Last week, I reviewed what motivates some students to pursue service academy appointments and ROTC scholarships. 

For some, it was a call to serve, others wanted world-class leadership training, international travel, personal challenge, real-world experience, or the generous financial assistance. 

If these reasons weren’t so compelling, not many students (or parents) would be willing to endure what it takes to get to the finish line. 

Applying to one of these programs is not like applying t...

Over the last few weeks, we’ve reviewed the basics of the service academies and ROTC programs.

This week, I’d like to do a side-by-side comparison of the two options so you can start to appreciate their similarities and differences.

Despite the differences, these programs can be so competitive that it’s often a good idea to pursue both options at the same time.

SIMILARITIES

The biggest similarity between service academies and ROTC programs is that once you graduate from both programs, you...

In today’s post, I will show you how to find out which colleges have ROTC programs on their campuses (or close by). 

The first thing you want to do is to create a preliminary “target list of colleges” you’re interested in. 

It may seem a little premature for this step, but I’m sure there are some colleges that have piqued your interest over the years. Today, you’re going to find out whether or not those schools actually have ROTC programs. 

By no means do I expect you to have an official “tar...

Attending college on an ROTC scholarship differs from attending a service academy because ROTC students attend traditional colleges like Rutgers, Kansas State, Providence, and UCLA. 

They are essentially part-time military students living on an otherwise conventional college campus. 

ROTC students enjoy traditional “college experiences” while also fulfilling extra military obligations that culminate in them becoming commissioned officers in the U.S. military. 

ROTC scholarships are offered ...