Basically, so I applied to USCGA and am working on my USMA application. I also applied to a ton of other colleges and noticed that some of them have ROTC programs. Can anyone describe to me what that is?
I want to go to a “normal” college but I also want to be able to serve in the army or perhaps the navy or even the coast guard. Would a program like ROTC be for me? Thanks!
If you want to go to a “normal” college and serve as an officer in the Army, then ROTC is definitely the way to go.
Getting an active duty commission is not guaranteed though. You may have to go into the reserves afterwards if you don’t get an active duty commission.
I highly recommend it.
What are your stats? I’m looking to see how competitive you would be for a scholarship. Unfortunately, the 4-year scholarship application deadline passed.
If you’re competitive for the USMA, then you would have been competitive for the 4-year scholarship.
@ChicagoSportsFn Since I missed the deadline for all the ROTCs except USMA this year, can I reapply with whichever school I end up attending (as long as they offer ROTC)?
My stats are as follows:
GPA: 3.6/4.0 UW (all honors and AP courses at a competitive magnet school)
Testing: 34 ACT (35 English, 31 Math, 34 Reading, 34 Science)
Extra-curriculars: Marketing Intern at Penguin Random House, Media Intern at New York Stock Exchange, One-on-one mentor to children with disabilities, Part-time Photographer, NYU Future Imagemakers, Univ. of Notre Dame Leadership Seminars (Art seminar), will include art portfolio, President of Green Dot, Historian of GSA, VP of FBLA, President and creator of National Art Honor Society in my school, NHS member, SNHS member, CNHS member, NMHS member, participant at hackathons (such as PennApps, Spartahack, etc.)
Awards: artwork displayed at the US Capitol Building, Questbridge College Prep Scholar, Questbridge Match Finalist, Amazon Scholarship Semi-Finalist
Essays: should be pretty good, had an ex-NYU admissions officers look them over and she said they were great and that I should be a writer in the future lol
Recommendations: 10/10 for sure for one teacher, like 8 or 9 for the other
Oh also, another question, for ROTC, how do I train… will it be at the school I study at or do I go to USCGA or USMA for the summer or how does it work?
Sorry, I tried looking this up online but it’s kind of confusing. My parents don’t know too much about it either.
Looks like your stats are higher than the average stats for those who are given a 4-year ROTC scholarship.
You can compete for 2- and 3-year scholarships once you are an ROTC cadet in college.
The scholarship will pay for either tuition or room and board - your choice. You get a nice monthly stipend too.
ROTC is just like any college class. You meet during the week for classroom work and then for a lab. It’s just like taking a chemistry class where you meet for an hour of classroom work 3 times a week and then for three hours of lab once week. I think ROTC is only once a week for classroom and lab though.
You will also probably be doing morning physical training as an ROTC cadet. So, while your buddies are sleeping in after a late night out of studying or partying, you’re getting your happy behind up for early morning physical training.
It used to be that there is a field training exercise that you will need to participate once a semester. It’ll be over a weekend so no worries about missing a whole week of class.
A couple of the summers will be busy doing camp at Ft Knox, KY for additional training.
So…that’s the training…weekly classroom and lab, one weekend a semester for a field training exercise, and a couple summers of sweating and getting muddy at Ft Knox. All this fun to have your tuition or room and board paid for AND a commission after graduation.
Did you get your nomination for West Point yet?
Nope, didn’t get my nomination yet. I know it’s REAAAALLY late but that’s because I just recently talked it out with my parents and agreed that USMA would be a good choice for me. If anything, I’ll just apply to ROTC for USC or ND next year since those are my two top choice schools.
Thanks for all the info btw! 
Which schools have you gotten into so far?
@ChicagoSportsFn None really. I got deferred from ND EA. I applied to some instant decision schools that were hosting IDDs at my school and got into all of them but I’m not interested in going.
Ouch. So do you have any safeties that you are interested in going if West Point, ND, and USC don’t work out?
@ChicagoSportsFn Yeah, I have two safeties that I like! Neither of them have ROTC programs though, unfortunately.