Marine Option Scholarship

dantet21

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
5
I am going to start the application process for Marine Option NRTOC very soon, but I have some questions about filling it out so early. My first concern is my low PFT score. I'm working hard to improve my pullup score, so I'm wondering if I should wait to start the application until I can improve that score, or start the application now anyway. Also, I have the list of 5 schools I want to go to, but what if I change my mind about the order of the schools but Ive already submitted my application? Will I be able to change the school rankings before the boards? Thank you for any help.
 
My son submitted his online application last year in early June. The Executive Officer of the recruiting region scheduled his interview and PFT for mid-August. He was invited to take another PFT later in the fall as were all the applicants from the look of the group email. He was also told that if he wanted to retake it locally, as we live a long ways from the recruiting station, a coach could administer it. Due to busy schedules and other commitments, my son opted not to retake it. His initial interview was followed up by a phone interview a week or so later which lasted nearly an hour and a half. The XO was always timely in responding to any questions my son or I had throughout the process.

I don't know whether you can change the order of your school selection after it is submitted, but I'm sure there is someone you can email or call off of their website to ask. There is a link on the application website where you can email a Candidate Guidance Officer, http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/cx/contactXC.asp?ag , and ask any questions that you still have. There may be other contacts on the site as well who may be available to answer your questions. One thing is for certain, select an in-state school that you would be happy attending because it is a huge cost saver for dwindling scholarship funds.

IMO, the biggest hurdle as an applicant and deciding when to submit your application really revolves around references and transcript submissions. Your application has to be submitted for the reference requests to be initiated from the recruiters office to your teachers at your school and for your transcript from your counselor. If your school's staff is out for the summer when school is out, then even if your application is submitted in mid-June your references and transcript will not come in until September when the teachers get back to work. And the email asking for the reference may be at the bottom of their inbox. It is a good idea to follow up with those from whom you are requesting a reference from to make sure they received the request and responded. September is still early enough to meet the first NROTC MO board, but something to keep in mind.

Good luck, and have patience...all good things come in time!
 
My son was able to retake the PFT and have his score updated. He also changed his major after submitting his application. I'm pretty sure he changed the order of preference on his schools as well although I'm not absolutely certain about that.
 
Marine-Option Scholarship

My S is in the process of applying early (Has a goal to have it in by end of May) for the Marine-Option Scholarship. Here are a few of my questions:

My S is not happy with his ACT score but wants to get application submitted for early consideration. Can he submit his current best score and when he retakes it either in June or Sept. then resubmit that score? Will they consider that submission if it is better?

Is there stategy in ranking your 5 colleges? My S has 5 state schools on his list with 2 of them being in-state. His #1 school is out-of-state and out of our region. His #2 and 3# are both in-state. Although he would love to go to his #1 school, it is more important to him to receive the scholarship. Should he rank the schools with in-state first?

My S has not contacted a local recruitier. The application checklist advises that you should have a recruiter look over application before submitting. How do you find out who to contact?

Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
Any new college entrance exam scores can be sent in as an update. My son took the SAT one additional time after submitting his application and these scores were incorporated. However, once we submitted the application and were in contact with the scholarship coordinator he asked us to have the College Board (and ACT organization) send a copy of the test scores directly to him. With the College Board this required calling them, paying an additional fee and having them sent manually to him as there was no "code" for him. There is a code for Pensacola, but he wanted them to include with his packet for the applicant that goes to the review board.

Also, with regard to my sons updated 7th semester transcript for his senior year, it was also sent immediately after it was available and made the deadline to be incorporated as an update. I think the deadline might be January 31. However, I don't think they will update any activities such as those they participate in their senior year or any additional recognitions they receive.

Can't really speak to school strategies for you, but I can tell you that my son's number one pick was his in-state school and he was selected to receive a scholarship there. The scholarship selection happens first. Then the applicants packet is sent to Pensacola for school selection. They try to place kids where they want to go, but I suppose some units are very popular and consequently not everyone can get that unit as their first choice.

We visited our local recruiter long before my son made application trying to find out information regarding the process. They had very little information on NROTC MO or on PLC. They are focused on recruiting those who want to enlist. They helped as much as they could, but just weren't in this loop.
 
Thanks ckwitzel!
So am I correct in assuming that you did not have someone from the marines review your son's application before he submitted it?
 
Yes, you are correct. My son did not have someone from the marine's review his application before submitting it. But I did review it several times, and he had a few other people review it along with his essays. Once submitted that marine scholarship coordinator was very helpful and responsive in answering any questions that we had. Everything was handled in a timely fashion. As I recall, all the references have to be in before the coordinator will schedule the interview and PFT. I think that makes the application qualified to move forward. The interview and PFT happened at the same time. PFT first I believe, then interview. My son did it all on his own so I'm just going on what he told me.
 
My S is in the process of applying early (Has a goal to have it in by end of May) for the Marine-Option Scholarship. Here are a few of my questions:

My S is not happy with his ACT score but wants to get application submitted for early consideration. Can he submit his current best score and when he retakes it either in June or Sept. then resubmit that score? Will they consider that submission if it is better?

Is there stategy in ranking your 5 colleges? My S has 5 state schools on his list with 2 of them being in-state. His #1 school is out-of-state and out of our region. His #2 and 3# are both in-state. Although he would love to go to his #1 school, it is more important to him to receive the scholarship. Should he rank the schools with in-state first?

My S has not contacted a local recruitier. The application checklist advises that you should have a recruiter look over application before submitting. How do you find out who to contact?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

As others pointed out the Navy will superscore is SAT/ACT tests. (Last year it was best sitting). I also agree with others that it's hard to determine a strategy for prioritizing the schools. Go with the heart. BUT.... do match him up to schools where he has a reasonable chance of acceptance and one that is an almost guaranteed chance of acceptance. My DS listed too many stretch schools, not that it mattered in the end.

PFT at the same time as the interview is also what my DS experienced. He retook the PFT again at a later date and scored much better.

I guess I mainly wanted to emphasize that your getting good guidance here and wanted to add my two cents on picking schools.
 
Thank you all for your help. I think I'll go ahead and start the application process and work on what I can so that I'm ahead of the game once summer comes along. Took the ACT in April and I'm going to take the SAT in June, should I wait to see which test I score better on to submit?
 
Submit them both. They'll use the better of the two. Plan on taking the one you're most comfortable with a second or even third time. People generally improve on subsequent tests.
 
dantet21: You were concerned about your PFT - especially pull ups. I assume you have googled and found the Marine PFT test description and scoring tables. A 300 (max score) on the physical fitness test is impressive but is only one part of the criteria considered when choosing scholarship recipients. I don't feel that scoring a 300 is essential or "makes it easier". Every year there are candidates with a 300 who don't get the scholarship and those with lower scores that do. While the Marines stress physical fitness, they are looking for so much more. My recommendation is to get working on this and shoot for a 1st class score - the higher the better. Work out hard and often.

Regarding timing on your application - My advice is that the best prepared application is better than the earliest submitted application.
If memory serves me, the first Marine board is typically in late October or November. But do not take that as fact: the timing and dates are always confidential and the best way we have of pinning it down is when people start writing posts about their selection for scholarship and then we can "backdate" the time frame a little. I would recommend that you plan to have the application completed in early September of your Senior year. This would involve getting the on-line application, references, interview and PFT all done.

The application includes two essays. I would spend some time formulating your answer and then write the very best essay you can. Work hard on these application essays. Have others read them. Speak to active duty military members, veterans, and read books about being a military leader. In my opinion, these essays need to convey the essence of why you want to be a Marine, why you will be a good leader, what you have to offer the USMC. This is where you can stress your understanding of leadership and you experiences as a leader. Write, rewrite and then rewrite again - making your essays better and better. Make sure your English teacher and others proofread them for you.

ckwitzel makes a good point about references. Choose wisely. With the school year winding down, suggest you speak to them live and ask them for the reference. Stress the importance, what you what highlighted etc. If they don't have time you may have to wait until School starts again. Some people might appreciate the heads up and use the summer to work up their response. I would hit the guidance office right away when school starts next fall to get your transcript out.

The 5-school strategy is a tough one. There are lots of comments about this subject in this forum. You need a balance of schools you are fairly certain you can get in which have NROTC and your intended major, stretch schools, distance, family budget, etc. In-state vs out of state vs private is a tough one to predict as is your own personal ranking. Suggest you give this a lot of thought, consult the guidance provided here and then select them in the order that makes sense for you.

Worldtraveler: The "Application Information Checklist" states: "We highly suggest you contact your coordinator/recruiter to have them review your application before you make the final submission. Once you click on the final submit button, you will not be able to access it or make changes." My DS worked with the local recruiter who called on his high school. This is not this Marine's primary responsibility BUT apparently in our area, the OSO (Officer Selection Officer) must have a great working relationship with the local recruiters. The local recruiter checked over my son's application before submitting, answered questions and was a real asset. If this avenue doesn't work for you, I am sure you can find the local recruiting district for your area and obtain the name of an appropriate point of contact for this process.

Once the application is reviewed, completed and submitted on line, you will then be contacted to schedule an interview with a Marine Officer and take a Physical Fitness Test. An official photo will also be taken. Most often these are all done on the same visit. Prepare for your interview. Make it a good one. Make a good first impression. Answer questions with honesty and sincerity. Look to this forum for suggestions on what to expect. Have some questions prepared for the interviewer.

Final point, you will read of people with "better" records who didn't get a scholarship and others with "weaker" records that do. The board's decision is based on your application, your grades, your test scores, academics, demonstrated leadership, essays, interviews, physical fitness test and the needs of the Marine Corps. That last category (needs of the USMC) is the one that can really swing things from year to year.
 
Thank you for your thoughtful reply USMCGrunt, I really appreciate it. I really am working to improve my PFT scores and I should be able to achieve a 1st Class score with more time. I know a couple current midshipmen, so I am going to get in contact with them to find out more about their specific unit and school. The schools I am looking at are Purdue, Notre Dame, University of Illinois Chicago, USD, the Citadel and perhaps Northwestern. In regards to the references, can I choose anyone two people from my school?
 
Thank you for your thoughtful reply USMCGrunt, I really appreciate it. I really am working to improve my PFT scores and I should be able to achieve a 1st Class score with more time. I know a couple current midshipmen, so I am going to get in contact with them to find out more about their specific unit and school. The schools I am looking at are Purdue, Notre Dame, University of Illinois Chicago, USD, the Citadel and perhaps Northwestern. In regards to the references, can I choose anyone two people from my school?

Unless I'm getting it confused with another scholarship I think they're going to want your math and english teachers and your coaches if you participate in a sport.

Do your academic and other qualifications match these schools? Are any of them in-state public schools (I don't think so but I'm not going to research it). You will need to list at least 1 in-state public school, unless there isn't one with an NROTC unit in your state. Alternatively it can be a school which offers in-state tuition rates to NROTC students (eg. TAMU as I recall). You want to make sure you have at least a few schools you have a resonable chance to be accepted at. Also given the current budget environment, some choices among more inexpensive schools would be a good idea. If they're all expensive schools you will need to really stand out to make them want to pay the big bucks, when they could give 2 or 3 instate scholarships for the same money.
 
Yes, UIC is an in-state public school that I have a high chance of getting in to. UIC is a good option for me because it is very close to me and I get half off tuition anyway because my parents work for the state. Will the form for the references be mailed to my teachesr once I start the application? I'm a bit confused about that process.
 
I believe that a link to the online form for the teacher reference will be emailed to them once you submit the application, not before. I think that there is also a pdf version that can be emailed to the teacher if they have trouble with the link. However, your application has to be submitted before this process starts. At least that is how it worked last spring/summer/fall.
 
I believe ckwitzel is correct regarding the teacher references and the process. I just pulled my DS' form and on page 8 of his application he provided the name and address of the references. I suspect when he submitted the application it triggered a form to the respective teachers.

I recommend you Google "NROTC Application 2012" (or 2012). You will find a link to the "Application Information & Checklist " with additional instructions and clarification. For instance, on references it states: "Provide the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for three required references: 1) a guidance counselor/school administrator; 2) a math, science, or English teacher (depending on program option), and 3) another teacher, counselor, coach, or employer. For teachers, please provide the mailing address for the school instead of a home address. These individuals will be provided instructions on how to complete the necessary forms. We will ask these individuals to evaluate you in several areas and to compare you to your peers; they will also have space to provide written remarks. You should select these individuals carefully as weight will be given to their comments."

Marine Option candidates need a counselor, English Teacher and a 3rd individual.

As ckwitel suggests, I believe there is a pdf form available that you can provide the individual with as a starting point in preparing their draft. I recommend you speak with them also and make sure they know your desire to become a Marine Officer and why.
 
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