Would this hurt my ROTC scholarship chances?

jk1673

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
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Here are my stats for the Army ROTC scholarship (I'm a junior):
3.7 Unweighted GPA
Top 10% of class
1948 SAT Score (694 cr, 611 math, 643 writing)
7 AP classes by graduation, 3 AP tests taken and passed
705 on US History SAT subject test
Both years varsity tennis team and letter winner
Model UN and Foreign Language Club member
County Government "Close-Up" Program
2 year part time waiter

School Choices: UWF, UNF, USF, FSU, UF

So tennis season is coming up this year, but I'm also taking on a pretty massive workload this semester and my family can't really afford for me to cut down on my hours at work. So I was wondering, if I don't play a third year of tennis, how much do you think it would hurt my chances at the 4 year scholarship?
 
Not an expert on AROTC, but from the WP perspective at least you've done the one biggie and gotten the varsity letter already. As long as you could demonstrate you were still in good shape (through the CFA or whatever AROTC uses or other possible ways - maybe running in some 5K's locally, etc.), they would be happy with the varsity letter. On the flip side though, if by staying on the team there would be any chance of being team captain, that would be a strong positive that would be worth pursuing.
 
Not an expert on AROTC, but from the WP perspective at least you've done the one biggie and gotten the varsity letter already. As long as you could demonstrate you were still in good shape (through the CFA or whatever AROTC uses or other possible ways - maybe running in some 5K's locally, etc.), they would be happy with the varsity letter. On the flip side though, if by staying on the team there would be any chance of being team captain, that would be a strong positive that would be worth pursuing.

I agree with Marciemi here. If there is any way to continue with tennis I would recommend doing it. Being team captain carries a lot of weight. I'm not certain it should but that's another story. If it proves impossible to continue with tennis because of work, then make sure that's clear in your essays and interviews. They'll understand having to work, but if you don't make it clear, you might also come across as a quitter, and you don't want that.
 
One other thing to remember.

The AROTC Scholarship application only has boxes to check for grades 10, 11, and 12, they do not have a box for 9th grade. If you do not participate in tennis your junior year then you will only be able to check one box, 10. You will need to mention that you were on the Tennis Team as Varsity your 9th grade year in the Additional Remarks section of the application, and make it very clear.

Not doing tennis this year may, in the end, not hurt you, but it will also not help you. Be very clear in your Additional Remarks that you work outside school and it would be a hardship if you worked less just to participate in tennis. Make your remarks short but descriptive, you are given a maximum number of Charachters to use and you want room to include everything.

Your school choices are such that it probably will not be a huge issue, I would think you will be very competitive even without tennis this year. The idea of doing some other activity like a couple 5k's or other activity would help show your athletic desire and capabilities.
 
I agree becareful on how you write it up. For example :

I'm also taking on a pretty massive workload this semester
It can be inferred you can't juggle both and maintain a high cgpa. I don't know your intended major, but engineering and ROTC are demanding, they know that.

I understand you also have a job, but I hope you see how the wording can say something without your intention of ever saying it.

OBTW has SAT scoring changed? For my kids it was always 10 points, i.e. not 694, but 690.

JMPO, you have a strong cgpa, and I would do tennis because college is not easy, and this in a strange way will help you adjust to college since you pushed yourself in HS harder than you thought you could. If you think that being in tennis means you will all of the sudden pull a 2.0, than the question from an educator perspective is did you have the academic foundation in the 1st place for that rigorous course load?
 
Keep hanging out

And regardless of what path you follow, keep hanging out on these forums and asking whatever questions you have. I know everyone here is glad you're seeking advice in these early stages of the process. It will give you a leg up over time. :thumb:
 
I would continue with Tennis only if you will be a Captain. In the remarks section, you would simply note that your family needs your work income more than another year of tennis.

BTW, you didn't ask this, but I'm wondering where your Leadership positions are. School officer, Boy's State, Eagle Scout, Varsity Captain, Newspaper or Year book Senior Editor, etc. This might be a weak area if you don't have any of that. For Model UN, were you a leader for your school?
 
BTW, you didn't ask this, but I'm wondering where your Leadership positions are. School officer, Boy's State, Eagle Scout, Varsity Captain, Newspaper or Year book Senior Editor, etc. This might be a weak area if you don't have any of that. For Model UN, were you a leader for your school?

To get the scholarship you need to qualify as a Scholar, Athlete, and Leader.

Your resume appears very weak in the leader area (unless you have left something out) compared to candidates that have received the scholarship so far this year.

Your unweighted GPA and college course completions are strong. National Honor Society ?

Your resume is weak on athletics. Most scholarship recipients have more than 1 Varsity sport. Most scholarship recipients have more than 3 seasons of Varsity sports.
 
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