NUPOC info

[cobo95]

I am currently a senior at high school and have decided on nuclear engineering as my degree in whatever college I attend. I know my best option is the navy and that the best option for what I want is NUPOC. My problem is this, I'm want to attend Georgia tech which is private and out of state for me so it will cost about $40,000 a year. I believe the earliest I could receive the money from the NUPOC scholarship would be junior year of college (I would apply sophomore year and hopefully get accepted junior year I think...) but I would still have to make up the difference for my freshman and sophomore year. The NROTC is going to accept me within the month as an ISR candidate and I am unsure if I can accept the scholarship for my first year of college so they will pay for my first year tuition, then cancel it after my freshman year and still apply to NUPOC sophomore year or is there something that prevents NROTC alumni from applying even if they cancel the scholarship freshman year. Thank you for any help in advance.

[klj3827]

If you've already received an NROTC scholarship, why would you walk away from it to go NUPOC?  What, specifically, makes you think NUPOC is a better fit for your situation?

[cheme09]

If you've already received an NROTC scholarship, why would you walk away from it to go NUPOC? 

He's probably got a bunch of dollar $ign$ in his eyes.

[cobo95]

If I take the NROTC scholarship I will definitely be in the Navy, now if I'm in as nuke is a different story. If I take the NROTC route then upon completion of undergrad I will have to apply to power school, so if I don't get accepted to power school then I will have to spend about five years in the Navy doing something completely unrelated to nuclear engineering. Now if I decline NROTC and apply to NUPOC and get accepted, I will be guaranteed a spot in power school and my time in the Navy will be spent as a nuke, but if I don't get in then I can at least prepare for a civilian job as a nuke after I complete my degree. This is why I don't want to really take the NROTC, it's more of a gamble, and as for the money, Georgia tech is expensive and I'll be paying for school on my own dime so I need the help. I know I can decline NROTC after one year of college but I'm unsure if I can cancel it and still apply to NUPOC or if NUPOC forbids all former NROTC recipients for some reason and not to many people have been able to help me with this information.

[cheme09]

When in nrotc or the academy, putting nuke on your wishlist is kind of like volunteering for the short straw.  Although it's not a guarantee, there's a good chance you'll go to interview.  Moreover, it is generally easier for midshipmen to get invited to interview (less strict on gpa).  The way the economy is right now, there would be a lot of stiff competition for a NUPOC spot.  There have been posts here (or maybe nukewarriors) about going NUPOC after dropping from ROTC.  So it's been done before.

If all you want to do is go nuke, and have absolutely no desire for other communities then by all means hold out and try the NUPOC route.  If money for school is the issue, there are plenty of scholarships out there just do your research.  There are also other schools that offer a nuclear engineering BS.

Disclaimer: I am not in the Navy. The above info is what I've gathered through my own personal research and from talking to officer candidates in NUPOC, and a few officers and midshipmen that went nuke from academy and nrotc.

[cobo95]

Okay, I will research this more but thanks for the help.

[HeavyD]

On a side note, regular Nuke officers (not LDOs) spend the majority of their careers NOT in Nuclear Power billets.

Just an FYI to add some perspective to your decision making.

Best of luck