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Comment by Arwen on April 11, 2015 at 1:57am

We met with the freshman advisor, and he confirmed what I remembered from last year. Unfortunately, there are more scholarship students admitted this year than usual - 30 in a unit that usually gets 10-12 a year. Which means they may not accept *any* college program students this year. He offered that she may take the year 1 classes as a civilian, and be considered for her sophomore year.

She also needs to work on her fitness. It's her biggest weakness. She's not a physical person and much prefers academic pursuits, so this will be a challenge. If she really wants this she is going to have to do what she hates the most.

Comment by J/J Mom on April 8, 2015 at 9:58pm

Arwen-- Nice!  I like the way that Unit does it better than what happened at my kids' Unit.  Maybe that has been changed throughout, though, i wouldn't know.   

I always thought it was a shame that good kids, devoted to ROTC & good students were turned away like they were.

 

Comment by Arwen on April 8, 2015 at 4:37pm

That is different from what I was told. When we visited the NROTC unit last year they said that there are four possibilities for a college option midshipman.

1) If they excel as freshmen they may be selected for a three-year scholarship and have a military obligation on leaving the program and attend summer cruises.

For those not awarded a scholarship at the end of the freshman year, the end of the sophomore year is a another decision point, and the unit has three options.

1 - they do not meet the unit standards and are dropped from the program with no military obligation.

2) - they meet the unit standards and are allowed to continue, and begin to receive a small monthly stipend, but must continue to pay their own tuition. They may or may not be commissioned on completion of studies, according to the recommendation of the unit command. The student has no military obligation. They are not allowed to go on summer cruises, except for the senior cruise on recommendation of the unit command.

3) if they excel as a sophomore they may be awarded a 2 or 3 year scholarship to cover the final years of tuition, and have a military obligation on leaving the unit. They attend summer cruises.

Comment by J/J Mom on April 8, 2015 at 8:22am

Arwen --- At our kid's Unit, as of 2010, if a scholarship had not be earned by the end of sophomore year the students couldn't continue on as a College Programmer.  They had to drop out of NROTC and could not be Commissioned through the Unit.  I don't know if that is nation-wide, or just at some Units.  Better make sure you check on that.  

One of our son's roommates still wanted to be Commissioned (marine), so he had to drop out of NROTC, then get "attached" (i have no idea the right term) to an officer recruitment class in the area.  He worked out and did other activities with them Jr & Sr years of college, then got Commissioned somewhere else (not the college Unit) soon after graduation. 

If she doesn't get a scholarship and has to get out of NROTC, then she can always go through OCS - Office Candidate School (i think it's OCS for Navy) after graduation & become a Naval Officer.  If you ever talk to a recruiter make SURE it is an "Officer Recruiter" not a regular recruiter. 

Comment by Arwen on April 8, 2015 at 2:36am

The scholarship isn't the goal. Her #1 concern is to get into the unit and #2 concern is to be commissioned. If there's a scholarship along the way, it's frosting on the cake.

Comment by kmaidaho on April 7, 2015 at 2:55pm

Well stated Jn/Jf Mom!  I concur completely with the questions you have suggested.  In regards to the number of scholarships offered/obtained, you might also ask for an explanation of how the scholarship applications are put together and submitted for national consideration.  It's important to realize that even with the full support of unit staff/command, the scholarship award can still fall through.

Comment by J/J Mom on April 7, 2015 at 9:19am

Arwen --  I'll try to give this some more thought before Thursday, but some of the questions you all should be asking are ...

What is expected of the College Program students at that Unit?

Is there actually any money available for scholarships for College Program options these days? (there was 6 years ago when our daughter went through - she got a scholarship that way, but by the time our son got there 2 years later college program scholarships had dried up.  I suspect they won't want to answer this one, and i do realize it is difficult to know because the wants/needs of the government are ever-changing, but some type of satisfactory answer should be received.)  Perhaps a better question might be -- How many scholarships have been given to college programmers at that Unit in last 2 years? And, were they full scholarships or partial?

What does she have to do to earn a scholarship?  What are the main criteria that the staff will be looking at when they select college programmers to receive scholarships?

What are her obligations after she graduates?

How often & when is PT?

How often & when are study hours?

Is there tutoring within the Unit, or does the Unit help her find tutoring, or must she seek it out on her own?

That's all of the "bigger" questions i can think of right now.  Hope that it's helpful.  I'd be happy to share or answer any questions that i can.  We had college programmer that earned a scholarship mid-year freshman year (and eventually everyone in her class that stuck it out got scholarships.)  We also had a child that got a full scholarship from the beginning  (i'm not sure any of his college program classmates ever got scholarships cuz $$ dried up), so we've experienced it from both those angles.

Hope it goes well!!  

Comment by Arwen on April 5, 2015 at 1:51pm

My daughter has a meeting Thursday with the freshman advisor at my daughter's college unit (she is going college option - no scholarship). Does anyone have any input on what kinds of questions she should ask?

Comment by sarahskmfg on February 9, 2015 at 10:13am

thank you lasersailer!  I'll pass the message on to him.

Comment by lasersailor on February 1, 2015 at 1:50am

sarahskmfg - Ensure your son is ready for USMC fitness test when he reports to OU. It will be hot in August so he should be ready for the heat. He needs to call the Unit and ask what he should study before coming. Some Units expect their newbies to have some things memorized like ranks, 11 General Orders of a sentry, Marine Corps organization structure, etc. He needs to take the initiative.  

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