misterall said:
I'm an Ontario student currently in Grade 12 and I have applied to ROTP for the occupation of pilot. My grades are fairly good, in the mid 80s and I have also applied to civilian universities. I've completed my CFAT and will soon do my medical and interview in the next few weeks. I have tons of extra things under my belt also, like sports, clubs and other things that made my application strong.
The problem is that I want to go to a civilian university after I have finished high school. My grades are high enough to get into the programs that I have applied for but I am worried that I might be sent to RMC instead. RMC is a great school but my personal preference is somewhere else. My first choice program is Computer Science which is also offered at RMC. Therefore I wanted to know what I can do in order to go where I want to. Would I have to apply to a program that isn't offered at RMC? Should I reapply to ROTP after I have my acceptance? Or even after I have begun attending the other university? Please help!
As someone who is looking to apply ROTP next year (I have a possible Engineering internship already lined up this summer so I am waiting until after to apply), might I offer some insight. I am a first year university student and have done a bit of research on the ROTP program - (I suggest you do the same, I have read many threads on here that have already answered your questions, forum rules here
strongly wish you to do that). Anyway, from what I have found talking to a recruiter at my CFRC and of course doing some research on this website/forces website, usually if you're applying directly out of high school, provided you are accepted into ROTP, they will have you study at RMC, and in the case that the degree of choice is NOT offered at RMC, they will either send you to a Civilian University of their or in some cases your choice. I have also read about cases where some people are accepted into ROTP but denied RMC. So it can go either way. With that said, it seems the people who are usually permitted to stay in a Civilian University are those who have 1-2 years of their degree finished at that university (like myself), and even then, in some cases they are still sent to RMC. It really depends on the circumstances.
You have applied, and are doing your interview soon, focus on and prepare for that. If the Forces is something you really want to do, then in my opinion, it should not matter where you study. Be prepared to go where they put you. From what I have read and heard, the Pilot trade can be quite competitive, so if I was offered to study at RMC or Waterloo or U of Toronto in return for that job (not having a choice in where I was studying), I would personally take it. I wish I could go back and apply ROTP right after high school...oh well!
Anyway, I am no expert on the subject matter. Only relaying what I have found and read numerous times on this site. I will wait for an expert on the subject matter to comment. In the mean time I suggest you take a look around, as I say your questions have been mostly answered here.