I want to start out by thanking everyone for answering so many questions of mine over the last two years. I finally decided to post my own questions since I couldn't find enough answers to our specific situation. My son went back and forth for a few years between applying to a SA and applying for NROTC. My husband went to USNA, but ultimately my son decided NROTC was the way to go for him. He finished his application in October and received a call last night from his recruiter that he qualified or was selected (second hand information from my son!!) for an ISR and will interview next week with a Captain. I haven't found a lot of answers about the ISR, but it sounds promising. I've seen the contract and read some posts about it, but I still don't know enough. My understanding is that the Captain will decide if he is granted a scholarship and that he doesn't go before the board? Is this accurate? How often does this interview result in a scholarship? Or is it still a longshot? Thank you so much for any information!
NROTC Questions
- Thread starter ericbird
- Start date
I received a NROTC scholarship via the ISR (beginning of November). I believe that the interview with the Captain will be the overall determinant of your son receiving an ISR.
At least in my situation, I was not yet finished with the application, but the captain came to my school for an interview (about 30 mins long). I was then offered the scholarship on the spot. I hear that an ISR is VERY rare (I have not heard much abot it).
At least in my situation, I was not yet finished with the application, but the captain came to my school for an interview (about 30 mins long). I was then offered the scholarship on the spot. I hear that an ISR is VERY rare (I have not heard much abot it).
Pima
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If selected for the ISR, he will be required to remove his name from the national HSSP board.
Typically, if offered the ISR they only give you a few days to accept it. It is not a you can hold onto it until you find out if the college accepts you. Most posts that I have read regarding ISR is it on the spot at the end of the interview. It is a rarity, because most units have 1 ISR to offer.
I have never heard of someone being told they were selected for an ISR prior to the interview. Not saying it doesn't happen, just saying most find out during the interview. Remember, most recruiters don't work with ROTC candidates a lot. Their job is to recruit enlisted members. It maybe that he is qualified, but not selected, however not knowing the system, they said he is selected. It maybe that the CoC stated to the recruiter, that if he appears in person as good as he looks on paper he will be offering the ISR to their unit to your DS.
~ IOWS, lots of maybes and mights without knowing more info.
My suggestions would be:
1. Have your DS call the CoC on Monday and ask if he could also meet with some POCs (junior and seniors).
~ If he already has a career field interest, ask if he can meet with some mids that are trying for the same field. Also see if there is a mid that has both his same intended major and career field aspirations. ROTC is a balance of both aspects.
~ This will allow him to also get a feel for the unit from a peer to peer aspect, instead of a CoC selling the school and unit.
~~ We did this with our DS. He actually played Xbox in the ROTC lounge with a couple of 300/400s and just yakked away for about an hour.
2. Have him think about the type of things he really will want to know somewhere later down the pike.
~ What is considered a strong cgpa at the school to get your number 1 career choice? How many statistically from this unit get their 1st choice assignment? How many statistically that enter as a freshman commission 4 years later?
3. If you are going to drive with him to the interview, than make plans to meet up with him somewhere on campus later on at a specific time...i.e. the student union, book store.. heck, the bench next to a statue on campus.
~ The reason why is two fold.
~~First, him entering alone illustrates this is about him and his future desires.
~~~ Not a biggie if you enter with him, but I would not recommend you to stay past a few minutes after the introductions. Staying can become more of a dog and pony show for the folks. Think campus tours.
~~ Secondly, meeting him somewhere else on campus will give him those few minutes to imagine next year there by himself, walking the campus like any other student. Kids walking around with the folks is a blaring sign that they are in HS doing the tour. Walking alone and they just look like another student attending the school. In a way they get to feel for a short time the reality of what is occurring in their life. It can shock their system and they now see and feel it.
Our DS went AFROTC scholarship and where he decided to attend was not even on his top 3 list. It jumped to number 1 when he sat down with cadets that were in his major and had pilot slots. He met up with Bullet at the food court and the 1st words out of his mouth was can we go to the bursars and pay the deposit?
~ AFROTC scholarships are not like NROTC. It is tied to the cadet, their major, but not the school. He could have taken it anywhere he was accepted.
FWIW, it was also Bullet's alma mater and where he commissioned out of decades earlier. Bullet did enter with DS, met the CoC and left within 5-10 minutes.
~ My avatar is Bullet commissioning our from the same detachment as DS 25 years to the date from when he pinned on his butter bars.
Hope my novella helps. Good luck.
PS: Our DS was like your DS. He decided that he didn't want an SA life. It was part being a military brat his entire life and wanting to be a "normal" kid with a "normal" college experience. The other part was he wanted non-tech/STEM and that is not an option for USAFA...his ROTC scholarship and merit = free ride.
He is now an O2 pilot in the AF...his goal when he interviewed as a HS senior.
Typically, if offered the ISR they only give you a few days to accept it. It is not a you can hold onto it until you find out if the college accepts you. Most posts that I have read regarding ISR is it on the spot at the end of the interview. It is a rarity, because most units have 1 ISR to offer.
I have never heard of someone being told they were selected for an ISR prior to the interview. Not saying it doesn't happen, just saying most find out during the interview. Remember, most recruiters don't work with ROTC candidates a lot. Their job is to recruit enlisted members. It maybe that he is qualified, but not selected, however not knowing the system, they said he is selected. It maybe that the CoC stated to the recruiter, that if he appears in person as good as he looks on paper he will be offering the ISR to their unit to your DS.
~ IOWS, lots of maybes and mights without knowing more info.
My suggestions would be:
1. Have your DS call the CoC on Monday and ask if he could also meet with some POCs (junior and seniors).
~ If he already has a career field interest, ask if he can meet with some mids that are trying for the same field. Also see if there is a mid that has both his same intended major and career field aspirations. ROTC is a balance of both aspects.
~ This will allow him to also get a feel for the unit from a peer to peer aspect, instead of a CoC selling the school and unit.
~~ We did this with our DS. He actually played Xbox in the ROTC lounge with a couple of 300/400s and just yakked away for about an hour.
2. Have him think about the type of things he really will want to know somewhere later down the pike.
~ What is considered a strong cgpa at the school to get your number 1 career choice? How many statistically from this unit get their 1st choice assignment? How many statistically that enter as a freshman commission 4 years later?
3. If you are going to drive with him to the interview, than make plans to meet up with him somewhere on campus later on at a specific time...i.e. the student union, book store.. heck, the bench next to a statue on campus.
~ The reason why is two fold.
~~First, him entering alone illustrates this is about him and his future desires.
~~~ Not a biggie if you enter with him, but I would not recommend you to stay past a few minutes after the introductions. Staying can become more of a dog and pony show for the folks. Think campus tours.
~~ Secondly, meeting him somewhere else on campus will give him those few minutes to imagine next year there by himself, walking the campus like any other student. Kids walking around with the folks is a blaring sign that they are in HS doing the tour. Walking alone and they just look like another student attending the school. In a way they get to feel for a short time the reality of what is occurring in their life. It can shock their system and they now see and feel it.
Our DS went AFROTC scholarship and where he decided to attend was not even on his top 3 list. It jumped to number 1 when he sat down with cadets that were in his major and had pilot slots. He met up with Bullet at the food court and the 1st words out of his mouth was can we go to the bursars and pay the deposit?
~ AFROTC scholarships are not like NROTC. It is tied to the cadet, their major, but not the school. He could have taken it anywhere he was accepted.
FWIW, it was also Bullet's alma mater and where he commissioned out of decades earlier. Bullet did enter with DS, met the CoC and left within 5-10 minutes.
~ My avatar is Bullet commissioning our from the same detachment as DS 25 years to the date from when he pinned on his butter bars.
Hope my novella helps. Good luck.
PS: Our DS was like your DS. He decided that he didn't want an SA life. It was part being a military brat his entire life and wanting to be a "normal" kid with a "normal" college experience. The other part was he wanted non-tech/STEM and that is not an option for USAFA...his ROTC scholarship and merit = free ride.
He is now an O2 pilot in the AF...his goal when he interviewed as a HS senior.
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Thank you, Pima, for the very thorough response. I could do some more research to find out what some of your abbreviations are, but if you're still on line, perhaps you could indulge me. CoC? HSSP? His interview is not on a college campus, it's the same place his officer interview was. Visiting the campus is not an eminent possibility because it's too far from home. He'd be delighted to attend his top school- which he has a pretty good chance of getting in, but would be happy to go anywhere on his top5- two of which he has already been accepted. I'm sure you're right about the qualified part, I probably just misspoke!
Pima
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CoC is the Commander of Cadets...the big cheese in charge at the detachment. They are usually an O5 or O6.
HSSP is the HS Scholarship Program (HSSP)...national board...the board he will be required to remove his name if he accepts.
I am confused now because what I know of the ISR is, it is tied directly to that specific college.
~ I.E. UVA offers him the ISR. It can only be used at UVA, accepted to VT, VMI, TAMU and Timbucktoo doesn't matter. There is no number 2-5 option, it is UVA or nothing. There is no transferring the scholarship later on if not admitted.
~~ That is why many candidates offered this option have a hard time choosing whether they accept it or roll the dice with the national. If they accept it and do not get admitted, than they are SOL because they can transfer it. If they don't accept and does not get it from the national level, but does get admitted, than they are SOL again!
It really comes down to the old cliche of how you see what is worth more...a bird in the hand or 2 in the bush!
HSSP is the HS Scholarship Program (HSSP)...national board...the board he will be required to remove his name if he accepts.
I am confused now because what I know of the ISR is, it is tied directly to that specific college.
~ I.E. UVA offers him the ISR. It can only be used at UVA, accepted to VT, VMI, TAMU and Timbucktoo doesn't matter. There is no number 2-5 option, it is UVA or nothing. There is no transferring the scholarship later on if not admitted.
~~ That is why many candidates offered this option have a hard time choosing whether they accept it or roll the dice with the national. If they accept it and do not get admitted, than they are SOL because they can transfer it. If they don't accept and does not get it from the national level, but does get admitted, than they are SOL again!
It really comes down to the old cliche of how you see what is worth more...a bird in the hand or 2 in the bush!
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Pima
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My bad...I just realized he is an ISR and not ICSP. ISR as far as I know comes out of the recruiters side. ICSP is the actual college.
Both are rare. However, the differences that I know about it are:
1. It can be used at any of their top 5.
~ ICSP is for that college only
2. It does not guarantee a spot at all of their top 5s.
~ If that college has already filled up their slots, than ...oh well.
~~ ICSP guarantees that 1 school.
3. It is like the HSSP...you can later request the scholarship to be transferred to another college.
Kinnem really is your go to source.
Both are rare. However, the differences that I know about it are:
1. It can be used at any of their top 5.
~ ICSP is for that college only
2. It does not guarantee a spot at all of their top 5s.
~ If that college has already filled up their slots, than ...oh well.
~~ ICSP guarantees that 1 school.
3. It is like the HSSP...you can later request the scholarship to be transferred to another college.
Kinnem really is your go to source.
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- 15,992
Ha! Not on that topic!!!
ProudSwimDad
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I do not know if it is the same with all ISR's but I'll describe what my DS's experience was this summer/fall. He was working with the recruiting district's ROTC recruiting coordinator. He finally finished his application in mid-Aug, thinking the coordinator would get the application submitted to the national board, so he could be reviewed by one of the early boards. Two days later the coordinator call saying DS was selected for an ISR Interview by the Commander of the recruiting district. At that point the ROTC recruiting coordinator had not yet submitted his completed application to the national board. After the interview he was offered a scholarship on the spot. After that the ISR "contract" along with his application was sent to the national board. I believe the national board still has to approve the scholarship and assign it to a school, and it took a few weeks for that to happen.
USMCGrunt
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Based on my understanding (I don't have personal experience) the ISR jumps the national board and goes straight to the school selection process. ProudSwimDad may have it right however. There could be a rubber stamp by the national board first.
ericbird: These ISR's are rare and if your DS is being invited to an interview, it is safe to assume that this is a strong indication of interest. It certainly isn't a "longshot."
ericbird: These ISR's are rare and if your DS is being invited to an interview, it is safe to assume that this is a strong indication of interest. It certainly isn't a "longshot."
proudofmyboy
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A NROTC ISR (Immediate Scholarship Reservation) Is a direct Scholarship offer from the Commanding Officer of your Recruiting District. I believe there are 26 Recruiting district and each have approx 4-6 ISR (150 total for all districts). It is for those select Candidates that the program does not want to loose to another program. If you package is extremely strong and you nail your initial interview, you may be in the running for an ISR. The next step is an interview with the Commanding Officer of the Naval Recruiting District (usually a Commander 0-5) sometimes an Captain (0-6). If that goes well you may be offered a Scholarship on the spot. Your package goes to the next board to be blessed vs reviewed for a scholarship. This is an admin thing. When results from that board come out, you should rec official notification of your scholarship and where they have placed your scholarship. ISR Candidates generally end up at their first choice school. Make sure you can get in there. There is info on how to change placement, but I would try to avoid that issue. Bottom line, it is a great thing, it shows that they believe you are one of the best of the best. My DS was offered his back in July and Received his Official notification when the first board results came out early Oct. Best of luck.
Well, the ISR was as promising as advertised! My son was promised a scholarship at his interview today! His application is off to the Captain's boss for a stamp of approval and school selection. So proud and excited for my son to serve his country!
Congratulations!!!! Very exciting. What school is he looking at?
Union College (NY) cross town of RPI, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Oklahoma
The results for last remaing board dates as follows. format is dates of board followed by results of said board to show in portal and they are tentative..
7-11 DEC results 24 DEC
11-14 JAN results 22 JAN
25-29 JAN results 12 FEB
8-1 FEB results 26 FEB
22-26 FEB results 11 MAR
7-11 MAR results 25 MAR
4-8 APR results 22 APR
18-22 APR results6 MAY
Good luck to all still waiting on board results!
7-11 DEC results 24 DEC
11-14 JAN results 22 JAN
25-29 JAN results 12 FEB
8-1 FEB results 26 FEB
22-26 FEB results 11 MAR
7-11 MAR results 25 MAR
4-8 APR results 22 APR
18-22 APR results6 MAY
Good luck to all still waiting on board results!