<p>Hello- I am a rising senior in Michigan who's first choice for schools next year is Duke. I'm interested in studying Biomedical Engineering, and possiby minoring in Japanese or Chinese and studying abroad. I am also looking at Johns Hopkins and the University of Michigan, but the only way I can really afford anything out of state is with a merit scholarship, because i am from an upper middle class suburb of Detroit, so financial aid is pretty much out. Do any of you know what merit scholarship chances are at Duke? I am also considering applying for an ROTC scholarship. I am considering going to med school or participating in an MD/PhD program after college, and would I be able to if I were in the ROTC program? My final question is if I were accepted into Duke, and the ROTC program, are the ROTC classes part of the four classes you take a semester, or are they in addition to those? Thanks</p>
<p>I can primarily speak to the Naval ROTC side of things. You can absolutely do pre-med through NROTC and go to medical school and serve as a part of the Medical Corps. We've had quite a few people go that route over the years (including the most recent "Bachelor," LT Andrew Baldwin, Duke '99) and you can either go to a civilian school (where Navy pays for classes and you get a stipend) or [url=<a href="http://www.usuhs.mil/%5DUSUHS%5B/url">http://www.usuhs.mil/]USUHS[/url</a>] (where Navy pays for classes and you get a salary). Not entirely sure about MD/PhD programs, though.</p>
<p>With respect to additional coursework, you'll have one academic class and one lab each semester. For engineers, the NROTC classes count as electives - and not all of them carry credits (5 of the eight count towards GPA; only 2 count towards graduation and then as pure, non-100 level electives). For Trinity students, one of the NROTC classes (NS 52 - Seapower & Maritime Affairs) has a curriculum code of "STS" so that fits into the matrix.</p>
<p>Thanks. If you were to do the Naval ROTC, and then went to med school, would you be on active duty or in the reserves? Also, how have you felt the ROTC program has been a part of the college expirience? Has it added to it or detracted from it in any way?</p>
<p>At USUHS you'd be active. I am not 100% sure at a civilian school, though I think there are at least summer parts that are on active - might end up being the whole time...</p>
<p>Personally, the NROTC experience was critical in terms of learning leadership and time-management skills as well as the history and traditions of the Navy. I realize that sounds like an elevator pitch, but in my particular case, I would have a hard time imagining my particular path without it.</p>
<p>You would get training during the summer, so expect to loose a few weeks of vacation.</p>
<p>Its about a month per summer (NROTC)</p>
<p>My recollection is that Navy ROTC had by far the best financial support deal of the three ROTC options (Army, Air Force, Navy/Marines), when we looked through it for my son a few years back. </p>
<ul>
<li>Navy - if you were awarded the "scholarship" - covers all four years, full tuition, some fees, plus books, and a tax free stipend that starts at $250 frosh year and rises to $400 a month as a senior. You cover room, board, civ clothes, some fees. Also pays for "weeks worked" for summer cruises.</li>
<li>Air Force - covered some parts of 2 or 3 years, with more for certain engineering majors and for meteorology (which is not a major per se at Duke).<br></li>
<li>Army - covered part of the tuition, I think (could be wrong / may have changed) for four years, but not the full boat.</li>
</ul>
<p>These programs can be a great deal, a lot of fun, a source of good friends, helpful contacts, and good work habits. Some of the best education you can get at Duke may come from work with the enlisted staff of the unit, and from advising with the officers that staff the unit. Once commissioned, the services can lead to a very solid early career experience with huge responsibility and tremendous training in leadership. It can also get you killed during the four years active and four years reserve commitment (your odds will vary based on branch choice and unpredictable international events). </p>
<p>If you qualify for additional training (MD, etc), the time commitments lengthen if the services pay for the advanced schooling. I am told that a rough rule of thumb is to figure on a year of service for every year of schooling or instruction. So, roughly: four years undergrad, four years med school, at least a couple of years of internship training, could lead to a 10 year service commitment - in at 18, done at 38. Bad news: 20 years in school or the Navy. Good news: You are out free and clear with no debt to pay off. </p>
<p>For the undergrad component, it is important to understand that the so-called scholarship might be better understood as an indentured loan - ya gotta pay it back or earn it off. For Navy, the first year was a free trial; they would pay tuition, and you could drop after the first year. Sit in class the first day of the second year, and you were on the hook for the prior year's tuition. Should you fail out or flop out, the Navy will likely come looking for all of their tuition money back. It has happened - one kid was disqualified the week of graduation for failing the physical fitness test (repeatedly). The review board of officers met, deemed him not fit to be commissioned, and he was handed a loan agreement to pay back $130k to the US Govt. Plus no job. Rough.</p>
<p>Keep looking into this - it can be great deal for the right person. From all I can tell the ROTC crowds are at least well accepted at Duke. </p>
<p>Also, check over on the Vanderbilt forum. There was a thread running there a few weeks back where a current Vandy NROTC mid was answering a lot of similar questions, with a lot of insight into what day to day life is like for a mid at Vandy. Some differences, but many similarities to Duke.</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>I posted a big long reply to this but I guess it got eaten. Anyway I am a BME/premed NROTC student at Duke so I thought I'd chime in.</p>
<p>First, getting the Navy to pay for Med school is possible but in no way assured. If the Navy doesn't want to send you to Med school right away, you don't go to med school right away. The way it works for service afterward is that you have four years for the undergrad and for med school you get another eight. (two for every year of med school) So if you get the Navy to pay for both, that is 12 years that you owe the Navy.</p>
<p>On the failing to get commissioned thing, yes that is a risk you take but most people don't fail to get commissioned. The unit pushes you to improve on the PRT the entire time you are at school and while some people do find it hard to pass, most don't. (thats passing mind you not excelling, though quite a few do that too) I wouldn't describe myself as one of the better PTers in the unit and I have no worries about passing the PRT.</p>
<p>On how the Unit affects university life... they own you. It takes up a lot of time and if you want to do well it takes up more. You also will be participating in other activities on campus and will lead a rather busy life. Just know that it isn't just a way to pay for school because there are way easier ways to do that.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions about the Navy at Duke please feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Oh, also it is possible to study abroad while in NROTC. (I'm doing it right now) Unfortunately though I don't see you studying abroad where you would use Japanese or Chinese and doing engineering and premed. (needs to be English speaking for Engineering and you can't take premed courses out of the country, it might be possible but it sure isn't practical)</p>