College option midshipmen?

[Arwen]

How many of your midshipmen are college option, rather than scholarship?

It was confirmed, my daughter did not get the scholarship for 2015-16, and she has turned in the application for college option. She was told by her NJROTC unit senior instructor that she's pretty much a lock to get in. Several other former members of her NJROTC unit are members of the unit she is applying to.

So, how much different is the experience, beyond the funding issue? And how many of your midshipmen have later earned a 2- or 3-year scholarship after proving themselves?

[Jake's Mom]

Hi Arwen,

My son started at Penn State with the college option. I would say that initially there was not much difference between the scholarship kids and the college option group. The issue started to arise when the summer tours were scheduled. The scholarship kids were given the opportunity immediately. The college program kids waited. (Awkward!) My son reapplied his sophomore year, and then finally got a three year scholarship his junior year. Make sure you talk to someone about the number of 3 and 2 year scholarships given throughout the country.

In my opinion, I was so proud that my son wanted to serve his country. And  even though there have been a few bumps in the road, the journey has been positive. He ended up on a great summer tour between his junior and senior year. And he has ended up where he wanted -- he is commissioning in May. 

~Jill

[J/J Mom]

Sorry to hear your daughter did not get a scholarship.  

Our daughter started as a college programmer freshman year.  There were no differences in her obligations, expected commitment, etc.  The only difference is that she (we) had to pay her tuition & fees and she did not get a stipend.    

She did work hard & was very dedicated & was rewarded by being selected for a scholarship mid-year freshman year.  She ended up being on scholarship 3-1/2 years.  We had to pay her tuition & fees for her second semester, then got refunded by the university after the Navy paid the school.  It worked out great for her.  I honestly don't know if she would have continued sophomore year if she hadn't gotten a scholarship by then.  NROTC is very time consuming & often took away from her studies.  But, she is now a Navy nurse & loves the experiences & being a Navy nurse.

[kmaidaho]

My son was a college programmer for two years before being awarded a 2+ year scholarship. (He had an extra semester for his mechanical engineering degree.)  He was at the top of his class academically and physically that entire time, but as Jill mentioned, there were VERY few scholarships awarded nationally for several years, so it was frustrating to say the least.

The commitment and expectations were the same...and perhaps more...for college programmers.  My son felt that he had to do all and be all in an effort to 'earn' a scholarship.  He was running all the time, but it paid off in terms of the respect and admiration he received from unit staff/leadership.  He was given many leadership opportunities that will ultimately help him as an officer.  He was not able to attend Cortamid, as scholarship mids do, but he did get to go on SEAL cruise between his Junior/Senior year. 

He was BNCO his final semester, graduated with honors with an ME degree, and got the service selection he wanted--EOD.  He's currently in FL at Dive School and doing great!

[USMC Mom]

Hi, Arwen

My son started as a college program (Marine option), as well.  He received his scholarship in December of his freshman year, so we had to pick up the college tab for tuition, fees and books for this first year.  When he did receive his scholarship, there were only 21 awarded that year, so it is a selective process.

As the other mom's mentioned, there truly is no difference in college program vs scholarship other than funds and the summer cruises. 

Once on scholarship, tuition and fees will be paid directly to the school (be alert to the fact that you will still receive college bills because the two billing cycles differ).  Scholarship monies come after the bills have been generated, so it will always look like you owe the college money and you are more than likely to still receive emails about "bills due".  This is something I had to get used to, but I did always call them to verify such (and to continually alert college staff that my son was on NROTC). 

Money for books will be deposited directly into your daughter's account (again, after the fact), so you'll need to purchase the books ahead of time and simply get "reimbursed" if you will, afterwards.

Stipends are paid twice a month and again, deposited directly into your daughter's account.

NROTC has been a rewarding (and challenging) experience.  It is a commitment and a busy one at that.  My son found his 1st and 3rd year to be the most challenging and busy, schedule-wise. 

He commissions in May. He also received a flight contract, so after he attends TBS, he'll head to Pensacola for flight school.  Great times.

[Arwen]

Thanks, everyone. This was helpful.

[lasersailor]

My daughter was ruled ineligible for a 4 year scholarship. She started drilling with the NROTC unit at the university during her first semester. During her third semester, she applied for the scholarship and was told that she would start on scholarship in the fall (start of her 4th semester, she began Jan 2013). The Navy paid her fall semester (initially). The unit scheduled all her medical appointments and they were completed November 2014. She signed her contract after winter break and was informed by the school weeks later that she owed for the last semester, the Navy had reneged payment. The school stated the Navy was starting her scholarship for Spring 2015.  There is another midshipman in the unit who experienced the same.  The Navy said the scholarship delay was her fault even though her unit made all the appointments..

The people joining the military in the next few years will be joining at one of the most challenging times. The Navy has at least 100 ships on deployment at any time and the number of ship are going from over 600 during the 1980s to a projected 234 ships this decade. The deployments are already being extended beyond the normal duration due to not enough assets while the number of armed conflicts are growing. With sea-questration looming to reappear in the next 3-4 months, the military is having a difficult time trying to determine how to re-shape the force to best meet the threat and as directed by politicians. These decisions will affect scholarship funds availability, summer cruise assignments, service community selection (aviation, ships, nuclear power, etc.) for all midshipmen. Your midshipman needs to be pro-active, but also exercise patience with all the uncertainty.