Does My Admissions Officer Know My Fate?

AcademyHopeful_50

5-Year Member
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Jul 4, 2012
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133
I am usually in frequent communication with my regional admissions officer, always asking for updates and such. A few days ago I received an Army ROTC scholarship and I asked my admissions officer if that was something worth adding to my file, and he directed me (for some reason) to the sprint football coach who I had sent film to a few months ago. He told me that he is only allowed 6 spots to recruit/offer acceptance to and I am ranked 10th.

My admissions officer and the football coach made it sound like I was screwed if I didn't get in for football. My admissions officer said something along the lines of "It's extremely competitive this year so I would take the scholarship." Is he trying to tell me something or am I reading too much into this? Does admissions know my fate? In other words, do you guys think that decisions have already been made?

Thanks for all the help for this worried candidate :frown:

I am planning on reapplying if I don't make it.

-Mooradian
 
If my stats matter at all:

800 Reading
690 Math
700 Writing

3.5/4.0 GPA
Top 22%
15 AP and Honors courses

>200 service hours
4 varsity letters
Boys State
Boys State Governor
10+ State awards
1 National award

---


I won't list my whole transcript but those are some highlights. I was told I was ranked in the top 5 for my district (Was PA19, now redistricted to PA04) out of 37 kids. This was BEFORE congressional nominations came out. I assume with my updated achievements and with there only being 10 nominated kids from my district I may be ranked higher.

I also have a presidential. My MALO said that other than northern VA, our district is one of the most competitive on the east coast.

I'm sort of freaking out about this so please bear with me.
 
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With less than 3 weeks do appointments, they must be pretty sure who is getting them, and most certaintly sure on who is NOT getting them. There may be two candidates fighting for an appointment, but they know who is out of the running
 
you still have a chance to get picked of the national waiting list even if you don't get picked to fill in the congressional slate.
 
you still have a chance to get picked of the national waiting list even if you don't get picked to fill in the congressional slate.

You should accept the scholarship in any case. At this point it is not legally binding. If the academy comes through your can inform ROTC that you'll be declining the scholarship, or wait to decline it until you report to the academy.

One more thing... what possible logic leads you to believe that if you were 5 of 37, and now there are only 10 left, that you might be higher? If it were me I would assume I was 5 of 10 at this point, which is not a bright outlook; although you could get picked off the NWL because no one knows how you rank on that. It could be 4 of 1000 or 998 of 1000.
 
hummmm...

I would have to agree with kinnem. The scholarship is a for sure thing. Its always being said here, have a Plan B.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
I am usually in frequent communication with my regional admissions officer, always asking for updates and such. A few days ago I received an Army ROTC scholarship and I asked my admissions officer if that was something worth adding to my file, and he directed me (for some reason) to the sprint football coach who I had sent film to a few months ago. He told me that he is only allowed 6 spots to recruit/offer acceptance to and I am ranked 10th.

My admissions officer and the football coach made it sound like I was screwed if I didn't get in for football. My admissions officer said something along the lines of "It's extremely competitive this year so I would take the scholarship." Is he trying to tell me something or am I reading too much into this? Does admissions know my fate? In other words, do you guys think that decisions have already been made?

Thanks for all the help for this worried candidate :frown:

I am planning on reapplying if I don't make it.

-Mooradian

I think that is excellent advice you received from your admissions officer. My son is in the same boat. He already received a 4 yr ROTC scholarship and he's waiting word from the USMA. Since you only have 30 days decide on your ROTC scholarship, you should accept it, because if you get an appoitment to the academy you can always go back and decline it and I'm sure they would understand. I would definately accept the scholarship because if you don't get into the academy you want to have ROTC to fall back on.
 
I assumed that I was higher than 5/10 because 1.) people in the original top 10 out of 37 may not have gotten nominations and 2.) my class rank rose over 20 places after my recent 7th semester.

I am going to take the scholarship and wait and see what happens.
 
I have 2 sons that have recently been in the position you are in now. USMA came through for one, he is now a junior at the academy. It did not come through for the other, and his "credentials" were almost identical to his brothers, who got a LOA that year. Younger son, who is now a freshman, received a 4 year AROTC scholarship. He accepted, waited to see if USMA offer came. It never did, and he moved on with the AROTC, and is very happy at BC.

It is a tough wait. It is very competitive, and a lot of very qualified young men and women do not get in each year. My advice, which is similar to other advice, is if your goal is to become an Army Officer, accept the ROTC and see what happens. Only reason I would not take it, is if the schools offered are not schools you want to attend. There is an outside chance that you could transfer the scholarship, but that is by no means a given these days.

There are a lot of variables each candidate has to weigh, as you get down to this time of year as a senior in HS. Take the time and think about your long range goals. Longer range than the next 4 years of your life, and decide the options that you have to get you there. Seems like you are close.

Best of luck.
 
I have 2 sons that have recently been in the position you are in now. USMA came through for one, he is now a junior at the academy. It did not come through for the other, and his "credentials" were almost identical to his brothers, who got a LOA that year. Younger son, who is now a freshman, received a 4 year AROTC scholarship. He accepted, waited to see if USMA offer came. It never did, and he moved on with the AROTC, and is very happy at BC.

It is a tough wait. It is very competitive, and a lot of very qualified young men and women do not get in each year. My advice, which is similar to other advice, is if your goal is to become an Army Officer, accept the ROTC and see what happens. Only reason I would not take it, is if the schools offered are not schools you want to attend. There is an outside chance that you could transfer the scholarship, but that is by no means a given these days.

There are a lot of variables each candidate has to weigh, as you get down to this time of year as a senior in HS. Take the time and think about your long range goals. Longer range than the next 4 years of your life, and decide the options that you have to get you there. Seems like you are close.

Best of luck.

Even if the scholarship is to a school he wouldn't want to attend, he should still accept it and take his chances on a transfer. If the transfer does not come through he can still walk away if he wishes.

Good luck Mooradian! I hadn't thought about you updating your packet - I'll keep that in mind in future. :thumb:
 
DD just received a 3yr. AROTC scholarship to Boston College or the Univ. Texas Austin, are you folks suggesting she add this to her USMA file? She has a competitive MOC nomination as well.

As always, thank you for the feedback.:smile:
 
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