NRTOC Program and Scholarship

[Livelyanv]

<p>I'm a recent high school graduate and I'm an incoming freshman to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My parents are unable to help me pay for my schooling despite the EFC on my FAFSA, so I will be having to take out loans for my freshman year if I want to attend the school (tuition is high for me because I'm from out-of-state, resident of California).</p>

<p>I began to seriously consider the NROTC and I contacted the scholarship coordinator at the university and was told that they would be unable to financially assist me for freshman year, because the deadline for the scholarship is farpast, but if I applied now, that chances are good I can receive a 3 year scholarship that would start my sophmore year.</p>

<p>As I was working on the NRTOC application, I came across the part in which I had to list references (teachers, counselors, etc). I imagine the intructions for the recommendations they have to write will be emailed to them. I haven't yet listed anyone because I want to ask them first (it's summer vacation and all, and well, I'm a bit 'embarassed' for lack of a better word, that I'll be requesting them to take time out of their breaks to complete something for me that might be time consuming).</p>

<p>Here's the thing. The teachers I have in mind asking, are the same ones that wrote my recommendations for the Common Application. (so here I'm asking them to do something for me AGAIN, see above) . But, they are the teachers that know me the best.
But I don't know whether they still have saved on their computer the recommendations they wrote for me. </p>

<p>IF they do..could they just use those for what they need to submit? Or, does the recommender portion involve answering specific questions about the student or a combination of answering questions AND personal evaluation of the student?</p>

<p>My other question is this:
If I were selected for the NROTC program, will I still be able to study abroad as an undergraduate, or is there a rule or condition against that (given that I have to take Naval courses at the University hosting the program)?</p>

[ccrawford92]

<p>First, it's NROTC. Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
I'm pretty sure most midshipmen take NROTC required electives (lol an oxymoron, I know) , like PT reqs, during summer. So I don't think summer abroad would work. I may be wrong though.</p>

[cooper1234]

<p>Here's the thing though, you don't do the NROTC for money, you do the NROTC for a training in leadership and a career as an officer in the United States Navy. Unless you TRULY believe that is what you want to do in your life, then go ahead. If you are just deciding now that maybe you want to do this just to pay off college, do not do it.</p>

<p>Also, since you have PT multiple times a week, plus lab days, I doubt you will be able to study abroad. However, if you are on scholarship, then you can go on the 2nd and 3rd class summer cruises (Not Cortramid because that is between Fresh/Soph. year)</p>

<p>Anyways, good luck to yah.</p>

[rupee2]

<p>Being a scholarship recipient and having gone through the process, I'll share with you what I think about your situation.</p>

<p>A little over 1,000 NROTC scholarships were awarded throughout the country this year. Getting a scholarship is tough. You most likely have the grades for it, but you don't seem to have the motivation for it. The only reason you are considering this scholarship is for the money. Doing NROTC is a huge commitment. You will have a summer "training cruise" every summer which will take up over half of your summer, a three hour leadership lab added to your semester credits, and you must serve in the navy for five years active and three years reserve upon graduation. It takes dedication and motivation to succeed in the program. To put it succinctly, if you are doing it for the money, you won't stay long. </p>

<p>The NROTC unit at UNC-CH is incredibly intense. Like cooper said, you'll be required to PT multiple times a week and be expected to attend several events. </p>

<p>I also would not listen to the scholarship director. Many students will be trying to compete for that coveted three year scholarship. Unfortunately, the Navy is beginning to stop offering those scholarships. Many kids, very qualified kids, have been turned down for the scholarship because there simply is no more money to allot for them anymore. If you bank your financial decisions on getting the three-year scholarship, you'll end up being very disappointed. Like I said, those scholarships are basically non-existent now.</p>

<p>There are study-abroad options (fully funded by the Navy) during the summer. Ultimately, though, the end goal of NROTC is to be a Naval Officer. If that is not your goal, do not do the program or try the scholarship. It will just be a waste of money and time.</p>