AROTC Scholarship Boards

Cadet257

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2016
Messages
45
Hi,

My application for the 1st board for the AROTC scholarship is complete, but I hear the fewest amount of scholarships are given then. If I do not get a scholarship during the first board, will I be considered for the 2nd and 3rd? Do I have to resubmit application somehow or do they keep considering me automatically?
Thanks for the help.
 
If you do not get a scholarship from a board you are automatically rolled over to the next board until the last board is held.
 
Basically, you stay on a list, like an OML, and in order by number. You are only boarded once. My daughter was boarded the 2nd board, but received a scholarship the 3rd. Good luck to you!
 
When does the first board meet?

According to the AROTC website:

Selection Board Convene Dates:

1st High School Board – 24-28 October 2016

2nd High School Board – 23-27 January 2017

3rd High School Board – 13-17 March 2017
 
Does submitting the application for the first board have any advantage? My kid's application is "interview" ready but he's being told by the PMS that there's not enough time to schedule the interview and upload the interview results. I'm wondering if he is missing opportunities?
 
The first board the last two years have only been about 300 4 year scholarships for superstars multi popular sport teams with Captains of them 4,0s unweighted AP/Honor courses several extra-curricular s with leadership of those clubs and top 10% SAT/ACT scores pretty much was what got those slots so if on that level will still get a 4 or 3 year in 2nd round. I think there was another 300ish 4 years and 4-500 3 years in 2nd round. DS was freaked on not getting in for first round and he was having a hard time getting the closest ROO to set up his interview so he contacted his number 1 school and they did a skype but he had already also interviewed with them in person so that was good. but it did actually add to the stress and I lost my mind. So don't feel like you are alone.
 
Try to find another PMS even if you have to drive a distance to get to him or her. My son did his interview late Monday afternoon and his "PMS Interview" went from "Pending" to "Completed" last night.

"Not enough time" just means THAT guy didn't have enough time in HIS schedule.
 
The first board the last two years have only been about 300 4 year scholarships for superstars multi popular sport teams with Captains of them 4,0s unweighted AP/Honor courses several extra-curricular s with leadership of those clubs and top 10% SAT/ACT scores pretty much was what got those slots so if on that level will still get a 4 or 3 year in 2nd round.

Does being the captain of multiple sports teams and having a 4.0 unweighted GPA really make the difference in whether or not a scholarship is awarded the first round? Going off of the 1400-point system that is apparently used in scoring applicants, I was under the impression that getting a 200 interview, having a lot of extracurriculars checked off (no matter what they are), getting a high SAT/ACT, and doing well on the fitness test would make up most of the difference between winning a scholarship in the first round and winning in the second or third. Does the board base their score largely on unweighted GPA and number of sports greater than 1?
 
Last edited:
Does being the captain of multiple sports teams and having a 4.0 unweighted GPA really make the difference in whether or not a scholarship is awarded the first round? Going off of the 1400-point system that is apparently used in scoring applicants, I was under the impression that getting a 200 interview, having a lot of extracurriculars checked off (no matter what they are), getting a high SAT/ACT, and doing well on the fitness test would make up most of the difference between winning a scholarship in the first round and winning in the second or third. Does the board base their score largely on unweighted GPA and number of sports greater than 1?
There were some that did only one sport but did as school and club I think one that posted their stats was a swimmer but there was a link posted that showed football /Baseball/Soccer type sports got higher points than like my DS only played Golf and that it seemed didn't do a lot total can of worms there was opened since it got into a our kids work harder than your kids drama. There were a few with under 3,8 GPAs that had posted stats but they tended to have captain multi year multi sport captain of the higher scored sports. They also tended to have at least 4 or 5 officer of clubs . You can look back at last year posts to see the stats people posted on those 4 year first round awards as well as the 2nd and 3rd rounds. (I wish I had looked at the year before to have a more realistic view of where DS stood he did get 3 yr award in 2nd round) The best advice I can offer from a hyper OCD mega control freaking out parent is breath and if I couldn't figure out a way to control the process when or how we find out or any of that it can't be done so just watch the board and have your DD/DS check their email since we actually knew for him to check his application status from an email that was sent out by a school he only had sent a pre-application thing but had not even applied. Although you will really know when the board lights up with 'I just checked my status and'... posts. HUGS!!!
 
There were some that did only one sport but did as school and club I think one that posted their stats was a swimmer but there was a link posted that showed football /Baseball/Soccer type sports got higher points than like my DS only played Golf and that it seemed didn't do a lot total can of worms there was opened since it got into a our kids work harder than your kids drama. There were a few with under 3,8 GPAs that had posted stats but they tended to have captain multi year multi sport captain of the higher scored sports. They also tended to have at least 4 or 5 officer of clubs . You can look back at last year posts to see the stats people posted on those 4 year first round awards as well as the 2nd and 3rd rounds. (I wish I had looked at the year before to have a more realistic view of where DS stood he did get 3 yr award in 2nd round) The best advice I can offer from a hyper OCD mega control freaking out parent is breath and if I couldn't figure out a way to control the process when or how we find out or any of that it can't be done so just watch the board and have your DD/DS check their email since we actually knew for him to check his application status from an email that was sent out by a school he only had sent a pre-application thing but had not even applied. Although you will really know when the board lights up with 'I just checked my status and'... posts. HUGS!!!
I also remember last year! So easy to sit back now, but I remember how overwhelming and stressful it was, to just wait! Great advice to just breathe. Those of us who went through it in years past understand that it is easier said than done, however, any stressing doesn't make it easier! Help your kiddos control the controllables, beyond that there is really no predicting who will get what, it will only serve to drive you crazy! There are points that we just cannot know, like the survey, which is weighted pretty high, so comparing scores or sports just makes for a guessing game from board to board!
 
Does being the captain of multiple sports teams and having a 4.0 unweighted GPA really make the difference in whether or not a scholarship is awarded the first round? Going off of the 1400-point system that is apparently used in scoring applicants, I was under the impression that getting a 200 interview, having a lot of extracurriculars checked off (no matter what they are), getting a high SAT/ACT, and doing well on the fitness test would make up most of the difference between winning a scholarship in the first round and winning in the second or third. Does the board base their score largely on unweighted GPA and number of sports greater than 1?

As I've said many times since last year: my son got a four year on the first board with at 3.4 GPA and a 23 ACT. Only one sport captain, soccer, but played it year round. Third generation Eagle Scout, NHS VP. Also had 33 college credits at h.s. graduation. He received max points on the interview. If the whole candidate score is high, lower test scores and GPA are not a dealbreaker. He passed his APFT at UNG first week of school as a freshman, signed his contract last week. Because of 33 credits, he will get sophomore cadet pay. My cadet's in a great situation 6 weeks into college.
 
DS got a 3 year with 3.8 UWGPA 33 ACT Golf team Captain with Jr Golfer of the year Award from Lower Keys Golf Assn, NSHSS, MENSA, NJROTC Master Chief, NJROTC Color Guard, NJROTC Drill Team, NJROTC Academic Team Co Captain, NJROTC Airsoft Mil Sim team Co-creator and XO, PFT run was slow side but PU/SU in mid range, 2 years as Senior Congressional Intern at local office and DC in Summer handling constituent services and Media Briefing daily, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Americanism Award Winner, Ensign in the Conch Republic Navy (community level club), 1000 Community Service hours, 33 college credits, Max pts on interview, 16yo at graduation (only added this as it could possibly be a factor not sure but he was not eligible for SA since cut off to turn 17 is July 1 and he was't 17 till mid August). The good thing is that his school has slots that as long as his grades are great and he passes his APFT as well as is being active in the unit they could bump him to a 3.5yr Some said they were upped when they got to their unit if passed the APF test. so that is another thing to remember if they get a 3 year or no national when they get there put in the work and passing APFT they could still end up with a 4, 3,5 or 3 year school based. (start training now if haven't already so show up able to pass that test!!) At AUM where DS is they call him 'National Boy' cause he is only one in his entire MSI class with a National the 4 that are contracted in his class are NG/Reserve contracts.
 
You do not need to participate in a sport to get a scholarship and GPA is unweighted
 
As I've said many times since last year: my son got a four year on the first board with at 3.4 GPA and a 23 ACT. Only one sport captain, soccer, but played it year round. Third generation Eagle Scout, NHS VP. Also had 33 college credits at h.s. graduation. He received max points on the interview. If the whole candidate score is high, lower test scores and GPA are not a dealbreaker. He passed his APFT at UNG first week of school as a freshman, signed his contract last week. Because of 33 credits, he will get sophomore cadet pay. My cadet's in a great situation 6 weeks into college.
Your son is definitely a great example of why comparing stats is probably not helpful, the whole person score encompasses things we cannot predict. All last year I was convinced my daughter really didn't have a chance, and yet she did receive an offer third board, we are still pinching ourselves and she is loving her situation at school!
 
Can't emphasize enough that the Whole Person Score is one of the biggest factors in getting a scholarship. School choices also play a part.

Those that have mentioned that comparing basic stats does not give you a clear picture for whether or not you will get a scholarship offer are spot on. My younger son was also one of those that had a 3.5 GPA UW and a 24 ACT and received a 4 year scholarship to 4 schools on the first board. Just looking at basic stats does not give a clear picture into the applicant. When you factor in the school choices it can change the whole dynamic. if your choices are VT, USC, Stanford, ect... then the competition is going to be greater, If your choices are U of Idaho, U of Montana. Wyoming ect... then your going to be in a different pool of competition. By the way, nothing wrong with U of Idaho, both sons went there, did very well, and both branched Aviation, don't let the the US World Report top 20 school list blind you from looking at all your options.

In the end it comes down to the entire application, certain things will stand out and can make up for shortfalls in other areas. Nobody knows what will catch the Boards eye, what they see as positives that will lead them to offer a scholarship on the first board or any board. The best you can do is to have the most complete application you can and then simply ride it out.

If you do not get selected the first board, you are rolled over to the next, one thing to understand though, there will be many new applications that will come in for the second board, some of these applications will have a higher score then yours and they make a new OML for each board. So if you were near the top of the remaining OML after the first board it is quite possible you will end up being in the middle of the second board. This is why you will see many applicants that did not have their application in for the first board but receive an offer the second before those that were rolled over from the first board. This doesn't happen as much for the third board and that is the reason many who made the first board do not get an offer until the third board. Just hang in there.
 
Back
Top