This is hands down the best and most useful DCUM College Forum post I have ever seen. Yes, OP ROTC opens many doors - your DC will be become an officer AND you get college paid for - win/win!

We need far more of these posts, and hopefully the foolish, wasteful, worthless opinion posts will phase out. Well done, DCUM!

Anonymous wrote:Yes! It can be.

I went to college on an Army ROTC scholarship. There are a couple pathways. The most competitive is competing for a 4 yr scholarship while a high school senior. Your son would be unlikely to get one that route.

BUT, all is not lost. Have him pick a college with a strong ROTC program and enroll in the freshman ROTC class. Any student can enroll in freshman (first year) ROTC. Once he is enrolled in ROTC and if he does well his first semester at college, he can apply for an ROTC scholarship through his ROTC program specific to his school. Every ROTC program has scholarship money available for current student. It can either be a 3 or 4 yr scholarship, and if 4 yrs, they will retroactively pay for his completed semester. This route is far less competitive than trying to win the scholarship while in high school, and it is the exact same terms.

Good luck to him!

This is great advice

ROTC a great option for college help for the right kid as stated and can provide some great early career options. There are many programs out there but having a strong one makes the experience much better. Research schools that aren’t as competitive academically e.g. Norwich, Iowa State or locally UMD to get a feel for what is required.

“You should have interviews with the Recruiting Officers at each college. Keep sending emails until you get through. Some colleges you might have to use the phone. The ROOs and the PMSs are often away or may even be retiring or going onto another post. You may need to talk with a civilian receptionist. Don't give up.” It is not too early as a sophomore to have an initial
touch point. They can help set up realistic expectations and the way forward early. DC got a 4 year scholarship at a competitive college. Helped out enormously and provided structure and developed excellent time management skills. Also kept away from drugs.

Meant a lot of selective schools and especially ivies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do many colleges have ROTC programs

Lots of great schools have ROTC. I was admitted to and had my choice among the following Army ROTC programs for my 4 year scholarship:

Cornell
UVA
Duke
Georgetown
Princeton
Notre Dame
Lafeyette
Holy Cross
Colgate

And it’s a fantastic hook because a lot of ivy schools don’t get many ROTC applicants. Increases your odds significantly.

Anonymous wrote:Do many colleges have ROTC programs

Lots of great schools have ROTC. I was admitted to and had my choice among the following Army ROTC programs for my 4 year scholarship:

Cornell
UVA
Duke
Georgetown
Princeton
Notre Dame
Lafeyette
Holy Cross
Colgate

Anonymous wrote:Do many colleges have ROTC programs

Yes, many do. Either stand alone programs or a corp shared between neighboring schools. VT has the Corp of Cadets

YES!
Agree with 12:01- my son is a junior and has been interested in ROTC since he was 8 or 9. Have him visit a school and speak with their ROTC office. Meantime, have him work on his grades, sports, and leadership. Those are the three areas that ROTC evaluates when they are awarding scholarships. I'd say the only thing is to be sure this is something the kid wants to do. It is very intense, and I'd think it to be a bad situation if the kid didn't want it him/herself. It's an incredible path, though.

Do many colleges have ROTC programs

Does your son’s HS have a Junior ROTC program? They aren’t as common and completing it doesn’t guarantee acceptance into a college ROTC program, but I imagine it would be looked at favorably. And some colleges give credit for successful JROTC program completion.

It can be.

Student needs to be willing to follow rules, even if they are annoying or do not make sense. Drugs are not acceptable at all, and by the way US Federal law still says marijuana is illegal, regardless of what some states might think.

USAF focuses most of their AFROTC dollars on Nursing, CS, and Engineering students. If in a different major, then probably should look more closely at Navy ROTC or Army ROTC.

My DC applied for the Air Force rotc high school scholarship program as a senior and was awarded which covers all tuition and fees for any university with Air Force rotc. I think it is a great route for kids and after successful completion kid becomes an officer and commissioned.

Agree with the above. In the interim, have him work on getting his grades up/study skills improved for when he gets to college. Grades matter for scholarships.

Yes! It can be.

I went to college on an Army ROTC scholarship. There are a couple pathways. The most competitive is competing for a 4 yr scholarship while a high school senior. Your son would be unlikely to get one that route.

BUT, all is not lost. Have him pick a college with a strong ROTC program and enroll in the freshman ROTC class. Any student can enroll in freshman (first year) ROTC. Once he is enrolled in ROTC and if he does well his first semester at college, he can apply for an ROTC scholarship through his ROTC program specific to his school. Every ROTC program has scholarship money available for current student. It can either be a 3 or 4 yr scholarship, and if 4 yrs, they will retroactively pay for his completed semester. This route is far less competitive than trying to win the scholarship while in high school, and it is the exact same terms.

Good luck to him!

Our financial situation has changed dramatically, and we're going to need some supplemental help to pay for college. DS (10th grade) is interested in ROTC. He's not the best student, but he's an awesome person and friend. He has no problem following rules.

Is ROTC an option for a B/C student?