Tough Choices and Worried; Advice Greatly Appreciated

washingtonrunner

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2011
Messages
10
First off I would like to say Hi to everyone here, I have been reading these forums for a few weeks now and have finally come around to creating an account to ask for help from some of you guys.

I just finished my junior year in high school and have begun to contemplate my choices for college. I have been looking into ROTC for a while now and I am passionate about committing to this challenge; I am not looking for just a scholarship.

Now here comes the worries

I know that ROTC scholarships are highly competitive and throughout my high school years (especially my junior year) I made many mistakes and struggled in the area of grades.

My GPA stands at around 3.1-3.2 and that is the most worrying aspect for me, but first let me tell you my other attributes.

I recently scored fairly high on my SAT, with a 1250 reading and math combined (I am fairly sure I can score 30-40 points higher if I study up on more math), as well as a 690 on the writing section

I am a Cross Country and Track athlete and have 3 varsity letters for Cross Country and 2 for Track

I also am active in Key Club and will be active in my student government for my senior year.

The part that most worries me is my GPA, I know I made mistakes and I am honestly ashamed of my performance but I feel extremely driven to participate in the ROTC program.

So here are my questions:
1: I am going to apply for AROTC and NROTC, is it even worth it? Will I even be competitive?

2: If I decide to go to a college and participate in the ROTC program without a scholarship and work extremely hard, Is it a viable option to pursue a 3 or 2 year scholarship?


I know I wrote alot, but your advice and support will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!!
 
Last edited:
Welcome!

Just referring to Army ROTC here,
You are competitive, based on which schools you choose
3.0+ GPA and a 24 ACT gets you +20 on PMS interview (SAT 1250 = ACT 28)
5 Varsity letters, your maxed on Athlete on PMS interview
Leadership ? (Next yr does not count, just what you have done so far)

25% of your entire score is ACT/SAT, so study hard and raise it.
Take the ACT as well, many students do better on one test than the other.

free advice... it's always worth what you paid for it
Army ROTC FAQ
 
Thanks so much for the response, it was very helpful.

Would I even be competitive for NROTC? I have heard it is much more difficult to be accepted into.

Also, if anyone knows, when is the best time to complete my applications to any ROTC program?

Once again, thank you, this forum has been extremely helpful
 
gojack -- where to you find SAT 1250 = 28 ACT? If memory serves it is about a 26 ACT.

OP -- take the SAT again. The ROTC takes your highest score from each section, no matter how many times you take the test. If you got 620 Verbal, 630 Math, and next time you get 580 Verbal and 670 Math, the ROTC uses the 620V and 670M when evaluating your application.

Navy ROTC cares more about your Math SAT, and your performance in Math and Science classes in high school, than Army ROTC does. That is because 85% of all NROTC scholarships are reserved for Engineering, Math, and Science majors. If you're not a strong Math/Science person, then NROTC is not the greatest fit... doable, but very long odds.
 
Thanks so much for the response, it was very helpful.

Would I even be competitive for NROTC? I have heard it is much more difficult to be accepted into.

Also, if anyone knows, when is the best time to complete my applications to any ROTC program?

Once again, thank you, this forum has been extremely helpful

WArunner,

Welcome to the forums and the nerve racking year of choosing a college and pursuing the ROTC scholarship. You mention you have been reading the threads and learning some good information - great! I won't "chance" you for the scholarship, but will only remind you and all the others asking about their qualifications to have a back up plan - a college you can afford without scholarship money, a school you can get academic money and still do ROTC, or look into the SMP options for the Army if you consider that branch a good fit for you. My DS had all three back up plans and went thru them all, he is now a member of the Ohio National Guard and attending his first choice school in the fall. There are many paths to earning a commission, don't ignore any of them - that's the best advice I've got.

Good luck and have an amazing Senior year:smile:
 
Thank you all for the replies.

I definitely am going to retake my SAT and take the ACT in order to attempt to boost my scores, also, is senior year course load taken into account?

In response to the last post, thank you for your thoughts, I do have back up plans such as attending an affordable college in which I can participate in ROTC without a scholarship, and I will also apply to other colleges to widen my choices.

Thank you for being the only person it seems like that realizes the stress and nervousness I am experiencing.

I seem to be a bit paranoid about my GPA being a huge factor in my college choices, and coming from a family that has high standards, it is hard to talk to my parents about college, any advice?
 
ACT trumps GPA... GPA is unchangeable at this point so focus on ACT.
Senior yr is pretty much irreverent.
Parents question, I'm not understanding the question.
 
ACT trumps GPA... GPA is unchangeable at this point so focus on ACT.
Senior yr is pretty much irreverent.
Parents question, I'm not understanding the question.

Will do.

To be clearer on my question, I come from a family with almost no military background and I am wondering some ways for me to bring up the conversation of ROTC, I truly believe that it is something I want to do but I have trouble believing that my parents will be very supportive.
 
One approach from a parent

Will do.

To be clearer on my question, I come from a family with almost no military background and I am wondering some ways for me to bring up the conversation of ROTC, I truly believe that it is something I want to do but I have trouble believing that my parents will be very supportive.

Not sure what sort of relationship you have with your parents but if you were my child I would want you to supply me with ALL pertinent information you can find not less. The first step at our house is to "gather information" before anything else happens when pursuing something, whether it's someone who wants contacts, to buy a motorcycle, take tennis lessons, attend college or apply for ROTC scholarships. Give me costs, dangers, time commitments, other's experiences and evaluations, benefits, why now, why this, long/short term effects and any other scoop that matters. Almost every idea successfully passed from one person to another first needs to be planted and then needs time to germinate and grow.

You will certainly find others on this board that will give your terrific information that you can start passing on to your parents in small/large bites. Maybe even at some point they would join this forum if they want to hear from other adults. I encourage you to start today by sharing one small idea with them and when they ask questions don't get defensive but be willing to say, "never thought of that, let me see what I can find out."
 
^^^
Agreed,
If you have not brought up the subject yet, it's probably not time to be coy.
"I've been thinking about joining ROTC, I think I really would like to be a officer ..."
Be patient, calm and collected (think of it as 'under fire' training)
Plan on several conversations, including meeting with a PMS together.
Do some reading, get your facts straight. Time and patience are on your side
With the Army, you have the option to go Reserves when you graduate/comission
Something my wife takes consolation in... She wanted him to be a surgeon,
he wants to go Airborne Ranger-Green Beret. If he had been a little more vague, been a better idea.

I think my son was trying to be diplomatic, he brought this up
while visiting some of my families military graves. :thumbdown:
DID NOT make Momma's day :argue1:

free advice... it's always worth what you paid for it
Army ROTC FAQ
 
Thank you all for the advice

I slipped it into a conversation at dinner tonight, saying "Do you know what ROTC is?" My mom surprisingly said she thinks it is a good program.

I will try to take smaller steps in talking more and more about it so that by the end of the summer I can be underway with my application (I heard this is the best time to be full steam ahead working on it)

Thank you all once again and I will be sure to bring more questions because of the great answers you provide.
 
For what it's worth, I tend to agree with Paradoxer. Do your homework! Be ready to present a strong case. Can you answer the question, Why do you want to serve in the Army? Becuase I can about guarantee that'll be your mom's first question!! (If my DS hadn't been talking about serving in the Army since he was about 7, it would be my first question!) So... know yourself! Know what compels you to do this, know why it's right for you. Know how to get to where you want to be, i.e, joining the Service Academy Forum, choosing some schools that interest you and offer ROTC, learning the pros and cons of this path. etc... If you can present a strong case... and be mature and cool-headed about it, your parents will know that this means alot to you, and can hopefully support your decision. Let them know that this is something you are serious is pursuing... but let them also know how very much you need their support. Perhaps a good idea is to say, well, I think I've picked some colleges I'd like to take a look at. When they ask why you've selected schools a, b, c, tell them it's becuase they all offer ROTC, and you've been thinking for awhile now that this might be a good option for you. Then be prepared for questions!! If you've done your homework and you know why you want to do this, it wil lhopefully be a much easier conversation than you're anitcipating!! Good luck! :smile:
 
Well, that about reneders my post useless!! LOL!!! Glad you took the first step, and especially glad your mom is supportive!!
 
Well, that about reneders my post useless!! LOL!!! Glad you took the first step, and especially glad your mom is supportive!!

Thank you, and you're last post was still very helpful.

I am looking forward to this summer which seems like it is sure to be difficult and full of hard work.
 
One other thing I forgot to mention that I am very worried about.

When I was about 5-6 years old I was diagnosed with a Peanut Allergy, I have never had a serious reaction in my life, the doctor just went off of the skin tests for the allergy. I have accidentally eaten peanut products before and been totally fine but from my research I have read that a peanut allergy is not waiverable. Should I go to my doctor and do an oral test for the allergy? I am confident that I have outgrown my allergy.
 
Yes get it tested and if you dont have the allergy then put on the dodmerb report that you were diagnosed at 5-6 and that you have tested it recently and you are not allergic. Should not be a problem. but thats just coming from someone who only has one year experience with dodmerb.
 
Definitely plan on having the test for a peanut allergy, as there is a thread under the DoDMERB forum currently discussing this issue. It sounds like DoDMERB won't just accept a doctor's letter saying there are no issues with a peanut allergy, they will want documented proof (a recent test) there is no allergy. You most likely won't be able to turn in this proof at your physical exam either, but have it ready to go when its requested. At least in my son's experience last summer, when you go in for your exam, they do not want this documentation then (he had other medical issues, not a peanut allergy). Concorde (who conducts the medical exams for DoDMERB) will complete the exam and send results to DoDMERB, who will then ask for any documentation necessary for any concern they have (this is called a remedial). After you send in the documentation and its reviewed (by whichever ROTC source you are seeking a scholarship from), you will find out if you are DQ'd or not.

I would also recommend for anyone to schedule your DoDMERB medical exam as soon as you receive the information on the process. If there are issues that need to be resolved (and there could be things in your medical history that you don't think are issues, but DoDMERB does!), it can take time and you don't want to hold up your scholarships/college choice/etc. waiting to see what's going to happen with a medical concern.
 
just scanned quickly through this thread, so I apologize if someone suggest this above. Suggest you get Mom and Dad to take a look at this discussion board, and definitely make sure you all meet with the ROTC Battalions when you visit schools.
 
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