<p>So, now I’m really in trouble. In the last week I’ve finally heard from West Point and USAFA and been told that I’m not competitive for a direct appointment. Not really a surprise for me as I’ve always sort of assumed that I would be placed in the prep school. However, lately I found out that both USMAPS and USAFA Prep is full up thus I won’t be going to a service academy this year.</p>
<p>I applied for an Army ROTC scholarship and I almost certainly would have gotten a 4 year scholarship (Or so Major Romans told me) but because of complications with my DODMERB status, none of them would take me seriously until it was too late.</p>
<p>So now I don’t have a chance at either of the academies and have no scholarships. My parents and I (Even working together) just don’t have the money to finance any amount of college (even a year).</p>
<p>My question is this: If I can’t make final arrangements for the upcoming school year and end up taking a year to work and square myself away physically (Yeah, yeah, I know…), would my chances at an Academy (or prep school) appointment be drastically worse?</p>
<p>Unless I am mistaken, after high school, I think you either need to be enrolled in a college or enlisted in the military to be considered. Unless you can get something worked out with college for next year, I think your only chance would be to join the military in some way (enlist in some branch, presumably). You should probably talk to your ALO to see what their take on the matter is, as I am sure they know more than I do. Either way, let us know how things turn out and good luck.</p>
<p>Patriot: Geez...this could be bad. I DEFINITELY don't want to enlist...commission or bust. Lol. Well, I have been considering maybe trying to SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) with Army National Guard and a Senior ROTC detachment. Good money, time in service, and free college. Can't hardly beat that.</p>
<p>Nuke: No...my problem isn't that we don't have enough money coming in. It's that my grandparents (legal guardians) blow it on the most terrible things and I have zero say in that. Questioning finances isn't something you do as a young adult in this household. $60K a year and we can't afford any college...it's sad really. Anybody know about student loans or rates or anything?</p>
<p>Yeah, enlisting is hardly ideal. That is only to be considered by an Academy next year. There may actually be other options that I'm not aware of. Again, I think your ALO (or WP equivalent to ALO) would be a great person to talk to about this. They should have a wealth of information and good advice.</p>
<p>Crimson, you could do community college. Several people on these boards went that route. It's generally cheap enough that you could send yourself if you worked. You could also look at New Mexico Military Institute. My son was going to go there as a "self prep" if he didn't get an appointment or USNA Foundation/USMA AOG prep slot. We visited there last Spring and heard from them that they had pretty good success getting kids in academies that way. The tuition is pretty affordable.
See <a href="http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/Business/charges.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/Business/charges.html</a>.</p>
<p>Whoa whoa! Don't despair! Plenty of people here didn't get accepted the first year. You'll have just a good of a chance if you reapply, ESPECIALLY if you bust your butt and get good grades at a community college. As for money, you could get a job...I know that's how my mom got through college...</p>
<p>And I know a lot of people here from NMI...Good luck</p>
<p>Crimson,
What schools other than academies did you apply to? Assuming that the schools you have been accepted to have ROTC programs you can apply for a scholarship at any time. Your parents may be responsible for the first semester or the first year but if you work hard and do well in the program you will get a scholarship. </p>
<p>How do I know this? My son applied in September for a scholarship. He started the scholarship online and their computer system would not let him complete the application. He did the paper application and sent it in in September. He kept getting letters saying that his application was imcomplete for various reasons. When he called they would tell him his application was complete. </p>
<p>In January he finally had a weekend free to go have an interview at Va. Tech. He is a musician and the fall and winter months are very busy and he is also in a youth orchestra. During his interview we discovered that when anyone went online to look at his application it was "Incomplete." He was told that all scholarships were gone at Va. Tech and Texas A&M.</p>
<p>During the admissions process people turn down scholarships, they quite after first semester, they quit after the first year. Scholarships are always available at some point in your first college year. If you work hard and get good grades you will most likely get a scholarship.</p>
<p>My son was offered a scholarship at Va. Tech shortly after his interview. He has accepted the offer and is so happy. Call the schools you applied to and speak to the ROTC commanders. Express your wishes and I am sure that they can assure you that you most likely will not have to foot the whole bill for college. </p>
<p>By the way, my sons first choice was West Point but it doesn't look like they are interested. I know he is dissapointed but I also know that what makes a good officer is what is inside of you, not what officer training program you graduate from.</p>
<p>Crimson have you thought about Community College for a year? I know that it isn't expensive... but you should hurry up and apply-- i'm sure you could muster the money for a couple semester's there.</p>
<p>Over spring break, we went to Arizona to look at 3 schools --UofA, ASU and ASU Poly. We stopped in and spoke with the folks at U of A about the rotc program and scholarships. It was a very interesting of the 60 freshman entering this past year only 5 were on scholarship. Four had a four year and one had a three year, all were tech majors. </p>
<p>They told us that fewer cadets are being offered contracts after their Sophomore year to go to field training. And not many are getting in college scholarships. (the AF is downsizing)</p>
<p>The Major and Det. CC we spoke with both were "but your S is very competive for AFA." The major was a grad himself even joked that he wouldn't be able to get in to AFA now. </p>
<p>The thing that most surprised us was that our S really would not be able to play club sports and be in rotc. The rotc unit expects that you will be able to take on leadeship roles within the unit and with the sports schedule (lax/hockey) you would not really be able to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas. Lol, USAFA can't get rid of me that easy...</p>
<p>Lizinva, thanks to you especially. I'm in Army JROTC and my SAI had me under the impression that if I hadn't worked anything out scholarship wise now, I was basically frozen until next year. I made a few phone calls and found out he was wrong and you were right. Thanks so much...Gonna try and cover a year at South Alabama ROTC and then reapply.</p>