<p>Hello! I'm a high school junior who recently found out about the NROTC program and has been doing some research about it. There are many fantastic schools on the list that I would love to go to, and probably have a decent shot at at least one. Yale, UPenn, UVA, UC Berkeley, and Duke are all high on my "list." I would like to study a tier 2 subject, such as statistics or quantitative economics (I assume at most schools this is either regular economics or quantitative finance?). However, on the site it says that I must select a school where I qualify for in-state tuition as one of my top three, and they'll tell me where to go. My own state school doesn't have NROTC, and any other school on the list that would allow me to go for in-state tuition isn't exactly on the level of the schools I just listed. If I were to get into Yale or UPenn, would they force me to go to the in-state school or take away the scholarship? If I got reject from my first two choices but was accepted into the #4 choice, say UVA or UC Berkeley, would it be unlikely that I'll be placed with one of them over the in-state school? Could I possibly get reassigned? I'd like to do NROTC because it would allow me to attend an excellent school that I would otherwise be unable to afford, and I could go to the in-state school for basically free already (I would also get other merit scholarships) and wouldn't be restricted to a certain major.</p>
<p>Don’t look at NROTC as a way to pay for college. Trust me, your service commitment after graduation and the risks you take during it are much more expensive than college. Also, you can usually request to change the scholarship to your preferred school, as long as you get accepted to that school. :P</p>
<p>collegesomeday: Consider very carefully ANY advice you receive on these forum and question whether distant (10+ years) past experiences will still apply to the current NROTC conditions. Seriously investigate what options are currently available for NROTC JAG officers and whether NROTC is willing to pay for undergrad AND Grad school for you.</p>
<p>CraigBurke21:I believe the OP’s interest in NROTC is very recent and in response to some advice he received yesterday:
<a href=“Lower-tier law schools? - Law School - College Confidential Forums”>Lower-tier law schools? - Law School - College Confidential Forums;
</p>
<p>@aglages: Yeah, it is very recent interest. I didn’t really know about it before I got this response. My parents have always encouraged me to support the military and all and would be thrilled if I did a program such as NROTC, but I haven’t been training for it or anything. Aside from a peptic ulcer last summer (so I suppose it’s not even active anymore) I meet all the medical conditions, and my academic and leadership stats are stellar. I’m not an athlete by any means, but the requirements don’t look impossible and I can certainly work towards meeting them within the next few months. I also didn’t learn until last night about the postgraduate opportunities available at their school in Monterrey, which sounds great to me (even though they don’t have a law school, I’m not even certain about law anyways). What else do you mean by what you said to me? I’m not sure I understand.</p>
<p>@craigburke: That’s true. I actually do like the idea of going into military service as an officer after graduation anyways. My parents are actually the first generation of both of their families not to serve in a major war (WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, you get the idea). I just never really thought of it for myself, as I’m not an athlete in the least (although, as I previously said, I think I can meet the requirements with some training on my part). I just want to know that if I got into Yale but NROTC wanted me to go to a state school, I would have options to change. The program does actually sound fantastic to me.</p>
<p>collegesomeday: I meant that the military and NROTC have changed quite a bit in the last ten years. Add in sequestration and the current RIF (Reduction In Force) and the opportunities available now are considerably different than they were 10+ years ago. You should visit the NROTC, AFROTC & AROTC sites and look carefully at what’s available and what your options are. I would suggestion that before you pursue any military commissioning path that you make sure you want to be an officer and are willing to be assigned ANY job within that branch. At the end of the day, if the military funds your education then THEY will decide how you will serve your country. Good Luck!</p>
<p>@aglages: Hmm I see. There are certain jobs I wouldn’t say are my first choice (SEAL, pilot) but it looks like those are all volunteers. Also, from what I’ve heard women typically aren’t put in extremely dangerous war zones and whatnot, correct?</p>
<p>Hi! I’m an NROTC (Marine Option) student and I just went through the application process last year. Here’s the answer to your question:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yes, even if you don’t like the school that your in-state NROTC school is in, you MUST apply. Not applying is disqualifying. (I went through the same thing: I did NOT want to go to my in state school so I put it as my last choice and it was way lower (in the NY times ranking) than my in-state one.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, it’s totally possible to change what school you were assigned to. I actually changed my school. What happens is IF you get the scholarship, you get assigned to the school and you have to email a request form to change. That request is either sent through or wait listed until a spot opens up. Usually they give you your top choice school for NROTC unless it’s a really popular unit like VMI or the citadel. </p></li>
<li><p>Engineering candidates are more competitive than most other candidates, and generally there are hardly any tier-3 students accepted to the program. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>4.With the navy, you get to request what job you want at the end of your junior year. The choices are surface warfare (ship), submarine, or aviation. They also have SEALS, but only like 3 are selected each year despite a ton of people requesting it. They also have the medical corps but it’s super rare that they select an NROTC candidate. It just never happens. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>More women are being phased into submarines, but the number is still few, and submarines is currently the most dangerous job in the navy. </p></li>
<li><p>Mostly you won’t get aviation unless you request it, but I know a lot of people who got put on a sub even though they didn’t request it at all.</p></li>
<li><p>to determine where you will be put, they look at your GPA and your midshipmen rating. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope this helps (:</p>
<p>ps. if youre going marines, then it’s a little different. Message me if that’s the case. </p>
<p>@soursop09: Thank you so much for all that information! Also, thank you for committing to the Marines, that’s really special and fantastic. Are we allowed to put the in-state school at the bottom? I thought it said it had to be a top three choice. Also, is it really difficult for tier 2 students who are interested in math of some kind (like stats or quantitative economics/finance or whatever) and not engineering? What happens to those who start out in engineering and find it too difficult and need to switch into something easier, like management? Also, how is placement determined exactly? Would an excellent math student be more likely to be put into a submarine or get a position that they desire more? And are most of the women who are put on submarines those who want to be on one?</p>
<p>collegesomeday,</p>
<p>1st. and most important be very careful how you refer to schools, “isn’t exactly on the level of the schools I just listed.” Although most people will understand what your talking about most of these kids are up on the level of school you are looking at. </p>
<p>2nd. +1 Aglages: Could not agree with what was said here enough. Take a look at the service academy forum. </p>
<p>3rd. +1 Soursop09: All good points!!</p>
<p>My DS has also just gone through this and has just been awarded the NROTC scholarship. </p>
<p>Goo luck…</p>
<p>If your state does not offer an NROTC scholarship option, what are the rules? We live in NH</p>
<p>@3unitsllove: You’re right, I’m sorry for referring to it in such a manner. I have taken a look at the service academy forum actually, and all it’s done is raise more questions. I have excellent grades and scores and several leadership positions, one on a competitive debate team. However, everyone on the forum seems to believe that a varsity sport is absolutely essential, but commitment is also important… how can someone play a varsity sport and also have as much leadership as I do while still being a committed leader? I don’t play any sports aside from tennis during the summer sometimes, so is that idea virtually crushed?</p>
<p>You have no chance unless you apply. Most people have a varsity sport, but not everyone. Continue to work hard.</p>
<p>True! When does the physical fitness test take place? Does it happen on a certain date or sometime soon after submitting the application or something?</p>
<p>Your application is not fully complete until you submit the PRT. Most do it sometime in the early fall, to have time to practice in summer.</p>
<p>As an NROTC scholarship recipient and commissioned officer:</p>
<p>Yes, if your are eligible for in-state tuition at any NROTC state university, then you must include one of them on your list of schools (period). BUT you do get to rank your preferences. So, make it your third preference (it has to be at least that high). Only one in-state school needs to be on your list. Plus, each NROTC university has a scholarship quota. If you are good enough to get into Yale, UPenn, etc… then you will have very little competition. NROTC scholarship students do go to these schools. You might become one of them.</p>
<p>No, varsity athletics are not required. This is far more helpful for the Naval Academy. Without varsity athletics, chances of getting into Annapolis are very small. For NROTC, this is not a big barrier. GRADES and SAT/ACT scores are the most heavily weighted factors for NROTC scholarships, although health issues can disqualify you. Physical fitness test is pass/fail. It will not compensate for poor grades or low ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>Finally, ALL TIER 2 majors are treated equally. Period.</p>