ArmyROTC

Hi,


I'm almost done with my junior year and am wondering what I still need to do to finish applying for a scholarship. I have finished all of my checklist, (scores, gpa, classes, personal statement) except mailing in a transcript because we haven't finished finals yet. What things should I do over the summer? Is it possible to take the physical test over the summer?

I would say take the Presidential Fitness Test before school is out so a gym teacher or a coach can administer it. That way you don't have to worry about hunting anyone down over the summer to administer the test to you. Its really just a baseline fitness test to make sure you are in good shape. You won't take it ever again while in ROTC.

Also see if you can do your interview sometime in the summer so you wont have to miss school and do it early next year.

When DS went to his interview they also did his PT. If there's a particular school that you're interested in, you might contact their ROO and check to see if that can be done. That will also give them a heads up to check for your application when submitted and review it to see if the PMS wants to interview you. Best of luck in your adventure, this is only the beginning.

I have met with the PMS for one of my colleges and am planning on visiting with my second choice within the next two weeks. I have asked a few teachers for rec letters and my counselor. I have set up a physical test with my schools athletic trainer, is it okay that I set it up myself and am going to print a scorecard to mail to them with my transcripts? Or do they need to contact my high school?

If your school is sending the transcript to you, it will most likely come in a sealed envelope -- do not open it or it will no longer be official. Always better to have the school send them directly to where they need to go. In terms of your PT scorecard, best to scan into a PDF file and email it, and then snail mail the original. Having an AT do your PT should be fine, but I saw one advantage when DS did his at the college he will be going to. The 2LT that administered it showed him the proper form for situps and pushups for the APFT, and expected him to get used to doing things correctly by doing it that way for his PT. Just MHO.

Yeah that is an advantage but my dads in the army so he's been making sure i do proper form.

You won't need any teacher recs for the AROTC application. You just need to write a short essay (1500 characters) and there is a section for "Additional Remarks". I wrote out a resume for this section, mostly with extra leadership, academic and atheltic activities that I have been involved and that were not listed on the activites part of the application.

Here is my take on the essay...might be helpful

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/the-essay-what-does-the-board-want-to-hear/

Totally disagree with the advice to take an APFT during your interview. Cadet Command asks you to take a PFT. Some schools may suggest that you take an APFT because some day you will have to pass that test to receive your scholarship. They are somewhat different tests (the situps are really different). If you take the APFT it may not be apparent on your application that you took the APFT instead of the PFT. Your run time will be significantly higher running 2 miles instead of one. My suggestion is you take the PFT with a coach/gym teacher/counselor. You can even ask the ROO when you do your interview, but I suggest it be a PFT. You'll have plenty of time to figure out the APFT.

I would also suggest that you not try to rush this process. It's great that you are trying to get it done ASAP, but the first board probably won't meet until October, so you don't need to rush.

DS did the standard PT prior to his interview, pushups and situps in one minute and 1 mile run. Only said that the first 2 were done in the same way as expected for the AFPT, otherwise wouldn't count. BTW, he totally kicked butt! 2LT said was one of the best he's seen. Now he's working hard every day to get ready for his AFPT, which will be a few days before classes start in August. His goal is to not only pass, but score well above the minimums.

I think from reading other posts that doing your PT with a civilian is okay as far as convenience, but the results might be misleading if they don't understand the Army way of doing pushups and situps. But, then again that's just my OHO.

I totally agree with clarkson, don't rush it! specially the PFT. If you are not maxing or near maxing, use the summer to work out and increase the scores. Once submitted it is submitted.

Every point matters, too often candidates think that the PFT score is basically a throw away and doesn't matter. EVERYTHING MATTERS! EVERYTHING COUNTS! In the end it will always come down to 2 candidates and 1 scholarship left. Highest score wins, you don't want to lose because your PFT was lower than the other candidates, thus giving you a lower WCS.

I can tell you as a poster on this forum for 3+ yrs, there is one thread that always comes up every yr.

Chance my PFT score?

This thread will usually also have in it if they feel it is low an excuse tied to it, like the weather. If you are working out/practicing the PFT do it in all types of weather. So if it is drizzling outside, go and run. If it is 95 degrees outside, go and run. Yes, they ask the weather, but don't use that fact as a safety net. If you practiced in that weather, you will be prepared.

Also, make sure you practice exactly to their requirements. If they say 2 minutes rest between sit ups and push ups, that means 2 mins not 5 or 10. Follow the procedures to a tee.

Finally, always remember if you are applying to an SA, the PFT is not the CFA, so you cannot substitute one for another, hence, plan it out to take on 2 different days.

MN Dad where in MN are you from?

farmtownte said:

MN Dad where in MN are you from?

Click to expand...

Plymouth

MNdad,

I'm a little confused by your terminology. Don't want to beat a dead horse, but the PFT that Cadet Command asks for is one minute of sit ups, one minute of CURL UPS, and a one mile run. The only thing a civilian might have trouble with grading is making sure that the student is going all the way down on the pushups (upper arm parallel to the ground as stated in the instructions). The APFT is currently 2 minutes of pushups, 2 minutes of full SIT UPS, and a 2 mile run. My take is that the PFT score is not that important, and I don't think it matters that much how well you do. As long as you are reasonably fit and there are no glaringly bad scores the board member will not differentiate that much. There is no scale that will give you a better score on the board because you did one more push up or curl up, but if you are only doing 10 pushups the board is going to think twice about you.

Just my take. Time to bury the dead horse.

Bk14 said:

Hi,


I'm almost done with my junior year and am wondering what I still need to do to finish applying for a scholarship. I have finished all of my checklist, (scores, gpa, classes, personal statement) except mailing in a transcript because we haven't finished finals yet. What things should I do over the summer? Is it possible to take the physical test over the summer?

Click to expand...

I recommend that you spend some time this Summer researching the ROTC programs at the colleges you are interested in attending. You will quickly discover that not all programs are created equal. Your research will help you determine how to rank the colleges on your ROTC Scholarship application and will help you decide which school if any you apply Early Decision or Early Action to.