How to improve my resume for AROTC?

JBL2012

Army ROTC Cadet - MS3
5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
34
Okay some background:

I'm a Junior

3.9 (w) 3.6 (uw) GPA
4 AP's
Tons of Honors Classes
Top 10% in class
No test scores until March but I got a 181 on my sophomore PSAT. (I'm confident in a 2000+ SAT with studying)


EC's (Where I need help)

Muay Thai
Recreational League Baseball
National Honor Society
French Club
German Club
Boy Scouts (Patrol Leader -- I started late so no chance for anything higher level here)
Hospital Volunteer (6hrs/week)

As you can see, I've got next to no sports (my PT regimen is in full effect, however, so PFT score is not a major concern.) Also, I'm worried that they will ask how I can possibly be qualified if I have little-to-no leadership experience to speak of.

What I want to know, is, if you were in my situation, what would you do to make yourself more attractive to the boards. I don't have a lot of time and Student Gov/Club Positions are out of the question because of the way my school does things (back-assward, that is.) So what are some non-School related ways to pad my resume?

Thanks,
JBL
 
I can sort of relate to this. I'm a senior this year, and I just won an AROTC scholarship from the 1st board. I, too, had no athletics, but I did make up for this with strong academics (similar to yours) and great leadership.

As you may know, the interviewer will score you 0-40 on academics, atletics, and leadership, so I'll tackle them in that order.

Academics: You're golden there. You have enough stuff met to qualify you for the maximum 40 points. No worries; keep up the good work

Athletics: If you do PT a lot, why not run a 5K? That would get you 20 of 40 points, which is "meets expectations." Just train up and run one or two in the next year. They're not too far, and this will look good AND will help you get more in shape for the Army. If you can coach baseball over the summer, that may help, too (or something like that).

Leadership: This is probably going to be your biggest issue. To put it to you nicely: THE ARMY NEEDS LEADERS, not followers. They have plenty of those enlisting. I don't know what state you live in, but go online and search "Boys State." This is an American Legion program that takes place in nearly all states for 6 days in the summer. I went to it this summer gone, and it's a lot of work, but it is rewarding (I almost made it to national level). It's basically a government camp-you campaign for and (hopefully) win positions, then work them for the rest of the week. If you can get a strong job (governor, Lt. Gov, Supreme Court Justice?, Speaker of the House, which I was, etc), then you will look REALLY good for having this.

Additionally, find a way to take leadership in NHS-sponsor an activity, win a position for your senior year, etc. If your school has debate or Model UN, these are both great fun and are usually quite easy to join late. Consider a lesser known club so that you can go in and take the reins fast, such as a foreign language or political club.

Hope this helps. Here's the Army interview sheet by the way.

http://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/benefits/forms/cc159-R.pdf
 
soxfn2041: Thanks for your ideas! Running a 5K sounds like a great idea that I hadn't thought of. We have lots of trails and things where 5K's are held.

Also, I will be looking into Boys' State, however, as it is during the summer, it is questionable whether attending would be viable. As I said, I will look into it.

Another Q:
Are high school resumes used when applying for 3-year scholarships or is that all freshman year stats? Because in college I want to sort "re-invent" myself.. get involved with intramurals, get active in ROTC, make up for experiences I missed out on in high school because of how naive I was. I wish that I had had the motivation I have now, back in freshman year.
 
Being an upperclassman does sort of do that to you, doesn't it? I would have made some different choices, too.

For you, you will be applying for a national scholarship. This may be a 3 or a 4 year scholarship, largely depending on the cost of the school. For example, I accepted a 3 year over a 4 year because it's at my #1 school, and it's worth almost double as much.

As far as campus based scholarships (that's what you get when you're in college), those are awarded by each battalion. I'm not sure what criteria they use for it.

Glad the 5K idea works for you...it's worked for me, too.
 
Work hard on Muy Thai. Maybe try to become an instructor. The only organized sport I had was being a black belt in martial arts. Getting a black belt(or equivalent rank) shows both physical fitness and commitment.
 
Does your high school have a football team? How big are you?

Yes sir, we do. I'm 6'1" and 175-180lbs (and not a fast runner). Not exactly football material eh? Also, I've never played an organized game of football in my life despite my begging my parents back in 3rd grade :rolleyes:

Thank you all for your suggestions!
 
Yes sir, we do. I'm 6'1" and 175-180lbs (and not a fast runner). Not exactly football material eh? Also, I've never played an organized game of football in my life despite my begging my parents back in 3rd grade :rolleyes:

Thank you all for your suggestions!

Neither had my son until his senior year. He went to try outs and stuck at it. He made the squad and was a back up all year but lettered in Varsity Football.
 
FloridaDad has a good idea here. Sometimes, you don't have to be the best at it to get the varsity letter. Just be cautioned-if you played no football then suddenly lettered in it during your senior year, this WILL raise flags in the interview. You need to have an explanation for this, even if it is just the "I needed a varsity letter for ROTC."

Everything will need SOME sort of rationalization when it comes down to it in the interview :thumb:
 
Just be cautioned-if you played no football then suddenly lettered in it during your senior year, this WILL raise flags in the interview.

I doubt it matters. The board know how much commitment making a Varsity football squad involves. Training all summer long, often until you puke. Then 3-4 hours every day after school five days a week, even on holidays.
 
The board may be aware of this, but when you have a PMS interviewing who had also interviewed applicants who did it for FOUR years, what is that going to look like?

Not saying by any means that it will look bad. Playing football for one year is a really good idea. All that I'm trying to say is make sure you're willing to give the honest answer that "I did this to get an ROTC scholarship," or else have something more crafty ready to go when you get there.
 
The board may be aware of this, but when you have a PMS interviewing who had also interviewed applicants who did it for FOUR years, what is that going to look like?

Not saying by any means that it will look bad. Playing football for one year is a really good idea. All that I'm trying to say is make sure you're willing to give the honest answer that "I did this to get an ROTC scholarship," or else have something more crafty ready to go when you get there.

Maybe for other sports but not football, not in the south anyway. My son has had interviews with the Navy and Army and they both spent a lot of time talking about football in general. Not many ROTC applications played Varsity football.
 
Hmm...can't speak for the south. I did do my Army ROTC interview down in the south, but I live in the north (Michigan, to be exact). I didn't get questioned too much about stuff; more just spent a lot of time talking about the Army.
 
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