PMS Interview

ArmyRetired

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
32
A new member here! My son has completed his ROTC application and is scheduling his PMS interview. The closest school is 10 hours away. He has been in contact with the ROO at his top two schools. One ROO told him he should make the trip to that school for his interview. The other ROO had the PMS send my son several emails where they chatted back and forth. The PMS from this school was impressed with my son's packet and seemed extremely interested in getting my son in his school; however, he told him to just do the interview locally. Does anyone have any input to help with the decision? I would think this interview is very important. Thanks!
 
A new member here! My son has completed his ROTC application and is scheduling his PMS interview. The closest school is 10 hours away. He has been in contact with the ROO at his top two schools. One ROO told him he should make the trip to that school for his interview. The other ROO had the PMS send my son several emails where they chatted back and forth. The PMS from this school was impressed with my son's packet and seemed extremely interested in getting my son in his school; however, he told him to just do the interview locally. Does anyone have any input to help with the decision? I would think this interview is very important. Thanks!

When such vast distances are involved I would recommend getting the interview done as close to home as possible, unless time and money are no objects. :rolleyes: If I sorted through your post correctly, the PMS that has expressed the most interest recommended doing the interview locally, so if he is comfortable with that (as he should be) then I see no reason why you shouldn't be. The interview is pretty standard in many ways and is "scored". I'm sure any PMS would be able to review the interview and be able to make a reliable determination about your DS.

That being said, if it is possible to interview with the PMS at the school of your choice, I would do so. There is always an added benefit to face to face contact in any situation, including ROTC scholarships.

Guess I'm not much help, but the point is I wouldn't be overly obsessive about the interview and would instead do what's reasonable for your situation.
 
I second kinnemen. If possible it seems to be beneficial to conduct the interview with ones top choice school but certainly not absolutely necessary. The PMS has already told your son to go ahead and interview locally so if it is not feasible to travel to the number one school, I would follow the PMS guidance.
 
Are you saying (a) the nearest school to which he is applying is 10 hours away or (b) the nearest school with an AROTC unit is 10 hours away?

While an interview at his intended school would be helpful to all concerned, it doesn't have to be there. Because my son's future college was over 1,000 miles away, an interview was arranged with the PMS at a university within 75 miles of us. Other than Mrs. Delahanty arriving 25 minutes late with her cargo, the interview went very well.
 
To clarify, the nearest school which my son applied for (his #1) is 10 hours away. His number #2 choice is 14 hours away. The PMS at the #2 school seems extremely interested and he is the one who said for my son to just go ahead and interview locally. He has remained in contact with my son during this process and been very helpful.
 
To clarify, the nearest school which my son applied for (his #1) is 10 hours away. His number #2 choice is 14 hours away. The PMS at the #2 school seems extremely interested and he is the one who said for my son to just go ahead and interview locally. He has remained in contact with my son during this process and been very helpful.
In that case, I would make the 10 hour drive. While the PMS at your son's #1 choice doesn't likely sit on the Scholarship Review Board, the fact that your son would drive 10 hours shows a commitment to that school, and that Battalion. That commitment might cause that PMS to make favorable comments in the PMS Interview sheet. What is ten hours in comparision to 4 years?

Secondly, in the event your son doesn't earn a National Scholarship and decides to attend School #1 without a scholarship, he can join ROTC at #1 school and compete for an on-campus ROTC Scholardhip. If your son has already impressed the PMS by driving 10 hours especially to interview with him, that would work to his favor in vying for that on-campus scholarship a year from now.
 
Whatever you do, make sure you do it before mid December (deadline for the second board). I always recommend interviewing at a school on you list if possible. I also recommend visiting all the campuses you plan to consider, so plan a campus visit and the interview if you haven't been to campus yet. The other thing to do is look at the interview form.
http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/the-interview/
If you have all the points on page one locked up as long as you can convince a PMS to give all the points on page two you should be OK no matter where you interview. As always the advice about laying the groundwork in case you don't get an offer are important. We just had an influx of scholarship money on campus this year, and the enrolled cadets who had applied and I had corresponded with, and were enrolled had an advantage.
 
Whatever you do, make sure you do it before mid December (deadline for the second board). I always recommend interviewing at a school on you list if possible. I also recommend visiting all the campuses you plan to consider, so plan a campus visit and the interview if you haven't been to campus yet. The other thing to do is look at the interview form.
http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/the-interview/
If you have all the points on page one locked up as long as you can convince a PMS to give all the points on page two you should be OK no matter where you interview. As always the advice about laying the groundwork in case you don't get an offer are important. We just had an influx of scholarship money on campus this year, and the enrolled cadets who had applied and I had corresponded with, and were enrolled had an advantage.

Thanks for the great advice! I am pretty sure my son will get the 120 points on the first page of the interview form. He has also stayed in contact with the ROO at his top school choice and both the ROO and PMS at his 2nd choice. He is considering moving his second choice up to number one based off the interest expressed by the second choice. His second choice told him to continue to focus on the four-year scholarship as they believe he has a very competitive application. They also told him they have other options available if he doesn't receive the four-year. Both schools have been very helpful and responsive to him. Based off our discussions this evening and the responses I have received, I think it is worth our time to make a road trip in November to complete his interview. Everything else is done and checked off. Thanks again!
 
Back
Top