Great ROTC programs

momoftwins · 08-09-2005, 02:31 PM

Rising high school seniors who are going through the application process to service academies will also very likely investigate ROTC programs also. I thought it may be helpful to them if we can list schools that have really strong programs. For example, if you looked at 5-10 colleges, which ROTC program really stood out as strong enough to make your son or daughter think it was a truly great option? We had only one. I've listed the college name, city, state, and military choice. Feel free to add to the list.

1) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois - Army

Bossf51 · 08-09-2005, 03:11 PM

It all depends on what they are looking for in the college. Two good ones on the East Coast are Boston College and Holy Cross, both for NROTC. They were my son's civilian college choices if he didn't get in an academy.

Jamzmom · 08-09-2005, 03:47 PM

1) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois - Army
2) Boston College and Holy Cross, both for NROTC
3) University of South Carolina (the other USC) - NROTC, AROTC, AFROTC
* NROTC Unit was ranked #2 in the nation (as told to us by the Recruiting folks)
* USC's Moore School of Business ranked #2 this year in undergrad international business education by US NEWS & World Report

falconhopeful06 · 08-09-2005, 04:31 PM

Great Great Great Great Great thread idea. This is a hard subject to get insight on.

dictatoranna · 08-09-2005, 06:36 PM

How can you tell a good ROTC program from a not-good (ungood) ROTC program? I was planning on GATech NROTC. There was a mid at summer seminar who said he came from Tech, but I never had the chance to talk to him about it.

GEB · 08-09-2005, 08:37 PM

One school that has produced more officers for the services outside of the Service Academies is Texas A&M. It was was recognized by a West Point graduate, General George S. Patton who was quoted as saying "Give me an army of West Point grads and I will win a battle, give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war." Texas A&M has a standing Corps of Cadets as do Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel. Each have ROTC programs for all the branches (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines).

Jamzmom · 08-09-2005, 09:11 PM

I'm kicking myself. Of course I should have added The Citadel to my previous post. It was my son's pick if the Academy had turned him down. They do have all four branches of ROTC and offer a regimental program. We learned a great deal about the college. I would advise that the program is a tough one. Very. The campus is beautiful, the staff is top notch, the majors are varied. When I say staff is top notch, they've recently gained an new president from the AFA and I know of USMMA grads are there. I would highly suggest a Pre-Knob visit before any consideration. I say again. The program is tough. This coming from a Mom who just watched Indoc end. As to the scholarship program, only 2 cadets were chosen for the 4 year NROTC Scholarship as incoming Knobs last year and the competition is stiff as to the other ROTC scholarships as well. I cannot speak with any intelligence as to the other colleges besides University of SC & The Citadel.

https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/

This link lists all colleges that participate in NROTC & provides scholarship information if there are kids/parents out there interested in looking into this route.

prayerful mom · 08-09-2005, 09:38 PM

My understanding of ROTC scholarships, is that the number available can change year to year, depending on the budget as provided by the Pentagon.

For example, last year the DC area had 5 ARMY ROTC scholarships, 2 were four-year scholarships and 3 were three-years. The five were available to students at Georgetown, Catholic University, George Washington, and I believe one other school. The ROTC program itself, the actual brigade, is through Georgetown University. Hence, if you enrolled at Catholic U., then you would take your military science classes and training at Georgetown.

The Ohio ARMY ROTC brigade, had only three year scholarships available, no four-year, shared between several universities in both Ohio and I believe Indiana.

In the Philadelphia area, the Army brigade is out of Drexel University and includes students from Drexel, Weidner, Univ. of Penn, and St. Joseph's University.

Furthermore, in the Philadelphia area...Air Force ROTC is run out of St.Joes Univ. and Navy ROTC at Villanova.

Finally, with four-yr. Army ROTC scholarships, the Cadette signs their commitment upon entering their sophomore year, unlike the academies where one does not finalize their commitment until the end of sophomore year. I am not sure of the commitment dat for two or three year scholarships

KateLewis · 08-10-2005, 04:38 AM

Any experience with the Georgetown Army ROTC program?

prayerful mom · 08-10-2005, 07:55 AM

KateLewis,

Regarding Georgetown's ROTC...our only experience is that the Catholic University in DC was my son's first civilian choice. We understood from a phone conversation, initiated by my son (in Dec. or early Jan.), w/ ROTC people at Georgetown that our son was on their list.

My son received a 3-yr Army ROTC Scholarship from two universities that only had 2 & 3 yr. Army ROTC scholarships available; in addition, he received a Four-year Army ROTC scholarship to another university. He had approx. 23 days to accept the scholarships.

In the meantime, he'd been accepted to Catholic U, so he calls Georgetown again to find out the status of his chances of receiving a ROTC scholarship there, it is now February. He learns that Georgetown checks the ROTC data- bank, his name is not listed for Catholic U/Georgetown!!! Later that night he received a phone call from a Major at the ROTC program in Georgetown, she was very nice, very apologetic, but unfortunately could not change the situation as there 5 scholarships had already been offered and accepted. She suggested that he either enroll in Catholic U, join ROTC, and then apply later for a 3-yr one that would begin his sophomore year. However, she stated that she could not guarantee that he would receive one the following year, as the number of scholarships available can change year to year. Finally, she encouraged him to accept the 4-year one that he had received, as that 4-yr. ARMY ROTC scholarships are very rare and hard to get.

So in the end, someone dropped the ball, maybe it was my son or maybe a glitch in their application process! He had to apply on-line and was not able to enter Catholic U. as a choice, subsequently he had to notify them in another manner (which I no longer remember) that was the reason he phoned Georgetown/Catholic U's ROTC people in Dec. or Jan. just to make sure that he was on their list.

I'm sorry for the lenghty reply...this probably did not answer your question about the actual program...maybe someone else here knows more details as regards the actual program.

Frankly, between the academy, nominations, and ROTC application/interview process, it can be a bit overwhelming. Too bad we all could not have had a dummy practice to figure out all the ins and outs!

good luck in whatever you decide.

navy2010 · 08-10-2005, 09:16 AM

while we did not spend a lot of time researching NROTC (due in large part that the associated schools did not offer the major or son was interested in) we did speak to some NROTC students while visiting Notre Dame...I must say they were very positive about the program, especially at ND...they mentioned that the school environment was very supportive of the program, something they said was not always true at other campuses....

heartcross · 08-12-2005, 03:05 PM

We have a friend that is a swabbie at CGA this year--her mom suggested that my dd look at Cal Maritime's CG and NROTC programs. Anyone with any experience with them?

Oregon Mom · 08-12-2005, 05:53 PM

Have you heard anything about University of San Diego's NROTC program+ academics? My son has applied at USD and also Texas A&M.

prayerful mom · 08-12-2005, 06:31 PM

Embry Ridddle in Fla. supposedly produces one of the largest groups of naval aviators

Nothemomma · 08-13-2005, 08:22 AM

Oregon Mom - My S will also be applying to Texas A&M. He's to spend the night with the corp sometime in Sept. He's not sure how he'll fit in being from out of state - so we'll see.

We live pretty close to Embry Riddle Daytona and S has attended several summer programs. He flies with a couple of the ERAU students and they all say the downside is the campus, but they manage to find a wee bit of entertainment at the beach.