AROTC Interview Advice

J

JLur

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Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
79
My AROTC interview is in a week and I was hoping that anyone that has been through it before could give me some insight. I am doing it at my local detachment even though my #1 school emailed and offered to do it. Just wasn't worth the 5 hour trip. Thanks in advance!
 
My suggestions:
1. Dress nice, it's a job interview! Our dau even brought her resume.
2. Practice answering these questions:
A. Why do you want to go in the Army?
B. What is the Army's mission?
C. Why would you make a good Officer?
D. Why do you want to do ROTC?
E. PMS might ask if YOU have any questions? Of course you do, so memorize them in advance!
3. Don't take your phone in with you.
Take the interview seriously! All that being said, you will do great! Your talent has lead you to this interview, knock that PMS's socks off!! Best of Luck!
 
I'm NOT telling you that it's a bad idea to do the interview at the local detachment BUT driving (5) hours to complete the interview at your #1 school choice would have been a great idea. I definitely would have taken the time to drive either of my kids if they were in your situation as that send a strong signal that your serious about your intentions....both in AROTC in general and specifically with that school. I can tell you that while we waited for the scholarship process to play out, we took multiple (two for each kid) trips for to schools that were 800+ miles away that our kids were interested in attending. For my son, it especially played out well because although he didn't receive a "national" scholarship, one of those schools (his #1 school choice) we visited called him and offered him a 4 year scholarship because they remembered his visit and how dedicated he was to the school. Fast forward four years and he's now the Gold Bar LT and is the guy making those scholarship offer calls.

Best of look to you...
 
It can go either way.... My daughter had already visited her number #1 and #2 schools, and due to PMS changes, when she visited her #2 she could not do the interview, then on her #1 school visit, it also did not work out timing wise (and we already had plane tickets there for another reason so could not change the date), one school was 500 miles away, the other one 1400....She asked the ROO at her second choice school if she should come back there and do her interview or do it locally, he said to do it locally since she had already visited, he said the cost/benefit didn't work out to justify the expense to come back. Similar to the above story, when she didn't get a national scholarship to the #2 school, the ROO called and made her an offer for a campus based there, I think that had a lot to do with the fact she crossed several state lines to go visit and that makes an impression. She ended up accepting the national scholarship to her #4 school, the local one she did the interview with. Whether you do the interview there or not, I highly recommend visiting that #1 school and meeting with the ROO if you have not already. If you cannot do that in time to get your interview done for the application, I really think that is okay to do the interview locally, but don't skip out on the opportunity to go visit, it really can help in so many ways.
 
Do research beforehand to know WHO will be conducting the interview, and that way you can address him/her correctly.

Prior to me interviewing I was only told it was Mr._____. I looked further into it, and turns out Mr.____ was a SGM.

At the interview, he came in business civilian attire, and he seemed quite surprised that I addressed him as SGM. He asked me how I knew, and I told him that I made sure to look into it beforehand, which got a nod of approval.
 
I'm stunned that you didn't think a full scholarship was worth ten hours of driving, especially when your first choice called and offered to complete the interview.
 
txpotato said:
I'm stunned that you didn't think a full scholarship was worth ten hours of driving, especially when your first choice called and offered to complete the interview.
Click to expand...

It was a money/time issue. We already had a trip planned to visit West Point. I also can't miss any practice for soccer because I am team Captain.
 
JLur said:
It was a money/time issue. We already had a trip planned to visit West Point. I also can't miss any practice for soccer because I am team Captain.
Click to expand...

Successful candidates are busy candidates. Not everyone can afford the travel costs or the time away from team and club commitments.

Yes it is ideal to visit your primary school, but I'll bet you will land on your feet doing it your way.
 
How did the interview go? I would have advised an in-person with the #1 school, as well. We traveled 1,000 each way. School and sports understood.
 
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