AROTC/AFROTC Interview tips?

clarksonarmy said:
You'll make a fine Marine
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I was thinking the same thing, and more importantly hoping he didn't say that in his interview.

darrow,

Things will change in the next 4 yrs in every aspect. New President, new SOD; or maybe 2, and unfortunately maybe new conflicts.

You can do all of the internet homework you want, but dets have personalities, and that is going to be a player in the equation of your happiness at college. It is like college selection regarding the feel of the school in your decision.

What amazes me is his response as a commander...I would disobey a lawful order.

Thompson,

There is a score for each part of the WCS, and PAR is the big part. The interview is a % of a %. Your PFA, and ECs will be part of that breakdown too. Make sure you do your best on the PFA. It is one area where you can control.
 
I'm going to chime in with the chorus on this one.

Keep your questions non political, you have no idea how a PMS may react, he/she may sound fine on the outside but you'll have no idea what they put down on paper.

I also agree that Google can only give you the basics, you won't learn much as to how the individual battalions work. If you want to ask questions keep them related to the program:

How many cadets received one of their top 3 choices for branching.
Do MS1's get to participate in FTX's
How many cadets went to CULP
What are the summer training opportunities and how many does the battalion receive.
What is the average APFT scores
How are the MS Classes credited by the university (This is important)
Do you receive credit for every MS Class or are they all rolled into one. (Another important question)
How many DMG's were this year and over the last couple years.

These are just a few questions that can help you learn about the battalion. Your question about family was a nice one but just make sure you get the others in the conversation.

You will be able to get a feel for the tone of the interview as you move through it, adjust your questions accordingly.

Have you looked at the interview sheet, if not you can google- Army ROTC Scholarship Interview Form, you will see that half the form is not subjective, basically it is just check the appropriate box. You will also see on the back of the form what they award points for. It is easy to figure out how many points you will receive on page one by reviewing your stats and checking the boxes.
 
Jcleppe said:
How are the MS Classes credited by the university (This is important)
Do you receive credit for every MS Class or are they all rolled into one. (Another important question)
How many DMG's were this year and over the last couple years.
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Could you clarify a couple of things for me? I don't understand the distinction between the two questions pertaining to how the university handles the MS classes. Also, what is a DMG? I tried to look it up on the acronym list, but I didn't see it.
 
Future2LtMom said:
Could you clarify a couple of things for me? I don't understand the distinction between the two questions pertaining to how the university handles the MS classes. Also, what is a DMG? I tried to look it up on the acronym list, but I didn't see it.
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When a cadet starts their freshman year they will have 3 required MS Classes, MS100, MS Lab, and PT. There are other things they can sign up for such as Ranger Challenge and Color Guard.

Some schools will roll all 3 required classes into one giving either 1 or 2 credits. Some schools will handle things like Ranger Challenge and Color guard as part of the class for extra credit.

Some schools will actually seperate them all out and give credit for each class, for example:

MS100- 1 credit
MS Lab- 1 credit
PT- 1 credit
Ranger Challenge- 1 credit
Color Guard- 1 credit

Total 5 credits

Other schools may do it different, example:

MS100, MS Lab, PT- 2 credits
Ranger Challenge, Color Guard- Extra Credit- 0 credits

Total 2 credits

Some schools will assign a letter grade to all the credits, so you can see it can make a difference in the GPA Calculations depending on how the school hadles the credits.

For some majors the upper level MS 300 and 400 classes can count toward the related fields for the Major, this can effect the number of classes the student will need to take. Some colleges offer a Military Science Minor for doing ROTC. You also need to see if the school gives credit for MS classes toward the credits needed for graduation.

I know, it can get pretty confusing sometimes, my son's learned a lot of this as they went through school.

DMG stands for "Distinguished Military Graduate" , meaning the cadet finished in the top 20% of the National OML (Order of Merit List)
 
Pima said:
If you decide to go AFROTC, you really need to up your SAT/ACT because as a C200 it will be used for SFT selection. The avg SAT score for a Type 1 scholarship is 1360 or a 31 ACT. They will be your competition at that point, so if it means even taking it all the way until June when you even have a scholarship on hand. Scholarships are masked for the SFT board, the SAT/ACT isn't masked.
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I haven't thought about it this way. Are you saying that June is the latest time that I can do the SATs/ACTs to count towards SFT selection?

Please forgive me, but when you mentioned how scholarships are masked, SAT/ACTs are not - I don't understand what this means. Could you clarify this for me?

What does SFT stand for? I'm assuming it has to do with selection for moving on to advanced classes? ... also what does DS stand for?

Pima said:
I also think you are over thinking the questions, typically the questions are generic, for them to get a feel for you as a person, not your knowledge of the geneva convention.
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So, are you saying that this link: http://career-advice.monster.com/jo...00-Potential-Interview-Questions/article.aspx is over kill? that I am over thinking it?



BTW - 80% sure that I will go AF ...
 
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Jcleppe said:
When a cadet starts their freshman year they will have 3 required MS Classes, MS100, MS Lab, and PT. There are other things they can sign up for such as Ranger Challenge and Color Guard.

Some schools will roll all 3 required classes into one giving either 1 or 2 credits. Some schools will handle things like Ranger Challenge and Color guard as part of the class for extra credit.

Some schools will actually seperate them all out and give credit for each class, for example:

MS100- 1 credit
MS Lab- 1 credit
PT- 1 credit
Ranger Challenge- 1 credit
Color Guard- 1 credit

Total 5 credits

Other schools may do it different, example:

MS100, MS Lab, PT- 2 credits
Ranger Challenge, Color Guard- Extra Credit- 0 credits

Total 2 credits

Some schools will assign a letter grade to all the credits, so you can see it can make a difference in the GPA Calculations depending on how the school hadles the credits.

For some majors the upper level MS 300 and 400 classes can count toward the related fields for the Major, this can effect the number of classes the student will need to take. Some colleges offer a Military Science Minor for doing ROTC. You also need to see if the school gives credit for MS classes toward the credits needed for graduation.

I know, it can get pretty confusing sometimes, my son's learned a lot of this as they went through school.

DMG stands for "Distinguished Military Graduate" , meaning the cadet finished in the top 20% of the National OML (Order of Merit List)
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I like this post. Great questions to ask because all will affect you. Schools handle MS classes differently. Mine probably has no clue what Ranger Challenge is or what color guard does besides sporting events and a few other university events. The credits you will recieve from your MS class can be crucial as they can certainly help your GPA the more credits you get. My school gives 1 credit per semester for MS1 year (includes Class/Lab/PT/everything). 2 credits for MS2. 4 for MS3 and MS4.

Also, definitely look into if your school offers a MS minor. Some do, some do not. Mine does not (but apparently working to get it approved), however, it does count the upper level MS classes towards a Business Management Minor.
 
Thompson,

You can continue to take the SAT or ACT even in college, but college as a full time cadet in ROTC can get in the way, and many keep putting it off until you are getting close to the SFT board, i.e. fall of sophomore yr. It is just easier IMPHO to take it while you are still in hs, and June would be the last one until Sept.

SFT is Summer Field Training. As a C200 you will meet an SFT board where they select who goes to SFT and who doesn't. If not selected AFROTCHQ can allow you to try again the following yr., or they can opt to disenroll you completely from AFROTC. If disenrolled than it is over because you can't even try for OCS later on.

Masked means the board does not see that data, it has no impact upon their decision. For SFT selection, they will not know who is and who isn't on scholarship. SFT will use SAT/ACT score, college cgpa, PFA and CoC's rec. That is all they take into account for selection.

That is why your SAT will come back into your life again as an AFROTC cadet, and this time it is make or break for not financial purposes, but for being able to become an AF officer.

Yes, that link is overkill. You are 17 or 18, not a 25 yo going corporate. ALO's and CoCs work with your age day in day out. They know that kids are nervous and want to make a good impression, thus they try to make it less stressful for the kids.

I would also suggest that if you are still doing college visits, make an apptmt with the dets., ask to talk to cadets that are 300 or 400s, meet them without the folks. Cadets will act differently with the folks around. It will also give you a feeling of what it will be like next yr without them.

If I were you, the questions I would ask, if this is your number 1 school choice. What % of C200's were selected for SFT? What was the avg cgpa? Did they use a mini-board for 200's or submitted all 200's for SFT? What % of cadets get their 1st career choice? Why did those that didn't get 1st get 2nd....medical, CGPA, PFT? Besides LLAB, PT will there be times that you have mandated volunteerism? DS's det. cleans the FB and BB stadium at least 2X a semester. It is mandated for all cadets. They also do philanthropic work on top of that. (Another reason why it can be harder to take the SAT when in college).

There are lots of questions that you can google, but it really is about asking what will impact you as a cadet and the unique aspects of each unit.

DS= Dear Son
 
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Pima said:
If not selected AFROTCHQ can allow you to try again the following yr., or they can opt to disenroll you completely from AFROTC. If disenrolled than it is over because you can't even try for OCS later on.
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WAIT. RED FLAG. Are you saying that if I do not pass the board, I'm pretty much SOL for my idea of a military career?!!

How does the SFT board affect OTS? Do I become, blacklisted, for lack of better words?

And so, then knowing the answers for these questions should be sufficient for the interview:
Why do you want to be an officer?
Why should I admit you into ROTC?
Why do you want to join the Military?
Biggest high school achievement?
Biggest failure?
What are you strengths?
What are you weaknesses? (then state how to turn them into strengths?)
Tell me about yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Any others that I am missing?
 
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Thompson,

If you are considering AFROTC listen to PIMA, ask questions, she is great at giving advice for AFROTC.

You are correct about one thing, AFROTC carries a lot more risk then AROTC, it would do you well to get all the information you can before making a decision.
 
Thompson,

For lack of better terms you are SOL regarding AF as an officer if not selected for SFT AND AFROTCHQ decides to disenroll you instead of allowing you to apply again the following yr. SFT is the way to become a POC, which you must be for at least 3 semesters prior to commissioning.

If you apply for OTS, you would have to acknowledge your dis-enrollment from AFROTC. Now look at it from the AF's POV. Why should they give you a slot when you didn't pass the thresh hold as a cadet in college? There are only so many OTS slots.

Traditionally in yrs past many of these AFROTC cadets that didn't get a slot, transferred over to AROTC after their 200 yr. However, I am not sure if the Army is accepting at the same rate they did a few yrs ago. I will leave that to Clarkson or Marist to chime in regarding this issue.

Before you go running in fear, this is why you ask the questions I posed. On a whole, you would need about a 3.1 for a tech major, but that is the national avg., your college choice can have cadets getting SFT with a 3.4 for tech or a 2.8, mathematically to have an avg of 3.1, there will be some in those parameters.

It is a risk compared to AROTC. However, AROTC does not guarantee AD, so that is something you need to place into the equation also. AFROTC and you will go AD. That is why the 5 yr plan is something you need to think about. If the idea of being a maintenance officer at Minot ND for the AF is not your druthers, and you would rather go Army Reserves or Guard, than you need to address those issues.

As for questions, I would expect 1 more.

You have a very high cgpa, tons of advance classes, why the disconnect between your SAT/ACT score and your cgpa? Test anxiety will give a red flag especially if you want rated. As an AFROTC cadet you will take the AFOQT, and as a cadet wanting rated you will also take the TBAS. These are same style as SAT/ACT, but now it is career, test anxiety will ramp up.

That is the question I would be concerned about, because it would be common sense to ask. DS was asked why with a 720 M, 34 ACT M he got a C in AP Calc. He was able to say it was teaching style.
 
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Thompson said:
WAIT. RED FLAG. Are you saying that if I do not pass the board, I'm pretty much SOL for my idea of a military career?!!

How does the SFT board affect OTS? Do I become, blacklisted, for lack of better words?

And so, then knowing the answers for these questions should be sufficient for the interview:
Why do you want to be an officer?
Why should I admit you into ROTC?
Why do you want to join the Military?
Biggest high school achievement?
Biggest failure?
What are you strengths?
What are you weaknesses? (then state how to turn them into strengths?)
Tell me about yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Any others that I am missing?
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I'm sure there are bunch of other questions, but these are not generally questions you prepare for. Think of this as a college admissions interview (do they even do these anymore?) where ROTC is substituted for the name of the college. You've listed key ones you can think about and perhaps mentally prepare an answer. They will definitely try to find a sideways question you weren't prepared for no matter how much you prepared. There is value to seeing how you think on your feet. (That's actually one of the reasons I hate these "How do I prepare for the interview" threads).

Just be yourself. Relax. Answer questions frankly, honestly and fully and you'll do fine. I like to emphasize fully because often we only give half the answer and then the conversation moves on and it's too late to go back.
 
Pima said:
Before you go running in fear, this is why you ask the questions I posed.

You have a very high cgpa, tons of advance classes, why the disconnect between your SAT/ACT score and your cgpa?
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I don't really have a "good" reason. I've studied and studied & have taken a prep course; but that did not seem to help. Simply put, I generally do not test well on standardized tests. Would this be an acceptable answer? And no; there is ZERO test anxiety.

In terms of asking questions; at the end of the interview when I am asked about the "golden opportunity" - is there a maximum number of questions I am allowed to ask? With the questions that you posed, I now have a lot more questions I would like ask ...

Please forgive me; what does AD stand for?
 
Thompson,

On this site under community feedback there is a sticky for acronyms, and you will find this very helpful.


If it was me interviewing you, the 470 CR SAT would worry me. Talk to your English teacher to see why the disparity in their professional opinion between the SAT and the cgpa?

It may give you a stronger answer, than anxiety.

As for question limitations, remember to use your time wisely. They may have back to back interviews or other commitments. I would contact the det. prior and ask if you can meet some cadets. You can always ask them questions, and that will allow you to ask the questions only the CoC can answer.

Our DS as a POC hung out at the det. between class breaks. Det lounges typically have X box, foosball, crud table, etc for cadets to relax in. He also would go there because when you are a cadet you will have a job too. Reports need to be submitted. On top of that as a cadet you may need to do paperwork for yourself, such as Arnie Air Society pledge or commissioning/graduation paperwork.

Nobody expects you to know it all, not even if you are a JROTC cadet. That is what ROTC is about. They are looking for the best Whole Candidate.

Be yourself, don't overthink this. You have already been accepted to PSU. The beauty of AFROTC scholarships compared to AROTC they couldn't care if 100% of the cadets or 0% are on scholarship. There is no assigned number of scholarships offered to the unit. OBTW the sword cuts both ways. AFROTC is national, and AROTC is tied to colleges.
 
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Ah! That acronym thread will come in very handy! Thanks!

Question.

I received word back from my AF interview; she said that the latest she could hold the interview is at 1630.

My Army interview is the same day; @ 1000 at Penn State. Worst comes to worst the interview lasts 2 hours, until 1200. Leave Penn State some time between 1200-1300. For me, it takes approx 2.5 hours to get back home (W/O traffic!). So I am just a tad bit worried that I may be late.

When I email back my AF interviewer, what should I say? I want to say that I may be a little late - but if I don't say why, she might question this.
If I tell her that I'm interviewing w/ Army in the morning, I fear that may hurt my chances at the scholarship.
SOO - how should I word the email?
 
Better not to have scheduled the two interviews like that, but it's done, so now deal with it.

According to the schedule you've outlined (more than once) it looks like you have enough time to comfortably make the second interview. You may be the most interesting high schooler around, but it's hard to imagine an interview running for two hours. Generally, the interviewer will form an impression of you in the first few minutes. While it's important to get your questions answered and show that you're an intellectually curious person, there's no need to drag things out. If you're an hour into your interview, it may be prudent not to offer to discuss your analysis of Mardonius's mistakes at Plataea. Also, why are you allowing yourself an hour to leave the campus?

Make sure you have directions to where the interview will take place and where you will park (for both interviews). Have the AFROTC phone number with you in the event you do run late. Also, charge your cell phone and make sure in advance that your car has gas, oil, tire pressure and antifreeze so it won't crap out on your way home. Finally, give yourself enough time so that you don;t have to eat your lunch while driving.

Good luck with both interviews.
 
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EDelahanty said:
If you're an hour into your interview, it may be prudent not to offer to discuss your analysis of Mardonius's mistakes at Plataea.
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Mardonius's mistakes at Plataea? Really? Should I mention that? Man, that could take another whole hour. Should I discuss them in the original Greek? :biggrin:

Thompson... quit worrying about making a mistake. Successful people are bold, honest, and forthright. Just do your interviews. As EDelehanty said of you're running late just call. I doubt you will run late. But if you do there will either be sufficient time for the interview or it will need to be rescheduled. You've already checked and expressed your concern about making it on time. Cross your bridges when you get to them. Here are some words of wisdom on leadership from my DS's MOI that he addressed to the battalion. You might find them helpful.

Develop and refine your leadership style while in school. Work on your self-confidence. Develop your decision making abilities, and when the situation requires it, be comfortable choosing and executing the 70% solution.
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I know you want to do well. It's very clear. If something goes awry just let that part of you shine through. It will make a difference. In the meantime don't fret about it. You don't want to be so worried about the second interview that you screw up the first. Deep breaths man! And good luck!
 
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EDelahanty said:
Better not to have scheduled the two interviews like that, but it's done, so now deal with it.
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... well I specifically stated that (for the AF interview) that Monday would not be a suitable day, but if necessary late afternoon/evening will do; she told me she's very busy right now - so I guess Monday was the only day that worked for her. Plus I don't want to push it back any further and risking missing the 2nd board.

And also; that hour is to possibly stop by the AF det to see my point of contact real quick/admissions officer, frantically eat lunch ... and stop by the Creamery real quick ... (time permitting)

.... I just don't want to have to end up calling the Lt. Col. saying that I'll be running late because I was interviewing w/ Army ...

THank you soooo much for all your help everyone!!
 
... oh BTW, just wanted to check - for documentation: transcript & resume --> is that all I should need to bring?
 
Thompson said:
... oh BTW, just wanted to check - for documentation: transcript & resume --> is that all I should need to bring?
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Yes, that should be fine unless they specifically asked you to bring something else. Don't forget to bring your smile! :smile:
 
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