If the decisions indeed come out on March 1st there is no doubt this thread will top 50,000 views. I think Clarkson's idea of turning it into a book is a great idea, just hand it out to all ROTC applicants for next year.
Patnetesq made a comment earlier about melding the final 2 boards together and the reletive fairness of those boarded before the deadline, all valid points by the way. I have an observation that formed over the past 3 years on the early applicant question.
When my first son applied in Fall of 2007 the individual batallions made the offers, it really didn't matter that much if you applied early or not. Now that things have changed to CC making the decisions, getting your application in early has become more important.
Last Spring when my younger son started his application I lost track of how many times the PMS and ROO told him to make sure he got his application complete and ready for the first board. The PMS told him at his interview that having his application in early and being able to be reviewed by all 3 boards increased his chances.
Now, the rest of this is purely speculation on my part based on subtle comments made by the PMS and ROO at several schools we visited, and the experiences of a couple of my son's classmates.
It was insinuated by the PMS that those who applied early had commitment to the ARMY that was not based soley on the money the scholarship offered. We didn't think to much about this at the time. Last year when my younger son was talking to classmates about his desire to do AROTC and apply for the scholarship he got quite a few different opinions from his friends, not all good ones eaither. There was a lot of "Why in the world would you want to do that" comments. Now fast forward to this Fall. These same kids started doing college tours, they also started doing the math on just how much college was really going to cost. It surpised me how little planning some people put into college. Around the beginning of December these same kids started asking my son more about the AROTC scholarship and the process. DS had already received the scholarship and had selected his school. Two of the kids who had originally made the above comments filled out the application, submitted them just before the deadline, have had their interviews and and are ready for the final board. I have no doubt in my mind that the money was the overwhelming reason they applied.
The exact same thing happened when my older son applied in 07, two classmates saw what the scholarship was worth, saw it as a way to pay for college. They were both awarded scholarships. Both of them lasted their freshman year, they did not quite know what they were getting into, decided it was not for them and quit at the end of the freshman year. They have both transferred back to in state schools.
Now i don't know if any of this plays into the minds of those on the boards, I just know that it was a concern of the PMS that interviewed my younger son. There is a spot on the interview sheet that allows for comments by the PMS.
I guess my point in all this babbling is that there may be an underlying reason for getting the application in early, sort of a method to the madness. Of course I could be totally off base, which wouldn't be the first time.
We should get OhioParent a trophy for this massive thread she started or at least get her the name of a good publisher.
Patnetesq made a comment earlier about melding the final 2 boards together and the reletive fairness of those boarded before the deadline, all valid points by the way. I have an observation that formed over the past 3 years on the early applicant question.
When my first son applied in Fall of 2007 the individual batallions made the offers, it really didn't matter that much if you applied early or not. Now that things have changed to CC making the decisions, getting your application in early has become more important.
Last Spring when my younger son started his application I lost track of how many times the PMS and ROO told him to make sure he got his application complete and ready for the first board. The PMS told him at his interview that having his application in early and being able to be reviewed by all 3 boards increased his chances.
Now, the rest of this is purely speculation on my part based on subtle comments made by the PMS and ROO at several schools we visited, and the experiences of a couple of my son's classmates.
It was insinuated by the PMS that those who applied early had commitment to the ARMY that was not based soley on the money the scholarship offered. We didn't think to much about this at the time. Last year when my younger son was talking to classmates about his desire to do AROTC and apply for the scholarship he got quite a few different opinions from his friends, not all good ones eaither. There was a lot of "Why in the world would you want to do that" comments. Now fast forward to this Fall. These same kids started doing college tours, they also started doing the math on just how much college was really going to cost. It surpised me how little planning some people put into college. Around the beginning of December these same kids started asking my son more about the AROTC scholarship and the process. DS had already received the scholarship and had selected his school. Two of the kids who had originally made the above comments filled out the application, submitted them just before the deadline, have had their interviews and and are ready for the final board. I have no doubt in my mind that the money was the overwhelming reason they applied.
The exact same thing happened when my older son applied in 07, two classmates saw what the scholarship was worth, saw it as a way to pay for college. They were both awarded scholarships. Both of them lasted their freshman year, they did not quite know what they were getting into, decided it was not for them and quit at the end of the freshman year. They have both transferred back to in state schools.
Now i don't know if any of this plays into the minds of those on the boards, I just know that it was a concern of the PMS that interviewed my younger son. There is a spot on the interview sheet that allows for comments by the PMS.
I guess my point in all this babbling is that there may be an underlying reason for getting the application in early, sort of a method to the madness. Of course I could be totally off base, which wouldn't be the first time.
We should get OhioParent a trophy for this massive thread she started or at least get her the name of a good publisher.
Welcome to our new posters, KSMom - glad you're still out there too, and that DS has found another path too(just in case...). 
