Chanves of getting a scholarship from one of the next two AROTC boards?

[daine]

I just found out that I was not offered an AROTC scholarship for the October Board. I'd like to know what anyone thinks as to any major reasons why I wasn't offered one, and what my chances are for getting one for one of the next 2 boards.

Schools listed:
Penn State
Ohio State
American
Georgetown
George Mason

Creds:

17 yrs old

Pitt PMI said I had a great interview and that I would get close to a perfect score, if not a perfect score.

Scholar:

UW GPA: 3.5 (almost all Honors, AP, or IB classes)
SAT: 2080
High Honor Roll: 4 times
MYP Certificate (Sr Year)
Dean's List (Jr Year)

Leader:

VP of Men's Ensemble
Boy Scout since '08
Likely to become Eagle Scout
Troop leadership position for 3 yrs of HS
Lead in Jr Year Musical
Lead in Fr Year Fall Play
3 time student of the year nominee

Athlete:

Winter Track 2 time varsity letter winner
Spring Track 3 time varsity letter winner
Cross Country 3 time varsity letter winner
Marching Band 4 time varsity letter winner
(12 total, will have 13 by the end of HS)

Other:

Musical last 3 yrs and will participate again
Chanteclairs (elite auditioned choir) 3 yrs
Drumline 4 yrs
Church Youth Group 4 yrs

Fitness Test:

push-ups: 65
sit-ups: 55
Mile run: 4:53

Jonny,

I was awarded a 4-year scholarship from the first board and we are both similar and different. I had 2050 SAT, similar to yours, but I also had a higher GPA. I had a 4.0 unweighed and 4.5 weighted. You also participated in a lot of sports, but within those sports you did not hold any real leadership positions. It would have been great to be captain of XC or track. I had leadership positions on basketball team, lacrosse team, and two business clubs (DECA and FBLA). That being said, I was not an Eagle scout and did not have any musical extra curricular activities. In the future, really try to highlight your leadership position within boy scouts/eagle scouts. From discussing with numerous other people either in the ROTC program or those just awarded scholarship, it seems you have a good chance to be awarded a scholarship in the second or third board. You may, however, not received the scholarship to your top school, because schools like Georgetown tend to fill their slots up quick.

I know its tough to wait, but aside from everything else you do have a good shot.

Oh and p.s. I chose finance for my major which is not stem and still received 4-year scholarship to top 3 schools.

Good luck man!

 

[Vista123]

You are correct, Pima. The Army does not care about major when selecting for scholarships.

Jcc123, Im not sure that is still true. I know it WAS true but I am not sure it is STILL true

 

[Vista123]

The school choice matters less now with AROTC scholarships than it used to. Last year they started something new, which was to give scholarship winners the choice to their top 3 schools (as long as the school still had scholarships available) without looking if they were in-state, out-of-state or private.

Accurate. We were told the same thing.

 

[-Bull-]

Maj. Gen. Smith of Cadet Command and AROTC, 2013summary of his views:

AROTC is looking more to STEM; increasing ROTC classroom hours, decreasing college lab time; new CIET b/t freshman and sophomore; and another 4 weeks summer trg. b/t sophomore and junior summer; and still Leader Development and Assessment Course, now at Ft. Knox.

"...today's Army needs more officers versed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
Smith sums up the ROTC transformation with four bullets:

-- Transforming cadet leader development
-- Developing a world-class cadre
-- Improving cadet recruiting, selection and branching
-- Adjusting the ROTC footprint

Sounds like candidate's major will play a large role in selection. May lose a little in devaluing officer candidates with different backgrounds.

MG Smith is long gone from USACC and there have been many new changes under the new CG. Not saying everything above isn't correct (although some of it is incorrect), but I wouldn't cite it anymore with a new CG and new changes being implemented.