NROTC and Biology Help

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm a high school graduate and will be entering university (UNC-Chapel Hill) this fall 2010. I've started applying to the NROTC scholarship that, if I receive, would go into effect my sophmore through senior year.</p>

<p>My declared major is biology and I'm going to gear specifically towards zoology and behavioral genetics. Ultimately, as a career in the future, I'd like to be a research scientist involved in field work- <em>especially</em> abroad.</p>

<p>But I'm also very interested in molecular biology and will want to get well grounded in that area while in college. Career wise, molecular biology would take me to a lab setting.</p>

<p>To the point:
What kind of officer should I become, or what kind of work and position should I try to go for while serving in the Navy after college, to prepare me for a career in biological research that involves both lab and field time?</p>

<p>I know that technical majors (i.e. engineering) are better fitted for the Navy than biology, and so there might not be something that perfectly "aligns" with my major. But I'm not asking for a perfect match - just something that has elements (broad or specific) useful to a biologist. Ex: competence in working with advanced technology, ability to organize teams, submitting complex reports/reviews ( this could give me a somewhat rough taste of what publishing in scientific journals is like).</p>

<p>Virtually all sites and forums I've visited these last few days, where information about the Navy is posted, I see A LOT of emphasis on leadership. I know that's a hands-down great virtue to take to any job. I'm also aware that Navy recruiters would like NROTC students to ultimately make the Navy their career - and who knows, that might well be what I decide to do. I'm open to it, but, for now would like to know what areas of the Navy might be suited for a biology/ scientifically oriented person.</p>

<p>I'd be incredibly grateful for any suggestions!</p>

2

<p>The 3 year NROTC scholarships are VERY scarce right now due to funding. One per school per year if you are lucky. </p>

<p>You would have join NROTC at the start of your Freshman year and participate in eveything (training, PT, extra classes) just like the scholarship students. You do not receive a stipend. This is called College Program. </p>

<p>You will also have to take a full year of Calculus and a year of Calculus based Physics. They are a requirement regardless of major. </p>

<p>If you are fortunate enough to pickup a 2 or 3 year scholarship you will be a non-restricted line officer upon graduation. This means that you will be on a ship as a Surface Warfare Officer, a sub, or in Aviation. Where and what you are assigned to depends on your ranking and the needs of the Navy. You will NOT be doing anything related to biology or research. </p>

<p>If you are looking at NROTC as a way to pay for school then don’t. The people that make it through are the ones that want to be a Naval Officer above all else. The ones who do it for money fail. The system is very efficient at weeding them out. My son’s unit started with 22 midshipmen. After two years they are down to 4.</p>

3

<p>Many thanks for the response.</p>

<p>I’ve been trying to do as much research as possible about the NROTC. I started by reading the info posted on:</p>

<p><a href=“Naval Education and Training Command - NETC”>Naval Education and Training Command - NETC;

<p>as well as the NROTC website of the university I will be attending.
[Navy</a> Quarterdeck Society](<a href=“http://studentorgs.unc.edu/nrotc/]Navy”>http://studentorgs.unc.edu/nrotc/)</p>

<p>I picked up a hand copy of Futures Magazine ( [Today’s</a> Military - <em>Futures</em> Magazine: True Stories of Military Service](<a href=“http://www.todaysmilitary.com/futures]Today’s”>FUTURES Magazine — Today's Military) )
and read it.</p>

<p>I also went to Yahoo answers and have also gone though many threads here on CC.</p>

<p>I’ve noticed you’ve commented on many posts whose subjects were NROTC and I was wondering if you can tell me what my chances are of being selected for the scholarship…</p>

<p>Academic Basics About Me:</p>

<p>4.731 GPA ( I took honors classes and a combined total of 9 AP classes between junior and senior year)
Class Rank : 3 of 478
Credits Required to Graduate: 230
Total Credits Completed: 267.5</p>

<p>SAT Score : 1860
SAT Score minus Math Portion : 1230</p>

<p>I was a Peer Tutor in the counseling office during the first term during my senior year and it was incorporated into the senior portion of my transcipt.</p>

<p>I did community service at a Little League, Elementary School, a few hours at my own high school (ceremony events) but most of my hours were at a public library.</p>

<p>Looking back, I’m thinking I ought to have done more humanitarian type volunteer work - suspect that is more of what the NROTC review boards favor.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I did not do a school sport. However, I do workout ( I run extensively in the mornings ) and have good eating habits. I am very strict with myself when it comes to physical and dietary discipline. For this reason, PT is actually would be something I look forward to. I mean that very seriously - the idea of regimented workout seems extremely productive.</p>

<p>I participated in clubs at school ( Christian club, Mock Trial, Academic League), but I did not hold an office position.</p>

<p>I was wondering if you can give me a frank answer as to roughly how much my chances at being selected are diminished, given that I wasn’t in a school sport, and didn’t hold some kind of leadership position in the extracurriculars I was involved with. Also that I’ll be a Bio major, not an enginnering major.</p>

<ul>
<li>Important note about myself is that I’ve always been more academically oriented over other aspects. In hindsight, I would have better proportioned my courses to accomodate after school sports. </li>
</ul>

<p>In the essay in which I have to explain how my background will contribute to the Navy ( I’m paraphrasing there) I am thinking that one of the things I’ll include is my Math performance in school. Math is where I excelled the most, and I took AP Calculus AB & BC in junior year ( my HS operated on a quarter-term system, term being roughly synonymous to a semester. What is one term at my HS, is one year at other High Schools because class time in my HS is longer). I’ve always prioritized Math over other subject areas (math is my favorite subject). I didn’t choose to be a mathematician because I wanted a career that is more research based and hands on, something that puts inquisitiveness to use. And my Bio major corresponds to my curiosity towards animals.</p>

<p>My point about math being, that my natural ability is nonetheless towards that which is math based.</p>

4

<p>Consider being a Nuclear type officer on a surface ship. You would have to go through a good bit of math to get into it and you would gain knowledge and experience at something that can really make you decent money on the outside. That said I would avoid a sub at all costs (take it from an ex submariner). As a JO on a submarine you life is pure hell and everyone above you and below you does their best to keep it that way for you for a good long time.</p>

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<p>OP, I think you may be a bit confused on how the process works. Let me see if I can help.</p>

<p>You don’t fill out the 4-year scholarship application. Those spots have all been filled. If you wanted the 4-year scholarship then you should have applied this time last year.</p>

<p>What you want now is called “College Program”. You get in touch with the NROTC unit at your school now and join. There will be Freshman Training the end of the summer. You want to be there for that.</p>

<p>You then have to enroll in the NROTC courses. You have to take 8 of them (one semester each) if I recall plus a full year of Calculus and a full year of Calculus based Physics. Basically you replace electives in your course load with NROTC courses.</p>

<p>You are a full member of the unit. You have to go to PT and meet all the standards (PT, grades, participation, etc). It is time consuming but if you have the desire it can be done. What you don’t get is a book stipend or a monthly stipend like the 4-year scholarship students do.</p>

<p>Your CO determines what (if any) scholarship you get going forward. If you don’t get one by the end of your Sophomore year you won’t get one period. Like I said before they are VERY scarce right now due to lack of funding. If there are some available at your unit they are given to whomever ranks the highest (participation, leadership, GPA, PT scores).</p>

<p>If you are going to do this you need to contact the unit now. Info at: [Navy</a> Quarterdeck Society](<a href=“http://studentorgs.unc.edu/nrotc/]Navy”>http://studentorgs.unc.edu/nrotc/)</p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

6

<p>Career submariner here…Junior Officers (we call them Division Officers now) have it a little rough, but it’s all what you put into it. If you’re motivated, smart, and a pretty decent guy, you will do just fine. If you’re a pain in the butt, yes, people will give you grief. The upside is that you will get to drive one of the most powerful machines on this planet. There is nothing in the world quite like being on the surface pulling into Pearl Harbor at 0200 with a zillion stars above, quiet submarine below, and a warm breeze on your face. Yes, there’s a price…nuclear power isn’t easy. Submarining is not easy. It’s hard being away from home…but it’s rewarding as hell and when you walk away with dolphins on your chest, you will know that you can do anything.</p>

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<p>Oh…and by the way…the best deal ever is the NUPOC program!!! You will be getting paid to go to school and get good grades!</p>

<p>[Undergraduate</a> : Education Opportunities : Joining the Navy : Navy.com](<a href=“http://www.navy.com/navy/joining/education-opportunities/undergraduate.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.navy.com/navy/joining/education-opportunities/undergraduate.html)</p>