Seriously considering backup plans in case post-secondary education plans go south

So......

Some days, I fear that I would never make it to the college. I sometimes fear that I would not be accepted to my "reachable" schools....

Recently, I've been getting solicitation mail from colleges and even from the U.S. armed forces too. I got an offer from the U.S. Navy's ROTC program two weeks ago, and I'm seriously considering going through the military route if and if everything falls apart in the next year or so.

(However, in order to be accepted to the ROTC program, one must be admitted to a 4-year post-secondary institution as part of the requirement. [There are many other requirements too, but I have met most of them, with the exception of 'passing the fitness test'] ).

Yeah, there's usually a string attached to this: serve in the military for a pre-determined amount of years in exchange for paying your way through college and whatnot. However, is this a good backup plan if things go south for my college dreams?

For someone like you, it would be one of the biggest decisions you might regret. Don't worry. You're going to get into college.

Agree with Swerve on this. I've debated the same situation multiple times. Serve in the military for X years and get college for free. No debt, no student loans, just a good education. However, you have to consider the time you spend in the military is spent without strengthening your mind, and possibly risking your life to take another. I would only view enrolling as a possibility if all college plans fall through, student loans aren't approved, and acceptance does not occur. However, with a bright mind like yours, I am positive this will not happen.

Why would you even consider thinking of joining the military.

In my opinion, the military is for those who have no hope at even getting into community college.

And it's at this time I would like to remind all forum users to treat each others' opinions, or career choices, with respect.

In my opinion, the military is for those who have no hope at even getting into community college.

I have never understood this mentality. Some people do it out of pride and for wanting to serve their country. Others do it for what they can gain from it (stable living & income, medical benefits, and financial aid for furthering their education).

I know a guy who went to a university for four years and got his masters degree. Once he was out of college he had racked up a lot of debt and was unable to find a job despite his qualifications due to the shitty economy of the time. So he joined the Army. Immediately after graduating from basic training the government paid off all of the debt he'd ammased going to school. Now he's working a job in his field of expertise and extending his training so that once his four years is over he has no debt and more qualifications.

Not really seeing too much of a downside in all of that.

Why would you even consider thinking of joining the military.

In my opinion, the military is for those who have no hope at even getting into community college.

Olol...

"SMH."

I have never understood this mentality. Some people do it out of pride and for wanting to serve their country. Others do it for what they can gain from it (stable living & income, medical benefits, and financial aid for furthering their education).

I know a guy who went to a university for four years and got his masters degree. Once he was out of college he had racked up a lot of debt and was unable to find a job despite his qualifications due to the pomegranatety economy of the time. So he joined the Army. Immediately after graduating from basic training the government paid off all of the debt he'd ammased going to school. Now he's working a job in his field of expertise and extending his training so that once his four years is over he has no debt and more qualifications.

Not really seeing too much of a downside in all of that.

The military can be lucrative to certain individuals. Certain pre-meds who cannot afford Medical School apply for military service in order to get a full ride and usually give 7-8 years of service. The problem is that in those 7-8 years, the financial side payment of such an option pales in comparison to being a doctor on the outside. Only doing family medicine or coming out as a generalist will result in breaking even at best. It's simply more money to work in the private sector. It's true that there are certain people who make fantastic money out of programs like ROTC. This one guy did ROTC Air Force and had his full tuition paid off at Boston University for mechanical engineering. After working four years for the air force, he's making $90,000. The question remains whether or not he could have made more money in those four years with an engineering degree than $90,000. With the economy in the crapper, it might be a good choice for certain individuals. But there is more to the military than just finance.

For this case in particular, there is a large divide between not getting into your "reachable" schools and doing ROTC for the Navy. First of all, the whole reasons why you apply to "reachable" schools is because you don't know whether or not you will get in. The suspense is part of the process involved in applying to these schools. That's why you also apply to safety schools and good-fit schools. Second, the navy isn't for anyone. ROTC isn't for anyone. My dad did it back in college and he ended up quitting because he wasn't for him... and my dad is a pretty tough guy. Third, there is no connection between the two concepts. Who says you can't get into a reach school and do ROTC, get into a reach school and not do ROTC, not get into a reach school and do ROTC, and not get into a reach school and not do ROTC. The two are completely independent with no logical correlation. In other words, the assumption between not getting into a school you want and joining the military as a consequence is illogical.

ROTC will not help him get into any of reach schools. The navy might not even force him into a good job. It's also a bad-backup plan for someone who hasn't had developed his human capital. Sure you make $9.50 now and military service looks like a good plan. You make $75,000 a year when you finish four years and you realize that you were worth something after four years. The military preys on your doubts and monopolizes that you on opportunity cost. Whether or not their assessment turns into an asset or a liability is a matter of evaluation and risk. The future is unpredictable but it doesn't mean we have to be illogical about our choices.

If I had to personally recommend back-up plans I would have been interested in applying to seven-year pharmaceutical programs for my PharmD or nursing school for an RN. The degrees are more specialized and thus limiting, but I wouldn't have minded working either occupation out of personal experience.

the time you spend in the military is spent without strengthening your mind

I believe my brother, who was trained to build, service and pilot unmanned aerial drones, and my niece, who is learning multiple languages and various forms of encryption and ciphering, would both disagree with you on this.
Contrary to popular belief "military" does not equate to "me stab with pointy stick". The internet was developed by DARPA after all. So were countless other technologies. There are many branches of the military, many disciplines within the military and many ways to serve, almost all of which come with the rewards of a free education and various other perks.

I already sent you back a visitor message, Will, but I think you're missing the big picture about recruitment of college-bound students: the armed forces and ROTC programs send EVERYONE solicitation mail to join their programs, even those like my friend who were accepted to Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, and Stanford. Receiving solicitation mail from the armed forces simply means you're an American citizen who is or soon will be 18.

You'll get into a college you like and you'll enjoy your years there. No worries. What others have said is this thread is important to bear in mind, as well, when it comes to college costs, but we have an administration that has pledged to focus on education reform and the cost of college, and so I believe in working to help those ideals come to fruition.

You could look into a trade school or something like that. Dunno if you have interest in being a carpenter, electrician, mechanic, or something like that, but it's an option that can pan out into a good career.

I just took some time and read all of the suggestions posted....

Thank you all to those who gave suggestions/support. I will keep these in mind as college application season comes in.

To the above post: I'm not interested in any of those careers, lest my parents even approve of it.

Trades people make a heck ton of money... with the potential to make six digit salaries. A plumber can make hundreds of dollars in about 15 minutes, and that's a lot more than most people make in a single day's work.

From my experience, Asian people do appreciate these kinds of people as soon as you mention how much money they make (probably more than themselves) ;]

A few of my family friends work in trade, and they are all massively loaded in cash. One of them is very short and tiny but his hard work definitely pays off!