mmartins1

I'm starting to feel really torn between Notre Dame (NROTC 4yr scholarship) and USNA as my full appointment came in the mail last week.
I got into ND EA.
I understand the decision is ultimately my own, but I was wondering if any of you had any advice or perspectives from which I could benefit.

Polishamrock89

mmartins... In my personal opinion, I would go with Notre Dame hands-down. But that's me- I have a long history with the school, and I also have the 4-yr Navy Option NROTC scholarship to ND... just waiting for the acceptance letter (hopefully). Now, unlike most of my friends who also got the scholarship, I did not apply to USNA. The reason for this was that I want to experience the real college life. I have a friend at USNA who was a plebe this year and I can tell you, it changed him a lot. You have to be able to withstand a lot of degrading treatment for your first year if you want to make it through. But if you want to go career Navy, USNA will give you a little advantage down the road when it comes to promotions and such... not a big one, but a bit. Notre Dame NROTC is the best in the country and you won't regret going with them... well, us. I'm accepted at Saint Mary's, so I'm going to be in the unit no matter what my letter from ND says. But, like you said, the decision is ultimately up to you. Hope this helps.

BobbyC

i think that ND is definitely a great choice for you. i heard an interesting fact (don't know if anyone can verify it) that ND has the greatest percentage of its student body enrolled in ROTC in comparison to other schools

^i think that is representative of the interest you will find in the ROTC program at ND

after all, on the church it reads God, COUNTRY, Notre Dame

both are great schools, i think you will just find a more well-rounded crew at ND

flalaw97

I was NROTC at MIT and had friends in the Navy that were from USNA and ND ROTC. I would recommend ND ROTC. Why?
1. No plebe year
2. Experience real college
3. Notre Dame recognition if you get out of the Navy
4. The selection of women at ND v. USNA
5. Weekends at ND v. stuck inside the Academy
6. No plebe year
7. Variety of academic programs at ND
8. Studying at ND without the pressures of military life
9. You'll have plenty of time to wear a uniform and be military after graduation
10. No plebe year.

Seriously, Polishamrock is correct that USNA will probably give you a slight edge if you want to go career, but I found that it was much more about your performance, attitude and timing for promotion than whether you were a "ring knocker" (Academy ring). I left as a Lieutenant to go to law school. You will get plenty of the Navy stuff in NROTC classes and summer cruises - experience college, study without the pressures of upperclassmen in your face and enjoy your summer before college starts. Good luck either way - they are both great schools and the Navy is an excellent service.

Gregon

USNA has better football.

ND '07

notre dame AL

Academics are far more important--c'mon, picking a school because of football?!?