<p>Pursue USNA with all of your energy. Take the coursework, EC, leadership opportunities, athletics, and community service opportunities. Position yourself to be the best you can be.</p>
<p>THEN, pursue NROTC with a similar enthusiasm. Find the schools which offer both the programs that would lead to the degree you want and offer NROTC, or are a cross-affiliate to a school that does. Make sure that you also have the coursework, SAT/ACT/SATII tests required for admission to all of the three (or four) schools you list for NROTC. It would be tough to get a NROTC scholarship to a school that didn’t accept you!</p>
<p>You will have to do the DoDMERB thing for both, so get these done early by applying early.</p>
<p>Ideally, the civilian schools you select for the NROTC scholarship would be the same schools you would select if you did not get the scholarship. Add to the list non-NROTC schools where you would be happy. Visit and tour all choices before applying.</p>
<p>You should also select a plan D; in my son’s case it was a local university, well respected, that did not offer NROTC but had the program he wanted to pursue, in case he failed the medical for both USNA and NROTC, and would not be considered for NROTC, even without the scholarship. The plan was for him to commute (least desirable option!) in case finances proved too insurmountable to consider plan C.</p>
<p>It was difficult for him to focus on Plan B, C, or D. That is where his counselors and parents played a pivotal role. As it turned out, he did not need his back-ups, but it was a long wait for USNA, and it was comforting to know that he had choices on his plate when his friends were hearing from theirs. Remember that many do not hear from USNA until April, while most universities notify in Jan and Feb. That is a very long wait.</p>
<p>Good Luck,
CM</p>