Yes, I am American. I am taking a gap year right now and I'm working.
How do I contact cadet command? Do I send them an email or call them up sometime?
So the fall 2011 applications should start opening up spring of 2010? it would come up on the rotc website right? I can apply as soon as it opens?
Okay, the mailing thing sounds good. however that would mean I would have to go through my aunt and uncle or my grandmother in order to know what is happening with my application. do you think they would or would not send mail internationally?
I will be in the US during the summer of 2010. Will be in Portland, Or, and Seattle, Wa. Applying to schools mostly in Oregon and Washington (Like Portland State, UW, OSU) but I'm guessing that is probably too early for an interview. someone suggested interview locations such as guam and hawaii.
What do you mean academy?
Thank you very much!
Online application for next year will start in late winter of this year. Once you submit the online application with self-reported SAT/ACT scores, GPA, ECs, etc. Cadet Command will authorize you for a PMS interview fairly quickly(IIRC, it was about 1 week for us). This can happen before your summer vacation, but you should probably wait to submit your application until you get your final grades for 11th grade, so CC has a more complete picture.
You should then be able to schedule your PMS issue when over stateside during the summer. Actually PMS' prefer to do it in the summer because they aren't as busy. Goaliegirl had hers in August. Of course, you'll need to follow up with official transcripts, ACT/SAT official results (you can fax or send photocopy of mailed score results) as they become available, but this won't delay your interview.
You should also arrange to do the APFT at your PMS interview unless you know who can administer the PFT at your home school (don't know if they do it where you are). The PMS should be very happy to do so, as they like to see what you are made of.
BTW, I was the one who suggested Guam or Hawaii before I knew that you were still a Junior. At that time I thought you were a senior who couldn't get stateside to interview until this summer which would not work, hence the suggestion. If you are going to be here between your Junior and Senior years, by all means do your interview then and there.
As to contacting cadet command, you'll find links around the application URL to contact Cadet Command. This will start an email correspondence with CC. When discussing your application with CC, ask specific questions about specific areas of the application or requirements. They cannot advise you as to strategy or stuff like that, but are very good at telling you what qualifies for the various things you need.
I agree with singapore mom's assessment that if you can use a reliable US address, do so. For ROTC, you will only get form letters in the mail throughout most of the process (not sure about after the acceptance letter - perhaps I'll know in a week or so
) advising you of what you are missing in your application. Your relatives can scan/email or fax these to you. I've found that the letters were a bit behind reality, so reply to the snail mail with email to ask them to confirm what is missing if you think it may have arrived already.
If there is paperwork with regards to the scholarship award that needs to be signed in a short amount of time (I think you can accept online too, someone please verify), you're relatives will just have to fed-ex it to you.
In all, it is better than relying on the potential for mixup with 2 different mail systems (US & Japan).
Lots to digest here, but this should get you a long way through the process. Just stick around here and ask the detail questions as they come up.
Good Luck.
