ROTC early application: Disadvantage?

[Nick0726]

I'm about to apply for the ROTC scholarship and having second thoughts about applying now. I'm still in my junior year and, to my knowledge, the Army ROTC scholarship considers all 4 (9-12) years instead of just 9-11?

Will applying for it now out me at a disadvantage to people who apply in Septmpember and list new achievements they've gotten their senior year? I won't be doing much different except I'll have one more Varsity letter to add to my application.

 

[goaliedad]

I'm about to apply for the ROTC scholarship and having second thoughts about applying now. I'm still in my junior year and, to my knowledge, the Army ROTC scholarship considers all 4 (9-12) years instead of just 9-11?

Will applying for it now out me at a disadvantage to people who apply in Septmpember and list new achievements they've gotten their senior year? I won't be doing much different except I'll have one more Varsity letter to add to my application.

I'm sure others will chime in, but early September is a great time to complete your application. Besides new achievements you mentioned, taking your PFT (not to be confused with the APFT) in September gives your body an additional season to mature and grow faster and stronger. You typically can't take the PFT over the summer because a PE teacher/coach needs to sign off on it.

You will probably not be able to get your transcript shipped until the fall when office staff return from summer break. They will also need to calculate your rank/percentile which takes some time once things get going. You will want to request a copy of your transcript for review before it gets sent to make sure there are no errors or omissions.

You will probably want to start it and get the interview authorization done (filling out the basics on the form and submitting should do this) before school starts if you want to travel to another city to interview with a PMS at a favorite school. Mind you, scheduling a PMS interview can be challenging in the summer when many are off doing other work/training. If you have a school in mind, you might want to contact the ROO at the school and find out when the best time to interview is. Perhaps Clarkson or Marist will be able to give some more insight on this.

Open your AROTC scholarship application early this summer and take your time filling it out and completing the essay. Just be prepared for a steady stream of tasks to finish it once you hit Labor Day.

 

[Thompson]

I'm about to apply for the ROTC scholarship and having second thoughts about applying now. I'm still in my junior year and, to my knowledge, the Army ROTC scholarship considers all 4 (9-12) years instead of just 9-11?

To my knowledge, the Army only considers 10-12; when I filled out the application last year, considerations were only of grades 10-12.

There are no brownie points for completing your application early. And with all due respect, you really wont know exactly what you will be doing senior year, until senior year. (What you might have planned now, might change in a couple months)

goaliedad, what did you mean by an "interview authorization" that involved paperwork? When I did my interview, I simply called the PMS and told him I wanted to conduct at interview with him.

And going off of what goaliedad about scheduling an interview over the summer (if you intend to do so) - I would recommend contacting the PMS, and giving them a few weeks notice - so that you wont be wasting time trying to schedule a new date. Because, just like goaliedad said, they may be busy doing things.

When you request your transcript, I would not recommend getting a copy sent to CC before the end of Jr. year. For the most part, the guidance office probably wont have your transcript up to date yet, or have everything corrected. They'll be plenty busy sending off the seniors. I know at my school, our transcripts weren't really dealt with until the summer between Jr and Sr year. Class rank/GPA probably will not be updated as much Jr year as it will be Sr year.

 

[goaliedad]

To my knowledge, the Army only considers 10-12; when I filled out the application last year, considerations were only of grades 10-12.

There are no brownie points for completing your application early. And with all due respect, you really wont know exactly what you will be doing senior year, until senior year. (What you might have planned now, might change in a couple months)

goaliedad, what did you mean by an "interview authorization" that involved paperwork? When I did my interview, I simply called the PMS and told him I wanted to conduct at interview with him.

And going off of what goaliedad about scheduling an interview over the summer (if you intend to do so) - I would recommend contacting the PMS, and giving them a few weeks notice - so that you wont be wasting time trying to schedule a new date. Because, just like goaliedad said, they may be busy doing things.

When you request your transcript, I would not recommend getting a copy sent to CC before the end of Jr. year. For the most part, the guidance office probably wont have your transcript up to date yet, or have everything corrected. They'll be plenty busy sending off the seniors. I know at my school, our transcripts weren't really dealt with until the summer between Jr and Sr year. Class rank/GPA probably will not be updated as much Jr year as it will be Sr year.

Interview authorization happens when you submit the basic part of your application (i.e. self-supplied information). They do a basic screening to make sure your self-supplied GPA, etc. meet qualifications. Your status changes on the portal to indicate that you can schedule your PMS interview. Your file is open and the PMS can file his/her scoring with CC at that point.

Don't have the technical terms for the above, perhaps Clarkson or Marist will supply.

 

[Thompson]

Oh! Okay, so that's what you meant!

 

[Nick0726]

What about the NROTC scholarship? Can I start applying for it as soon as I get my ACT scores back, possibly have it done by the time I start my AROTC one?