<p>Hi
My choice here is pretty limited. Recently, I have been accepted into my state university. Despite my academic credentials, which I think is decent: 30 ACT, 3.8 UW GPA, top 5 percent of the class, National AP Scholar, and an EFC of only 5000. My state school is not giving me any aids, :( namely, zero grant, zero scholarship. And my parents are refusing to contribute because I didn't get into a top 25 school. haha.
If I borrow money from a private institution, the total loan for my entire 3 years of study (excluding one year because of my AP credits) would be about 50000 dollar, which is pretty scary considering the fact that my state university is ranked pretty low.
My major, English and Political science, further exacerbates the situation as I have little to no interest to practical majors such as business or engineering.
So, should I join the army(yes, I do have a passion for military science, and I'm considering should I do ROTC or just enlist) or become a homeless person after college? :D</p>
<p>btw, I'm a U.S citizen and am perfectly fluent in Chinese. They are hiring Chinese language specialist in the army around my area.I can't imagine myself being a goddamn engineer or an investment banker.</p>
<p>Talk to some recruiters. I have worked with a few, and I have found them great people that I would call good friends. Of course their goal is to recruit, Their desire is to a recruit for the right reasons and for the right person. They get great satisfaction when their recruit becomes successful and becomes their friends. </p>
<p>It is amazing how few people actually qualify for military service.</p>
<p>The new bill that congress and Bush just signed will make military service a far more rewarding career option than it was before. And if you are genuinely interested in a military career, this could be a very exciting option for you. Asian speakers are in high demand, both in military and in the private sector. I would seriously consider enlisting, and letting the military pay for your college education.</p>
<p>Go to a CC. It's usually a free ride for someone with your credentials. Was for my brother, but he decided to take out massive loans cause he's a moron.</p>
<p>As a military wife I, for one, advocate joining the ROTC program at your college of choice. Depending on what they're offering, you can go through, tuition paid, room and board paid, a stipend for books and fees, and possibly even a bit of spending money. Since you're fluent in Chinese they'd be begging you to join. Also, you'd be joining after college so you'd have the added benefit of a higher starting rank (more in your paycheck). If nothing else look at it this way... 4 (or 6 depending on the Army contract you sign) years will pass a lot faster then the 10-20 or so years it would take to pay off 50k in loans.</p>
<p>And don't listen to anyone saying you would make it through basic. My husband was the least likely person to make it in many peoples eyes as he had no muscle tone, couldn't do 20 sit-ups without almost passing out, and weighed 125 pounds (he's 6'6) soaking wet. He made it through perfectly fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support!
ROTC sounds like an excellent option. Enlisting with the new benefits sounds awesome too!
I will look into it.
But ppl were telling me that I should not trust Uncle Sam, and that if I join the military, they would put me into Infantry division and send me to Iraq to patrol in the streets.</p>
<p>btw, would it increase your chance of getting into better colleges, like Yale and Harvard, if I join the military for two years of active and six years of reserve?</p>
<p>I would look into the army, especially because as a Chinese language specialist, they're very unlikely to ship you off to Iraq or Afghanistan. My advice is to milk as much out of the recruiters as you can. They are probably willing to give you more than what they offer upfront. I have stats very similar to yours, and I got a letter from the National Guard yesterday in which they advertised up to a $60,000 bonus, tuition payment, and a lot more. You could probably get similar things from the army. Just understand that recruiters are famous for misleading people. Read the contract before you sign and don't take anyone's word for anything.</p>
<p>The army will give you good job experience, connections after you leave, and is a good way to save money. With a large bonus (say $30,000) and several years of salary saved up (imagine saving $10,000 for 4 years), that's $70,000 that could pay for grad school, a small house, etc...</p>
<p>But ppl were telling me that I should not trust Uncle Sam, and that if I join the military, they would put me into Infantry division and send me to Iraq to patrol in the streets.</p>
<h2>btw, would it increase your chance of getting into better colleges, like Yale and Harvard, if I join the military for two years of active and six years of reserve?</h2>
<p>Well definitely don't go into the recruiters office with rose colored glasses on. Sleepy_Sentry is right, it is their business to get you into the uniform. Possibly go in with someone who might have some prior military service and experience to help you along. However, it isn't as bad as it used to be and nowadays most recruiters are very honest.</p>
<p>Now, please don't be fooled. There is a very good chance that you will have a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan. You pretty much won't be able to get around that no matter what job you choose. However the conditions are much better there then they used to be. My husband is in Iraq right now and he says that the difference between now and the last time he went (about 2 1/2 years ago) is like night and day. </p>
<p>Now about getting into Harvard or Yale. Pretty much that's on you. If you don't have the grades, skills, or other qualifications that they look for then you won't make it in. They might look favorably at the fact that you're wanting to join, but the Army only pays for school, they don't get you in.</p>
<p>What other languages should I learn for the military though?
My options here are: Japanese, French, or Arabic. I will choose two from this list.
Japanese and French are going to be easy for me because I'm a native speaker of both Chinese and English, but Arabic would be more useful, wouldn't it? But it is a very difficult language to learn! And I'm afraid that a language immersion in Iraq or some countries would not fundamentally increase the level of my fluency in Arabic.</p>
<p>Lastly, would they let me major in whatever I want to major in college? I really want to major in English, but NOT engineering.</p>
<p>I rather suspect that the military will be telling you what THEY need, not the other way around, however, if you have a choice, it depends on your career course; I'd pick Arabic every time. But you have to have enough time to learn it in order for it to be of any value. For example, as you may already know, Arabic language does not romanize very easily; it has no vowels; some of the symbols aren't even sounds but rather actual pauses in converseration.</p>
<p>I think French would be better for a segue into a career in private industry, but, then again, Arabic is pretty important there too, as business is becoming more and more global.</p>
<p>As far as being put out into patrol right away, today's soldier is also expected to be a peacekeeper and an ambassador; cyberspace is viewed to be the next terrain; it is going to be an interesting time for new recruits. I again urge you to read the bill Bush just signed - sorry I don't have a link and don't feel like googling it...(sorry - you can do this yourself) - as to what you can major in, you can explore it. I do agree with everyone that you still have to have the acceptable stats for admission to any college.</p>
<p>I don't know how anyone can predict who can make it through boot camp, and who can't. Congratulations on what you have accomplished so far, you appear to be on a very productive trajectory.</p>
<p>Wait and see who wins the election before you sign any papers for the military. I just graduated college and was thinking of enlisting, but there's no way I enlist if Barack wins...fighting terrorists is a scary prospect as it is, let alone trying to fight them with sticks and stones when he cuts all our military funding.</p>
<p>It is up to you. Enlisting can be a great decision for some people. ROTC is a good choice too. Make sure what ever decision you make is the right choice for YOU. </p>
<p>Consider what type of job you want. Enlisted jobs are generally more hands on/managerial (as NCOs). Officer jobs are generally geared more on leadership at the company level (100+ people) and above. That is not to say that there are not hands on jobs for officers or leadership for enlisted members, but the trend is what it is.</p>
<p>Be very careful when dealing with the armed forces recruiters.</p>
<p>I just saw a friend of a friend at a graduation party. We got updated on each other since we hadn't seen each other in a couple of years. Her son was not unlike you except not quite as successful in school, he was a little restless, got his GED, and decided to enlist in the army infantry. Every recruiting "promise" they made to him turned out to be false in some sort of way.</p>
<p>After you've finished your basic and required duties, and you're ready to get all that exciting training you were promised, you find out it's only available if you reup for another 2 years. Otherwise, you do grunt work.</p>
<p>Yes, you get a certain amount of leave, but any training time and sick leave count against that.</p>
<p>He has finished two tours to Iraq and was fortunate. He's counting the days to get out. On his last leave here, he had to serve at a recruiting station, and he told his parents he was going to tell kids to not do it.</p>
<p>I think if you are serious about a career in the military, there are two ways to go about it...a ROTC scholarship where they pay for everything (I have a nephew who is doing that now) and going to college, getting a degree, and enlisting as an officer. I have a cousin who did that and made a career in the air force.</p>
<p>But I think enlisting because you don't think you can afford a state school is not the right route for most people.</p>
<p>Working your way through college is still a possibility, especially if you are on the 5-6 year plan.</p>
<p>I see.. what if I do a reserve while I'm in the college? What is the reserve duty all about? I mean, does it require a lot of time commitment? If the schedule is flexible and it is under 30 hours a week, then I can imagine myself doing it.
They were talking to me in the phone about ROTC and reserve? They say they can help me to get a ROTC scholarship while I'm doing reserve duty as a language specialist. It would be really nice if they teach me Arabic. lol
and since I'm very unsatisfied with my state school, I may consider join the army, two years of active duty, get out, and then go to an ivy league school. I'm crazy about good colleges...</p>
<p>Be very careful about joining the military just to get a college tuition...they don't always pay a student's tuition...I have a lot of military students I counsel, and many graduate with substantial loans. Some are former military who were expecting their GI Bills to kick in, only to find out they waited too long to enroll..some didn't even realize they were subsidizing their own GI Bill fund. Others are getting 100% of their tuition paid and don't need FA at all. Be sure to read the fine print of your contract....and make sure you know EXACTLY what you are getting into.</p>