<p>I'm going to be helping one of my son's friends look for colleges. he's a junior now. His dad died almost a year ago and his mom is still grieving as well as dealing with her own debilitating health issues, so she's asked me to help. She's met with the school guidance counselor, but somehow came a away with a list of mostly out of state public schools. If he goes public, he should go in our state (Indiana), IMO. </p>
<p>GPA: 2.8-3.2 (wide spread, I know, but that's what she said. He is taking one AP and one other weighted class this year (APUSH and Anat/Physiology).<br>
SAT: He hasn't taken the SAT yet, but I'm assuming something in the 550 area for each section.<br>
MIDWEST - we're in Indiana and he doesn't want to go more than 5 hours away because of his mom's health issues (she'll be living alone once he leaves)
INTERESTS: He wants to be in some form of sports medicine. Not that he wants to be a doctor, but some kind of hands on trainer/sports rehab/etc.<br>
OTHER: He is very interested in ROTC. I don't know anything about it (I did post a question about it regarding this kid a few months ago). It's my understanding that getting an ROTC scholarship is pretty competitive? Tell me if I have this right - if he's admitted to a college with an ROTC program, he can be in that program whether or not he is selected for a scholarship - is that right? Is there any chance,with his projected stats, that he could get a large ROTC scholarship?<br>
OTHER OTHER: He's an average midwestern kid. Not particularly religious, but prefers hanging with a non-partying crowd.<br>
MONEY: Don't shoot me, but I don't know yet. I think he has a college fund set up, that before the economy crashed, had about $250,000 in it. She keeps saying the fund has been wiped out, but i suspect she hasn't paid much attention and that it's pretty intact. For now, assume he's full pay but saving money is a good idea, because his mom will probably never work again and is living off of an inheritance. </p>
<p>So far, he's looking at Ball State (I think it's a match) and IU (I think it may be a reach). Any private schools he should consider?</p>
<p>Ball State's ROTC page implies you can get a full tuition scholarship with these criteria - is that true? It doesn't seem very selective if this is the case for full tuition:
To qualify, you must:</p>
<pre><code>* Be a U.S. Citizen between the ages of 17-26
* Score a minimum of 920 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT
* Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
* Pass an Army physical
* Pass an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) by the end of your first semester in the program after the scholarship is awarded.
</code></pre>
<p>Any help or suggestions will be most appreciated!</p>
<p>Pinot, those are the screening criteria to get to COMPETE for a scholarship. It is competitive, particularly with the economy in the tank. If he is really interested in ROTC he could consider enlisting as an alternative and taking his GI Bill to attend school afterward. I think you’ve got the right idea looking in-state.</p>
<p>Thanks Erin’s Dad. Are you very familiar with ROTC? Am i understanding you correctly that you think he has a miniscule shot at a scholarship? And is the ROTC program itself (officer training, etc) open to a less selective group of students, or is that you get the scholarship and you’re in ROTC or your not in it at all?</p>
<p>Rodney - why did you think of Indiana? is there a school here you think he should specifically look at?</p>
<p>And I should have mentioned, his GPA is pulled down from a wildly difficult year at home his sophomore year. Freshman and Junior grades will probably be higher, with Sophomore year bringing down the average. Counselor will write include info in her letter of recommendation explaining that, so he may have a little bit of leeway on the GPA.</p>
<p>OH - thanks Rodney. I thought your first comment was Indiana the state, I missed that it was Indiana the school! I’ll have to encourage him to take the SAT so we can really start narrowing things down.</p>
<p>Have the mom find out what’s in the college fund. If she says it’s been wiped out, she must know something about it. Maybe she’s had to withdraw from it.</p>
<p>Having a daughter in ROTC and having been through the application process last year, I can tell you a sub 3.0 GPA is long odds for a scholarship, as they have reduced the number (last year) and the number of candidates are up. </p>
<p>That being said the other ROTC avenue, is through SMP (student does ROTC on campus and participates in National Guard and has tuition/books/drill pay picked up by the National Guard and is commissioned as an officer in the Guard upon graduation). I believe there isn’t the same level of competition with that. </p>
<p>I would suggest calling the ROTC recruiting officer at her campus of choice and ask about SMP opportunities, if he wants to serve his country as an officer (be it Guard) and get the training through ROTC while in college (being paid for).</p>
<p>BTW, he would be very late to the party applying for ROTC scholarship now (first of 3 boards is already complete - 2nd board deadline for completed application is in December). SMP has different deadlines.</p>
<p>There are waaaaay too many students majoring in “sports management” that it’s going to be hard for these students to find jobs. I would think it’s better to get a regular business degree in business management or similar.</p>