Can I Start?

C

CTX34

USNA Appointee, USMA Appointee (2021)
Joined
Nov 11, 2015
Messages
61
Hello I am a current Junior in high school and hope to become an Army Officer. I hope to gain admission into West Point, but know that is never guaranteed. Therefore, I am also applying for ROTC Scholarships. I was looking at the Army website, and was wondering if I could go ahead and start my application for ROTC even though I am only a junior. I can't find anywhere where it says I can't, but I want to be sure.
Thanks

GO ARMY
 
You want to start your application at the end of your junior year. There may be restrictions on making an application before your junior year is over, and besides you can't really do much now on the application as a junior. Just focus on boosting your resume and getting ready for the PFT.
 
Ok, is there anywhere that is says the exact dates on when I should start the application process?
 
CTX34,

I believe you have to wait until the current batch of applicants are thru. Probably June or July. Not really sure about that. There are tons of documents and things you need to put together, however some of the documents have to be sent by your school. There is an essay as well. If I were in you shoes, I would get a list if the things needed, and work on what I could early. And try to get your fitness as high as you can by practising the fitness test. Get your essay done and polished. First week of school upload everything you can, then get your interview and fitness test scheduled. Jmo....Good Luck!
 
You can start by researching schools. I took my son for a campus visit in March of his junior year. Take your ACT/SAT if you haven't already. Start working out. You first chance to be boarded will probably be in October 2016. Have all your ducks in a row by September, including your PMS interview. Make early applications for admissions to as many schools as you can, as well.
 
All advice above is great. My daughter had the same question a year ago, tried to start an application and realized it was valid for the wrong school year. Nothing you can do. After this year is complete, after the 3rd board, a message will go up on the website telling you the approximate date the portal will open for your year. Until then, take your ACT and/or SAT early, and retake, and retake if needed. Army ROTC super scores, meaning they will take the highest score on each section even if you take it more than once, this helped my daughter's score on the ACT as her best test date she did a little lower on her best area, math, but they took her score from a previous test and it improved her overall ACT composite. My daughter also visited her first campus and ROTC recruiter fall of her Junior year. This was necessary for us as most of her schools are out of state (there is only one approved Army ROTC school for nursing in our state, so out of state was mandatory). If for some reason you do not get a national scholarship, the extra mile you took with an individual school might pay off in a campus based scholarship. Usually a 3 year designated, but you can apply for it after the boards are complete your Senior year. Consider it a back up plan. She definitely wanted a school we could afford if this did not work out, so she could do ROTC and study nursing with or without a scholarship, so Junior year is when she started researching schools that give in state rates to kids with good grades, or a discount to neighboring states, or had extra perks for ROTC scholarship winners or even to any contracted cadet, like waived room and board. Now is a great time to start figuring out your top schools and learning all about your options, but try to be realistic as possible. You have to be able to get into the school and afford it if things don't go 100% to plan.
 
I agree with the above posts. Your junior year should focus on narrowing down your college list. You should also focus on planning on how to pay for college. You should know what type of college offers the major you desire and freshman scholarships that will help keep you out of debt. You should also focus on doing well in your high school or dual credit classes and performing well in your sport. By the end of your junior year you should have a great academic resume, a great GPA, decent SAT/ACT scores and your college list narrowed down to 3-5 schools you want to attend. Visit colleges! Load up mom and dad and make them sit through some college attendance presentations. It will help them come to terms with your impending departure. Have fun! Exciting times.
 
Thank you all for the responses. I guess you could say I have narrowed down my college list. With
1. Service Academies(1.USMA, 2. USAFA, 3. USNA)
2. Texas A&M University( my dads alma mater, in-state)
3. Auburn University( my moms alma mater, would be 6th generation to attend)
I really don't see myself going anywhere else.

I have taken the ACT once and did pretty good, and haven't taken the SAT yet.

Just cant wait to start this chapter of my life!
Thanks!
 
Hi,

I started mine in June for NROTC. I believe they have some hidden deadline at July 1st known as the "hard and fast deadline"? Basically this is for the top notch students who are confident they will receive a scholarship. Until then, just follow the other posters guidelines to improve your stats - it will help you alot.

Good luck!
 
For the class of 2020 scholarship applications opened around JUN 6 2015, so expect to hit the ground running around that time in 2016. Best of luck to you.
 
Going off topic for a second.

Why would you apply to USAFA or USNA if you want to be an Army officer?

If the answer is the SA experience, than I would say to you that an SA experience is not 24/7/365 days a year for 4 years. AD life is.
~ It will also become part of your equation next yr when you do the nom applications they will ask you rank them. If you rank USAFA as number 1 to Sen. A, USNA to Sen. B, and USMA to Cong. You may find out that all you get is a nomination to USAFA.
~~ USAFA and AF is a whole different life than USMA and Army. Their mission goals are different. Hint: Air Force is about Air Superiority. Army is about land.

As others have stated they have to clear through this years applicants before they start next year. May is usually when all of their ducks are in a row. You will not hear about any results until Oct. 2016 on a good day.

Use this time to take that SAT and ACT over and over again, because both USMA and AROTC superscore.
~ Once you take the SAT, you should be able to see which one you do better on by using the comparison charts for ACT and SAT. From there than concentrate on that one exam.
~~ For SAs and noms. MoCs usually close their applications by mid October at the latest. Thus, waiting to take it again in Sept. is calling it close. Taking it Mar, Apr., May and June means you have a better chance from a superscore perspective.
~~~ If plan B is also to apply for every ROTC scholarship (AROTC, NROTC and AFROTC). Understand that AFROTC, unlike USAFA does not superscore. It is best sitting only. Taking the tests frequently can equate to a better best sitting.
 
Thank you Pima. I apologize for the confusion but USMA and the Army is what I want to do. If I were to start the process right now I would put USMA and the Army at number one on everything. That being said, I do not want to close the door to other military branches. I may change my dream in the next year and a half and decide the Air Force is what I want to do, not the Army. I am only a junior and do not want to decide where I will be spending the next 10 years of my life just yet. The only definitive I can give you right now is that I want to serve in the U.S. Military.

Thank you all for the help on this post!
 
Than use this time to research career field options.

IE if you want to fly...AF and Navy would be the way to go for fixed wing. Want Helos than Army and Navy are better options than the AF.
 
Ok I will definitely be constantly researching for the next few months. Thank you Pima!
 
The answer is June before your senior year. When you go to the application website there won't be a link for your year group until the window opens.
 
Another thing to add to your to do list is attend Boys/Girls State. It is looked on favorably by the academies. I would assume that ROTC likes it also. Research what it is and what you need to do to get in.
 
@clarksonarmy I don't know if I'm on the wrong thing, but I have been able to open up the scholarship application site from the goarmy website. I was able to access the dashboard and application tabs but did not fill anything out.

And I have contacted my American Legion Post and am applying for Boys State. Thanks!
 
Did you look at the year? Right now it is for entering 2016, thus it is open, but what clarkson was saying was for 2017 it will not open until June 2016.

The same will be true for the SAs.

Right now they are only dealing with the class of 2020, 2021 is not eligible to submit any applications for ROTC.

I would also suggest that since you are a junior and interested in attending the SAs than apply for their summer programs. I believe they open around now and you will know in March is they accepted you for their summer sessions. Typically it is on your dime to fly/drive out to the SAs.
 
I am applying to the USAFA Summer Seminar, and the USMA SLE application does not open until January 2016. Thanks!
 
I have another question and don't want to start a new thread.....
Would joining the Army Reserves right now as a junior, give me an advantage for the future?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top