Who's helping you???

clarksonarmy

clarksonarmy

Recruiting Operations Officer at Clarkson Army
10-Year Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
2,242
Just for my edification, are most of you able to correspond with enrollment officers at your schools of choice?? The one thing I don't see very often in these discussions is calling a ROO recommended to determine your status, and to verify that things are posted or changed. I welcome/encourage my applicants to check with me to make sure things are changed in their applications or to determine what their status is.

I see everyone recommending to check online status or DODMERB status or call one of the 6 ladies who process 10000 applications (one of which is TDY at the moment). Is part of the hesitation in dealing with ROOs the hesitation to "show your cards" and reveal where our school stands on your list?? I will tell you I can see where we originally rank, and it doesn't hurt my feelings if you would rather attend Notre Dame. I'll still help you get your scholarship, and probably make a pitch to you that Clarkson is a better choice, but I'll still help you get started on the pathway to Officership.

I'm sitting here in upstate New York with nothing better to do than help out my applicants. I'm sure there are a couple other ROOs who would do the same thing. But then again I could be wrong, am I???
 
Love the way you think

Because of your consistently respected advice (at least by this one person) regarding waiting until next week's letter notification contacting the enrollment officer has not happened.

Are you now suggesting this is the appropriate time where they can view and distribute the information?
 
What I am asking (as opposed to my usual telling or suggesting) is if most of you are getting responses and help from your ROOs. Are my peers helping you , coaching you, or even just responding to your queries. I was just curious. I am suggesting that if I was an applicant, and knowing what I know, I would have tried to establish a working relationship with the ROO at my top school. I look forward to hearing from my applicants and feeding them the information they need. Starting to wonder if this is sound advice for someone looking at any other Battalion than the Golden Knight Battalion at Clarkson.

What do you guys think???
 
@clarkson - I am thankful to have found this forum. I think I have been checking here as much as I have the status page for my son. I am really green on the entire process; and not even sure if we got the entire packet in for the first board. We met with the enrollment officer at my son's first choice (was #2, after visit moved up to #1), is that the same thing as a "ROO"? We were not able to meet with the PMS because they were away at Ranger Challenge. Anyway... since the visit we have emailed the Enrollment Officer a couple of times and he is slowwwwwwww to reply. I sent him an email on Tuesday of this week - 3 days ago. I inquired if we should 1) make a visit to meet the PMS 2) if he could tell if our packet was indeed in for the 1st board 3) what should we be doing for second board. No reply at all from him..... Not sure if I should continue to inquire without becoming a pest!
 
S has been working with the PMS and ROO of the top two choice schools. Now that he knows that he got the scholarship to one of them, he has been in communication with the ROO and PMS of that school intensely during last 3-4 days. Especially, S has been telling them he submitted RD application to their school, and intends to convert it to ED the moment he hears about the scholarship outcome. He got the scholarship to one of them, now, he is working with the ROO to convert the application to RD. The ROO has already been working with the admissions office well in advance to get an "understanding" that this is coming, so now the school will treat his application as an ED application.

What I learned throughout this process is, the PMS and ROO can become your inside advocates for school admissions. Work with them. Let them help you.
 
@clarksonarmy
This forum and you specifically have been invaluable during this process. My husband and I are both AROTC and my son has 2 older siblings who went through the process so we have had some experience, but things change year to year and school to school...thank goodness for this forum! This was his process:
•Contacted through email the PMS or ROO at all of the schools on his list.
•Received replies from most but not all...he was persistent though and did speak with someone at each of his schools.
•Was contacted by some schools not on his list. He was excited (almost felt like he was being recruited) and followed through with visiting 1 of the schools that wasn't on his list and changed his order after he visited. I would say the wooing worked but in the end he did not change his #1 but he did make this new school #2.
•Interviewed at #1 school
•Visited and kept in contact with the 3 schools he applied EA to...he chose not to go ED to any because his #1 was EA.

While he was doing all of that he asked me to follow these forums and checked his status changes etc. Overall we were both much more involved then my 1st child and I were...
Again thanks for all of your advice...I am sure there are many people like me that don't post right away but have been stalking these boards and getting some great advice.
 
spoke to soon... heard back from the ROO today. Son was eligible this board, but didn't receive an offer. A little bummed, but not totally deflated. I can take a break from checking for a status change until January!
 
clarksonarmy said:
What I am asking (as opposed to my usual telling or suggesting) is if most of you are getting responses and help from your ROOs. Are my peers helping you , coaching you, or even just responding to your queries. I was just curious. I am suggesting that if I was an applicant, and knowing what I know, I would have tried to establish a working relationship with the ROO at my top school. I look forward to hearing from my applicants and feeding them the information they need. Starting to wonder if this is sound advice for someone looking at any other Battalion than the Golden Knight Battalion at Clarkson.

What do you guys think???
Click to expand...

Going back to our experience, there was a mixed bag with regards to the responsiveness of the ROO (or the nominal contact per the unit site) at the schools we contacted.

At our local university where goaliegirl interviewed, even though we let the ROO (having since moved on) that the school wasn't on her list (no womens hockey in these parts) right up front, he was more than accommodating in helping us with advice on the process, made sure she was taped (doesn't meet height weight standards but passes tape) as part of her interview notes and was very sincere in letting her know that he would want her here if she changed her mind.

We also had units where they did not return email (at least the address on their website) including the one that initially was #1 on her list.

The Major we dealt with at the unit where she is was spectacular in his handling of every correspondence and put my mind at ease for a lot of the questions I had regarding their program (it was new on campus that year). He is now at a sister school, but we can tell from the remaining staff that they really care about their cadets and their objectives.

I am very impressed with how you've built up your website and keep a presence here. I think it matches up very well with how potential applicants and their families check out AROTC possibilities these days. The ROO office isn't just a stop on the campus tour, but a resource for the whole cycle beginning early in HS for many. The virtual ROO office you keep is the perfect modern interpretation therof.
 
goaliedad said:
I am very impressed with how you've built up your website and keep a presence here. I think it matches up very well with how potential applicants and their families check out AROTC possibilities these days. The ROO office isn't just a stop on the campus tour, but a resource for the whole cycle beginning early in HS for many. The virtual ROO office you keep is the perfect modern interpretation therof.
Click to expand...
Well said and I couldn't agree more.
clarksonarmy: I know my son has benefited from the advice you have given and the information on your website. Thanks for all the help and guidance!:thumb:
 
clarksonarmy said:
Just for my edification, are most of you able to correspond with enrollment officers at your schools of choice??
Click to expand...

Clarksonarmy,
Thank you for the erudition you have contributed.

DS and I have contacted nine ROTC Det, (PMS or ROO's) in the past 18 months or so.

All were initially very helpful, but grew harder to reach as time went on.
It's a long process, and I felt that a squeakier/newer wheel was getting the attention.

Visiting and researching universities/detachments, caused the 'school-of-choice' to be in flux all year.
When DS 'hit it off' with someone at a school, and that person quit returning emails/calls a month later,
DS seemed to lose interest in that school as well.
(He does see college as just a pathway to becoming an Army officer, nothing more)
The PMS and ROO at Xavier, close by and where he interviewed, were very helpful on several paperwork issues,
but DS has zero interest in Xavier.

The PMS's at the 2 schools that he is now deciding between -
have answered his calls/emails in a timely manner. His then second choice school emailed him:

"I remember your file very well.
You had us as #2 on your list. I would like to have you here at X@X.
You seem to have what we are looking for in a Cadet in the X@X Battalion and a future officer."

DS was beyond happy...That school was instantly 1st choice. They have been in regular communication since.
I think it is noteworthy that that is the ONLY highly supportive/positive communication I am aware of.

Everyone else has been entirely process driven.
 
Just wanted to weigh in, too...

I have been helped greatly through the process by the Professor of Military Science at my top school. He has gone far out of his way to assist me, so by NO means do I think that PMSs are out to do harm. They really are one's best friend in the process.

As for contact, I did receive a phone message from the PMS of another school I was offered a scholarship, but due to travel, I haven't yet called him back yet. The other PMS has not called me, as he is the same one who has helped me out so much and fully understands where he sits on my rankings.
 
The more often that a prospect, or a prospect's family, corresponds with me, the more likely I am to truly invest the time in working with them.

I have over 100 prospects that I correspond with, chances are only 7 or 8 of them will ever become cadets at my school. Some attend service academies. Many enlist. Most attend other schools with ROTC programs, mainly because my school did not provide room and board to scholarship winners. Now that this will change for Fall 2011, maybe I will get a higher percentage of the prospects.
 
Marist College ROTC said:
The more often that a prospect, or a prospect's family, corresponds with me, the more likely I am to truly invest the time in working with them.

I have over 100 prospects that I correspond with, chances are only 7 or 8 of them will ever become cadets at my school. Some attend service academies. Many enlist. Most attend other schools with ROTC programs, mainly because my school did not provide room and board to scholarship winners. Now that this will change for Fall 2011, maybe I will get a higher percentage of the prospects.
Click to expand...

Welcome aboard Marist College! Always good to have another Cadre voice available.

It is good that you point out that regular contact is a sign of a deeper committment to a program.

And the different level of contact from applicants goes to show that it is time for the applicants to shift from passive acceptance of an option presented to you to active advocacy of one's goals. While much of childhood is spent being directed to accomplish defined tasks, this is the beginning of charting the applicant's own path, excactly the type of transition to be expected in the cadet's ROTC years.

Also good to hear that your school sees the value in the cadets recruited to Marist through ROTC and is stepping up to make your unit more competitive in recruiting those cadets.

Carry on!
 
We have had mixed results contact the RRO and ROTC college detachments in general. My son and I tried for months to get someone to help us from his #1 choice (at the time) and could never get a response. Only one RRO from further down his list of five responded quick and continuously. That school became his first choice because of the personal effort of the RRO. BTW, he got a 4 yr scholarship in the first board to all 5 schools on his list. He choose the one where the RRO was responsive and helpful. The process was not painful but was difficult at times, the support of the RRO was key in keeping it all moving forward.
 
We have been blessed at all of DS top 3 schools. The RO have been very helpful with explaining the process, their schools pros/cons for him and different programs that might interest him. All have been supportive and encouraging and all agree if he'd have played varsity sports his file would be much stronger...all SL no A has become a family inside joke. DS has visited #1 school and stayed in dorm w/ current cadets a while back and has been constantly talking about OU.
 
My advice to parents of scholarship applicants: Have your son or daughter contact the appropriate scholarship officers/PMS/ROO etc. Even if it means you call your son/daughter over to the computer and remind them what the next step is. We are all new to the process, and these seniors have a hectic schedule. Have a weekly meeting with your kid to review the steps taken, and the steps that are needed. Their 17 year old minds are in the clouds, but a little direction and ownership will help.

Junior and Senior years I brought my son to well over 15 ROTC officer interviews (All branches, several schools). He started to understand the process, the structure, and his responsibilities. Then emailing or calling these officers did not seem so daunting and uncomfortable. Besides those interviews, he introduced himself via email to each det/battalion on his list. Every single one emailed back or called him.

Son received emails from many schools ROTC programs not on his list and he emailed back every one of them a thank you. You never know where you might end up and a 'virtual handshake' goes a long way. Even though he is at USNA now, he is still receiving emails from detachments (AFROTC) asking him to visit and inquiring about his year at USNA.

Just my two cents.
 
singaporemom said:
My advice to parents of scholarship applicants: Have your son or daughter contact the appropriate scholarship officers/PMS/ROO etc. /QUOTE]

I would completely agree. DS had a ROO who point blank told him the fact he handles his own phone calls and "business" is a huge advantage. However, I've also had all the contacts personally hand me my own card and invitation to contact them too. I appreciate that they included our family in the process, especially since some of our visits started when he was 15.
Click to expand...
 
When we visited schools, son was 16/17 and I said hello to the PMS and half the time would step out, the other times would be included in the meeting. Each time the PMS/ROO/etc told me to call or email him/her with any question. They were all very accomodating. If I was included in the meeting, they would ask me questions about how I felt about this path son was on. These were basically fact finding meetings once son had applied for scholarships but was trying to decide which branch and which school.

My son's emails were thank yous, questions about the school/ROTC program, updating resume, asking about admissions, etc.

I would also email a thank you and many times the PMS would email me back with questions about son's experiences, our family, etc.

For the official Scholarship interviews, I did not attend the meetings, but waited in the car, behind a bush, freaking out. :redface:

It felt that the officers liked to meet the family, appreciated the support for the applicant, and then we, as parents, stand back and cheer from the sidelines.

There has been a time or two when I had to make a phone call on son's behalf if he was out of the country or at summer/winter camp.

Now, don't misunderstand, he didn't fly solo on this...once son was a Senior in high school and his brain had completely left to bounce around in the clouds, we needed weekly pow-wows to stay on track. That seemed to work the best for him.
 
Yes, love senior year..."brain had left to bounce around in the clouds"...You sound like my kind of mom. I use the Boyscout parents code, why do it yourself if a scout could or should do it. Seems to work - DS knows how to do things for himself that many others this age are simply not equiped to handle. Feel for the parents who are sending a kid off to college next fall and they can't even send them alone to financial aid or bookstore to get their books.....I doubt many ROTC cadets are in that group!!
 
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