Application Issues

I've been trying to log into the NROTC scholarship application page (from what I can tell, the 2012 cycle began on April 1), but every time I do so, I am directed to a page that says "The application is closed for the 2011 Scholarship Year. Check back periodically for dates to apply for the 2012 Scholarship Year." Not sure how to remedy this. Is the application simply not up yet, or am I being blocked from it because I registered with the site before April 1?

I also have a question about listing schools. Navy's website indicated that, in its own scholarship application, we apply to detachments instead of individual schools. Is this also the case for Army and Air Force? I am concerned because my AROTC app ranked several schools that are in the same det through a crosstown agreement. If I can free up additional slots, I certainly want to do so.

Again, going off of Navy's instructions, I 'projected' my senior year activities for the AROTC app, as I am still a junior. Is this an acceptable move?

Last of all: when the application is complete, are we meant to contact a local rep? I know I am meant to interview with Army at some point, and I have seen the parts of the NROTC supplementary papers that ask for the signature of a 'witnessing official'; does this mean that I need to bring in these papers to a rep before mailing them?

Agent--

I can reply only concerning AFROTC since that's all my son applied for. AFROTC will ask you to list 3 schools that you are considering, but you won't be tied to a school if you receive a scholarship. You will also be asked the major you will be pursuing (most scholarships are given for technical majors). If you receive a scholarship, it will be directly tied to the major you listed (my son's was for Aero. Eng.). You will then be able to take your scholarship to any school that offers and is approved for that major. On AFROTC's website, under HS scholarships, there is a spot where you can put in the school you are considering and see what majors are approved by the AF or vice versa (you could put in the major and state and see what schools come up). I don't think the other services operate the same way, but someone else can help with that.

My son also projected activities for senior year. I would say as long as its reasonable (meaning you've done a sport or activity the first 3 years of HS and show that you are continuing your sr. year for example) it should be OK. If you haven't done any HS activities and all of a sudden show you'll be doing a sport each season, student council, etc. it may be questioned. Either way, when you interview with the ROTC rep, it will be discussed.

For AFROTC, once my son's file was complete, he was contacted to set up the interview. He did not have to initiate the contact.

Hope this helped!

USAFAHopefulMom said:

Agent--

I can reply only concerning AFROTC since that's all my son applied for. AFROTC will ask you to list 3 schools that you are considering, but you won't be tied to a school if you receive a scholarship. You will also be asked the major you will be pursuing (most scholarships are given for technical majors). If you receive a scholarship, it will be directly tied to the major you listed (my son's was for Aero. Eng.). You will then be able to take your scholarship to any school that offers and is approved for that major. On AFROTC's website, under HS scholarships, there is a spot where you can put in the school you are considering and see what majors are approved by the AF or vice versa (you could put in the major and state and see what schools come up). I don't think the other services operate the same way, but someone else can help with that.

My son also projected activities for senior year. I would say as long as its reasonable (meaning you've done a sport or activity the first 3 years of HS and show that you are continuing your sr. year for example) it should be OK. If you haven't done any HS activities and all of a sudden show you'll be doing a sport each season, student council, etc. it may be questioned. Either way, when you interview with the ROTC rep, it will be discussed.

For AFROTC, once my son's file was complete, he was contacted to set up the interview. He did not have to initiate the contact.

Hope this helped!

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Thank you for the reply. I'm a bit worried about the matter of an 'approved major'; when I search the major I intend to apply with (Japanese), no results come up. I am quite certain that Tier 3 scholarships are still offered for foreign languages, but no schools show up for any of the foreign language majors. Is this a glitch?

I believe you registered too early. Last year the app didn't open up until May

MorganC said:

I believe you registered too early. Last year the app didn't open up until May

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That may be my issue. Should I wait until May, or create a new account?

agent--I was surprised when you said Japanese didn't come up for any university, so I went on the website and tried. When I put in Foreign Lang--Japanese and selected all states, nothing came up. But when I chose an individual state (I tried Maryland and Virginia) I got a list of schools for each. So you may want to try again.

USAFAHopefulMom said:

agent--I was surprised when you said Japanese didn't come up for any university, so I went on the website and tried. When I put in Foreign Lang--Japanese and selected all states, nothing came up. But when I chose an individual state (I tried Maryland and Virginia) I got a list of schools for each. So you may want to try again.

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I will give that a shot. Thank you!!

I would not apply until May. Right now they are busy completing this yr. You do not want you application to be get lost in the mix because of completing too early.

Also, no board for next yr is going to meet in May. Get it done early ~ June/July. For now just take your SAT/ACTs.

I have to say for the AF, Japanese would be considered non-tech and non-techs scholarships are highly competitive. So make sure you have a strong, strong, strong packet. I think non-tech scholarships are less than 20%. Can't remember the actual total because you have to look at Type 1, 2 and 7, that go out and than that will give you a number. For ex: Type 1 I believe is only 5% of the scholarships, and 95% of them go tech, thus, if 100 apply, 5 of them will get the Type 1, and maybe 1 non-tech will get it. That means a 1% chance.

Apply because you can be that 1%, but make sure you apply with a strong package.

Also, the thing with a foreign language major, at least for the AF, if it is highly desired, you may be shutting doors. In other words they may say that your language skills are so highly desired they won't consider you for a rated position because they need you for your language skills.

Pima said:

I would not apply until May. Right now they are busy completing this yr. You do not want you application to be get lost in the mix because of completing too early.

Also, no board for next yr is going to meet in May. Get it done early ~ June/July. For now just take your SAT/ACTs.

I have to say for the AF, Japanese would be considered non-tech and non-techs scholarships are highly competitive. So make sure you have a strong, strong, strong packet. I think non-tech scholarships are less than 20%. Can't remember the actual total because you have to look at Type 1, 2 and 7, that go out and than that will give you a number. For ex: Type 1 I believe is only 5% of the scholarships, and 95% of them go tech, thus, if 100 apply, 5 of them will get the Type 1, and maybe 1 non-tech will get it. That means a 1% chance.

Apply because you can be that 1%, but make sure you apply with a strong package.

Also, the thing with a foreign language major, at least for the AF, if it is highly desired, you may be shutting doors. In other words they may say that your language skills are so highly desired they won't consider you for a rated position because they need you for your language skills.

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I can definitely hold off on completion, if it will help any. I'm chomping at the bit because I finished testing in November of this past year; I've been advised to focus on other things at this point.

Now, I keep hearing that the AFROTC scholarship is a difficult one to receive in non-tech majors; is the info given on the AF site misleading? I consider the median score of 1260 with the knowledge that half of scholarship recipients will have a score of <1260, and, considering my own score, feel that I wouldn't be totally unrealistic in applying with a 1490. While I understand that the writing score is not considered, my math/critical reading combo is considerably higher than that given score. I do not mean to be over-confident; on the contrary, if this data lends itself to a false sense of security, I would be very eager to hear a more realistic estimate of the typical academic profile for a Tier 4 recipient. But I'm a bit confused on that point, as well. When I search my would-be major (Foreign Language, Japanese) with the D.C. filter, on the page of my first choice school (Georgetown), Japanese is listed as an 'Approved Technical Major', along with Mandarin and Turkish. It also appears as an Approved Technical at another college I intend to apply to. Does that mean it would be considered technical in this application round?

On the matter of career prospects, I am quite focused on the study of a foreign language in relation to my future occupation, and very much desire to be placed in a position that would call upon that major. In the long term, I intend to pursue a position as a Regional Affairs Specialist; I have no desire to fly or work in a significantly more technical sector.

You're right, the issue whether Japanese is tech/non-tech is confusing, since it appears to be listed both ways. I would call Maxwell AFB (AFROTC Admissions) and ask. Here is the info: 866-423-7682 (Mon-Fri, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time). Going directly to the source will give you the best answer!

Concerning your application, its great that you have a high SAT score. Just remember that this is one portion of your file. Leadership activities, extra-curriculars, sports etc. will all play into the decision to offer a scholarship to a candidate or not, and what type. Also the PFT that you will take (I think its situps, pushups, and a mile and a half run). You're on the right track by working on things now instead of waiting till fall.

I agree with USAFA contact Maxwell they will be your final authority, not the school....again, AFROTC scolarships are tied to the cadet, not the school. It is not like Navy or AROTC where it is tied to the school and the cadet.

Also, as USAFA stated that is only one portion of the WCS, it is worth 60% of the score. You can 100% on that, but if you get 50% on the remaining you could find yourself out of luck.

The other thing to remember is that 95% of AFROTC candidates do not apply to the AFA, however 95% of AFA candidates will apply for AFROTC as plan B.

People tend to lose site that the true competition will be the AFA candidates, so you need to beat them out. Remember next yrs AFA appointments are expected to be as low as this yrs. For the AFA 2012 class the mean was over 1330 SAT. Use that as your bar, not the 1260. I would expect for AFA 14 the mean to probably be even higher, maybe close to 1400.

These candidates also have the traditional things like Varsity Sports, Eagle Scouts, NHS, Beta, Student Council, jobs and volunteer hours.

AFROTC does not talk to the AFA to see if they have duplicates. They are completely separate, both go on the assumption that what is being offered will be accepted according to their historical acceptance data. For next yr they may assume a higher % will be accepted because they know a lower % for the AFA will go out. Thus, they maybe slower or fewer scholarships going out the door. They can always re-institute the IS scholarship the following spring and be back on track if they don't make their numbers. That is a better scenario than what they have gone through for the class of 2012 and 2013...paying 2 yrs in scholarship and having to cut them due to cutting SFT class size.

They want these type of kids because the hardest part for many freshman is the lack of time management. A student who has a big resume has learned how to juggle a lot of balls in the air at once. The student who is book smart maybe that way because their life revolved only around school, and that makes them not the ideal candidate when they get unlimited freedom in their life.

Finally, anyone going through this process also should pay attention to every aspect. For example, if you know you have a medical issue, get the paperwork together now since a waiver can take months, and you don't want to be waiting on that. The other thing is with the AF reducing class sizes waivers can become harder to come by. Think about it, why would they take someone who needs a waiver over someone who doesn't when they both have the same WCS.

The other thing to start practicing now is the PFA. It may account for a small %, but it is one area where you have complete control over. I have seen too many times kids submit their PFA thinking it is BS, only to freak when they realize it could be the difference of getting a scholarship and not getting one. The run and/or pull ups are usually the killers. When you practice it practice in the order that it will be administered, including the amount of down time between each section. Just because you can run a 7 minute mile when it is the only thing you do may not mean you will run that pace after doing push-ups, and sit ups. Also do it in all types of weather, rain, heat, cold. If you see that it is going to rain that day, than try to put it off. Your score is your score, and there are no re-dos for the AFROTC scholarship.

Good luck.