<p>I know this isn't exactly the right board, but I figure some of you may be able to answer this question. I'd like to appy for the 4 year NROTC scholarship (I'm a junior), but I have a few concerns. The first is, is it binding? Do I have to accept it if I apply and I am selected? Second is can I quit during college if I decide its not for me (If so, what are the reprocussions)? Third question, if I would like to go through the NROTC cirriculum and have the option to become an officer, can I take the classes, but never accept a scholarship, so that I don't owe any service? I am not entirely certain if I want to commit that much time to the Navy. Who knows if I were to get some amazing job offer out of college, and I'd shoot myself in the foot for being tied to 4 years of service.</p>
<p>Hi. I think I can answer some of your questions. My daughter applied and received a 4 year NROTC scholarship. The first thing is that it is not binding. Even if you accept it, if you don't show up, you are not "in trouble". You just don't get the scholarship. The second thing is that you have until (I think) after the 1st year to change your mind with no obligation and then escalating obligation after that. (It's either the first or second year: can't remember exactly, but I think it is the first). THe thing you need to ask yourself is if you think you would be more likely than not to want a career in the Navy. It seems to me that "no" is the answer. If that's the case, there are a lot of other ways to pay for college than on the backs of Americans if you have no intention of serving. I know that sounds harsh, but it's how I feel. The military does have exit doors for which you can get out in the early years because, being young, you might change your mind. But, if you go into this with the intent on getting a couple of free years and out, then I think that's wrong. (ok, off my soap box). To answer your third question, Yes, you can join NROTC without scholarship. I am not sure what the commitment is on that one. Good luck.
NAPS05mom</p>
<p>NAPS05mom - What were your daughters stats (GPA, SAT) breifly? I am trying to get into a prep school because I know I'm not competitive enough for an appointment. Thanks.</p>
<p>My plan was to try NROTC out, and see how I like it. I think its a good way to stay in shape, and I've always been interested in the military. In fact, my parents are sort of downplaying the idea to me. They have the money for me to go to college, I just think a job in the Navy would be much more exciting, and better experience than some office job. I figure serving in the Navy would give me a great advantage in applying to MBA schools in the future. That is why I would consider taking the classes with no scholarship as long as there is no obligation.</p>
<p>I don't know if you've seen the "To Lead and To Serve" video about USNA, but one point the speaker makes is that it should not be used as a "springboard for another career." Personally, I believe the only difference (in the end) between NROTC and USNA is where you went to get your commission. The taxpayers still pay for your education, you go on summer cruise, and you have to deal with upperclassmen.</p>
<p>I believe you should only accept the scholarship if you intend to make the Navy your career, not just as a decoration for your resume'. As for staying in shape, you should be able to get ample access to the rec for free (or a nominal fee) without using taxpayer's dollars to help you.</p>
<p>Sorry if I seem kinda harsh. Just remember that serving in the Navy is no small commitment.</p>
<p>My son has applied for and received a number of 4 year ARMY ROTC scholarships. I don't think that the Army and Navy programs are very different except that the Navy application process may be a little more centralized. By signing up, you commit to 8 years of service - 4 active duty, 4 reserve/guard. There is no guarantee that you'll get 4 active duty years in if they don't need you. But you should be ready to serve the 4. Personally I think that you don't have to think that the Navy will be a career but it will be an 8 year commitment. Most kids out of college don't have a clue what they want to do - in a sense this is an almost guaranteed job, you will have learned leadership skills, and, if you serve active, you'll be 25 getting out and any employer in the world should want to hire you. I'm 50, I've had 3 interesting careers, and am still figuring out what to do in my next one. Peter Drucker, the management guru, said that, "given how long we live now, everyone should have 3 careers in different fields." And if you do your eight years, you've served your country and you'll feel good about it.</p>
<p>As for applying to NROTC or AROTC - start early and get all of our paperwork in quickly. AROTC requires when you do your online application that you select up to 10 schools in which you're interested. Look up each school's rotc program online and start making contact by email and phone call with the recruitment officer at the school (who's usually a captain or major - I don't know the Navy rank equivalents). Let the recruitment officer know how interested your are. Some of the AROTC schools have scholarship board interviews - try to get to the ones in which you're very interested. Sometimes, if the school is far away, you can do an interview by phone with the LTC who runs the program - you want him/her on your side too. Be persistent in setting up these meetings and "getting to know" the officers in charge. Also, each program is different - some only cover tuition - at some the college/university will pick up all of the room/board. Plus you get a monthly stipend. </p>
<p>The other real positive I see for ROTC programs - beyond learning leadership and taking military science courses - is that if you go to a very large school, i.e. Michigan, UCLA etc., you have a built-in campus-wide group of fellow students/colleagues/comrades in arms the day you arrive. Most programs have about 50 to 60 students in them. Also, you'll can do some "fun" training/programs in the summer with the Army/Navy.</p>
<p>Finally, ROTC grads tend to me more socially mature than Academy graduates and don't go crazy their first year after college - they've already gone crazy.<br>
I'm not advocating Academies or ROTC - both have their value. The real value of both is leadership training, responsibility at a young age (companies won't give it to you) and patriotism.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>"Finally, ROTC grads tend to me more socially mature than Academy graduates and don't go crazy their first year after college - they've already gone crazy."</p>
<p>Wondering where you get that information from. I have seen both and couldn't make that assertion. If I were going to generalize though, I would say that the USNA grads seem much more mature and serious. But, that's just my perception. Wondering where you get yours from. THanks.
NAPS05mom</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to start an argument and it was a generalization. But my sources were several ROTC Colonels who were West Point grads - and two of my brothers-in-law who are also West Point grads. I'm sure there are those who would disagree but I don't think anyone would argue that either West Point or Annapolis are normal social environments for 17- to 21-year olds. And we can certainly both agree that something went radically wrong at the Air Force Academy in the past few years.</p>
<p>On the other hand, those who attend an Academy have received more training that will benefit them in combat - where the social niceties won't matter much.</p>
<p>"On the other hand, those who attend an Academy have received more training that will benefit them in combat - where the social niceties won't matter much." </p>
<p>bondnj0 I don't know so much about that. I mean from the NROTC officers I have met they seem much more easy to talk to, they ARE more social. And the younger ones do not have the slight cockiness that USNA graduates I've talked to have. That being said, in my opinion, one of the biggest parts of leadership in a combat situation is caring for your men, they'll follow you to death if you treat them like sons and brothers (Sun Tzu). I am not saying academy graduates are cold hearted but I wonder if the more social/loose ROTC officers relate better with men? In any case, the U.S of A. Military is still kicking ass with both Academy and ROTC officers!</p>
<p>Davygravy:</p>
<p>In full agreement with your last statement. I've also heard what you said. One of my brothers-in-law - a West Pointer and an active duty Colonel - told me that his best commanders have been ROTC-trained. Best, in his opinion, because they were more easy-going and related to their men better. Then again, he might have just gotten lucky.</p>
<p>My son has applied for and received a number of 4 year ARMY ROTC scholarships. I don't think that the Army and Navy programs are very different except that the Navy application process may be a little more centralized. By signing up, you commit to 8 years of service - 4 active duty, 4 reserve/guard. There is no guarantee that you'll get 4 active duty years in if they don't need you. But you should be ready to serve the 4. Personally I think that you don't have to think that the Navy will be a career but it will be an 8 year commitment. Most kids out of college don't have a clue what they want to do - in a sense this is an almost guaranteed job, you will have learned leadership skills, and, if you serve active, you'll be 25 getting out and any employer in the world should want to hire you. </p>
<p>^ ^
That is what I am talking about. I don't think I'm wasting anyone's tax money by fulfilling my end of the bargain. Who knows, the Navy could become a career, I just don't want to be forced into it if I find out it's not for me.</p>
<p>I don't mean to highjack the thread, but when should I apply for NROTC? I could do it right now since I've already taken my ACT, or should I wait till the fall of my senor year?</p>
<p>This June would most likely be the soonest you would apply for ROTC. You still have to wait on college admissions, with around December 1st being the earliest for EA and ED decisions.</p>
<p>krokal:</p>
<p>I applied for the NROTC scholaship in Feb. of my junior year. At the bottom of the NASS application, it asked if you wanted the info released to NROTC. I thought to myself "hmm...that's a really good idea" and filled out the application once I sent the NASS app. in.</p>
<p>That was Feb. 1st of my junior year. I got a call from the recruiter congratulating me on my acceptance on Feb. 1st of my senior year. :)</p>
<p>Go ahead and apply now...the earlier the better.</p>
<p>FYI:</p>
<p>Do not wait until you hear from colleges. You may lose your opportunity. There are a limited number of full scholarships. </p>
<p>Generally, you apply in the fall of your senior year because you have to list your 4 colleges of interest on your application, in order of preference. Once granted, there is no guarantee of scholarship transfer to another institution, so you must be careful that your 1st choice is a school you reasonably want to attend and to which you think you have a decent shot of gaining acceptance. </p>
<p>Most scholarship recipients are notified far in advance of their college acceptance communications.</p>
<p>CM</p>
<p>Krokal~Agreed with all of the above. My son had his application completed and interview in early Sept to qualify for the first board meeting. (It was delayed this year due to hurricaines in Florida). It is a big application with 4 essays. If you add that to the USNA application and nomination process it's quite a bit of work and you haven't even started the normal college application process. He heard in October that he had a full scholarship to his first choice school. We should hear this week if he got in to this school. Best of luck, it's a long process but for us very quick results at least on the NROTC side of things...</p>
<p>"Finally, ROTC grads tend to me more socially mature than Academy graduates and don't go crazy their first year after college - they've already gone crazy." </p>
<p>more often than not, this tends to be true, for obvious reasons</p>
<p>I've started the application online. Basically all I have left is the 4 essays and the references section. I still have to decide which school I want to go to however. Right now it's a tossup between Texas A&M and the Citadel, but I'm leaning towards the latter. Currently, those are the only two schools I want to go to, but I put down a few others on my NROTC choice list. (Norwich and VMI I believe, and its not that I don't want to go to those schools, but they just don't interest me) </p>
<p>Would I be making a mistake if I didn't apply to all the schools on my NROTC list?</p>
<p>Yes.<br>
In the offchance that all the scholarship slots were filled for your first and second choice schools, then you could, in theory, be awarded a scholarship to your third (or fourth) choice. If you had not even applied, then you would be out of luck. Can't you find two other schools in the entire country that offer NROTC, to which you would have a resonable chance of gaining admission, and that would meet your criteria?
CM</p>
<p>I'm sure someone else answered the questions, but they were all in VERY long paragraphs...</p>
<p>I finished filling out the entire application except for the essays in June. I finished the essays mid-Dec. I received notification near the end of Jan. A kid last year turned in his app. the last week possible, and got it for UCLA. But, he had amazing stats. </p>
<p>Admittedly, you should apply as early as possible, but if you remain unsure until mid-senior year, you still have a shot. </p>
<p>You can change your list of schools after submitting your application, it'll just be inconvenient. At least apply to your top two schools, because those really are the first schools they look to give you the scholarship for.</p>
<p>You can join rotc in college, and apply for a 2-yr. scholarship after your sophomore year, but without the scholarship, 2 years is your limit.</p>
<p>You have until the end of your sophomore year to decide whether you really want to go Navy/Marine Corps. If awarded the 4yr scholarship, you can accept it and have the option of backing out before your junior year(just trying to make it clear).</p>
<p>4 yrs active duty, 4 years reserve, and a few recruiters told me the 4 years reserve are done IN college. Since you are sworn in after your orientation week, I think that's probably true, but you never know because recruiters have been known to lie...I mean, tell half-truths.</p>