AROTC October Results: tell me what worked!

[thisandthat]

I have been quietly following this board. My kid is a junior and will go through this next year. I am gathering intelligence

Looking at the stats (GPA, SAT, EC, etc) of the scholarship winners of the AROTC October board, it does not appear that the scholarship winners can be neatly packaged in one dimension (e.g., high test scores, GPA). I guess it's partly due to the combination of the scholarship and the school of choice complication.

The whole thing seems to be a much more of a multi dimensional exercise than than college admissions process.

So, those of you who went before the October board, can you share with me, and others who will go through this next year, what worked and what did not?

 

[Kate]

I can share with you my experiences:

Well first off it was my decision to choose ROTC, my parents were slightly against it at first. But in time they realized that this is what I wanted to do.

So what worked? I took really challenging courses each year. Like AP and Honors. I also recommend getting involved in at least one sport and club. BUT only join if you are interested in it. (Don't want to be miserable or quit half way).

This is what i was involved in:
Swimming (HS and club team)
Lifeguard (summer job)
National Honors Society Officer
FLIGHT (faith leadership group)
Young Marines
Track
Ran 1/2 Marathons
Attended the National Youth Leadership Forum: National Security
Led the Junior Faith Retreat

GPA: 3.8/4.2
Senior classes: AP Lit, AP Gov, University of Dayton Religion 103, FLIGHT, Precalc, Art 1, Anatomy and Physiology.

Awarded 4 year AROTC scholarship to: VMI and University of Cincinnati

(Hope this helps!)

 

[gojack]

I have been quietly following this board. My kid is a junior and will go through this next year. I am gathering intelligence

Looking at the stats (GPA, SAT, EC, etc) of the scholarship winners of the AROTC October board, it does not appear that the scholarship winners can be neatly packaged in one dimension (e.g., high test scores, GPA). I guess it's partly due to the combination of the scholarship and the school of choice complication.

The whole thing seems to be a much more of a multi dimensional exercise than than college admissions process.

So, those of you who went before the October board, can you share with me, and others who will go through this next year, what worked and what did not?

Be serious about being an officer, read up a little, know the difference between a Sgt. and a LTC.
(I made my son watch the movie Heart Break Ridge, twice and we discussed the role of enlisted, NCO's and officers
as well as identifying the chain of command.)

Look over the interview form spend your time getting all SAL scores up 40,
don't waste time and effort on a category you are maxing out already,
if you are short somewhere else.

Practice interviewing, make sure all qualifications are highlighted.
(being head of blood drive does no good if not mentioned)

Make your 1st choice school a realist one.
Call and find out ACT/GPA of their scholarship awardees.

Work out regularly, do well on the PT test.

 

[cds4wp15]

I was told my resume was solid so take it for what its worth.

GPA W.-4.3 / UW-3.4
Soccer 4 years, lettered 3 years, captain 1 year
tennis 4 years, lettered 4 years, captain 2 years
swimming 1 year, lettered 1 year
Beta Club (National Honor Society)
Class Secretary
Officer of a non-school club
Various Service Projects
3 Scholastic Awards
Club Representative

I am taking the IB Program (International Baccalaureate) at my school which is equivalent to AP except you are taking 6 IB classes which is more classes than AP students takes in one year

 

[armynavy]

I would say that this is something that comes from within. My wife and I are supportive of our son, but we would rather he pursued a different career, if only because the policy in DC is not coherent.

Yet, this is something my son has wanted since he was eight or nine years old. So, he set out early to do the things that would be viewed favorably by the Army.

He joined sports teams. He relished his workouts when other football players complained. He joined the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps and excelled. He studied hard. He took tough classes. He practiced taking the SATs and raised his scores from a PSAT predicted 1600 his freshman year to an actual 2000 by his junior year. Two-and-a-half more years of reading and math helped there, too.

So, my overall message is that this cannot be gamed. There has to be a fire in the cadet to want this. Then they will take the steps over the long haul to ensure they get it. Cadet Command is looking at the big picture over several years. Scholarship, Athletics, Leadership.