NROTC Questions

[robertj96]

Generally, how competitive is it to get an NROTC Scholarship? About what percent of applicants get the scholarship? Compared to a scholarship in the Navy Option of the NROTC program, how competitive is a Marine Corps Option NROTC scholarship? Thank you very much.

 

[BarrettaM59]

They are all hard.

Score a 300 on your PFT and the Marine Option will be easier. The Marines do theirs differently. If I had it to do over, I would have stuck with the Navy.

The Marines interview with the XO of the recruiting station. The Navy interview was with a Petty Officer. The PO was doing his job. The XO treated us like an inconvenience. The PO came to you. You came to the XO. (Don't be late.) The XO can stand you up for your interview with a Dr. appointment. If you are late for the reschedule, you won't get the scholarship.

Funny my DS still wants to be a Marine, even after the tongue lashing.

Hopefully there is someone who has something more positive.

 

[kinnem]

Score a 300 on your PFT and the Marine Option will be easier. The Marines do theirs differently. If I had it to do over, I would have stuck with the Navy.

The Marines interview with the XO of the recruiting station. The Navy interview was with a Petty Officer. The PO was doing his job. The XO treated us like an inconvenience. The PO came to you. You came to the XO. (Don't be late.) The XO can stand you up for your interview with a Dr. appointment. If you are late for the reschedule, you won't get the scholarship.

Funny my DS still wants to be a Marine, even after the tongue lashing.

Hopefully there is someone who has something more positive.

I don't believe the numbers you're looking for are published and those who know aren't talking.

It's competitive, in part I think because there are somewhat fewer of them and their PFT is so demanding. Don't let the lower academic minimums fool you. You better be well qualified anyway. On the plus side, the Marines don't care what your major is, unlike Navy which wants 85% Tier 1. If difficult PFT rocks your world, if you eat pullups like candy, and you look forward to adding inches to your shoulders and upper arms, then go for it. As ,Reagan said. "Most people wonder if they made a difference in the world. Marines don't have to". DS loves it, but then he always wanted to be a Marine. It's the only ROTC scholarship he would apply for.

 

[USMCGrunt]

BarettaM59: I am sorry you had a bad experience in the Marine Option process but would like to offer that I feel this is the exception not the rule. From personal experience and anecdotal stories from this forum and other sources, I feel it is important to report most scholarship candidates have a very positive experience in their Marine Officer interviews and the application process.

Regarding your comment on the Marine PFT. A 300 (max score) on the physical fitness test is impressive but is only one part of the criteria considered when choosing scholarship recipients. I don't feel that scoring a 300 "makes it easier". There are probably a number of candidates with a 300 who didn't get the scholarship. There are certainly candidates who scored lower who did get the scholarship. While the Marines stress physical fitness, they are looking for so much more.

I mean no disrespect and certainly don't discount your experiences or opinions. I just wanted to balance them with a different perspective.