the world as the FFL legionaires are considered “more expendable” than regular French troops by the French govt because the majority have traditionally been foreigners.
The public sector agencies in his home area may not be hiring due to budgetary constraints or bureaucratic turf wars.
Even if he changes his mind, testing for ADHD I think is a bad call. He has no history of behavioral problems, no history of hyperactivity, and can easily sit through a five hour lecture without interrupting or moving around. The only thing that would cause people to think he has ADHD is his early poor performance. Now that he’s picked up his academics, I don’t think administering any medication would have benefits that outweigh the risks, nor would having him test positive for ADHD.
But nevertheless, he has been passionate about the military his whole life and it would be a shame to close that career path for him. If he wants to be tested, then that should be his own call.