You got the scholarship - what's next?

USMCGrunt

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Dec 13, 2010
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Congratulations to those who have received notification of a scholarship offer. This is a significant accomplishment but it is the first of several hurdles in the race.

I thought it could be helpful to start a thread on advice from this point forward. I am sure other members can offer some great advice on this subject but I have two points to pass on.

1. The scholarship offer will require a formal response. I think you have a 30 day timeline. Make sure to review all the paperwork and get things in on time.

2. You will also need a physical conducted by the DODMERB. This is the next big hurdle in my opinion. The physical is fairly routine but we always read of people who have problems because they didn't follow the directions. For instance: vigorous exercise causing excess protein in urine. Best to follow the advice in the directions for preparing for the physical.

You will face another anxious period waiting to get the physical results. You may be surprised by the follow up information requested, waivers required, etc. I highly recommend you read through the various forums here and become knowledgeable on this entire process. You will learn what conditions will require additional paperwork and you can get a jump on it. There is just as much experience and guidance on this subject as there was for applications.

Congratulations again and best of luck!
 
The scholarship offer will require a formal response. I think you have a 30 day timeline.

If you are planning on requesting to transfer the scholarship to another college, you still need to accept the scholarship within the 30 day timeline.
 
Marist, When would you expect the actual letters to start arriving?
 
If you are planning on requesting to transfer the scholarship to another college, you still need to accept the scholarship within the 30 day timeline.

Yes, I was told by my ALO that I need to accept the scholarship offer and then, when CC follows up in March, I can submit a request for transferring the scholarship. Also, what if you already received a physical by DODMERB and are waiting on a waiver? Do you still need to take an additional physical?
 
Yes, I was told by my ALO that I need to accept the scholarship offer and then, when CC follows up in March, I can submit a request for transferring the scholarship. Also, what if you already received a physical by DODMERB and are waiting on a waiver? Do you still need to take an additional physical?

No, you will not need to take another physical, the one you have already taken will cover ROTC, you just need to wait for the waiver.
 
Yes, I was told by my ALO that I need to accept the scholarship offer and then, when CC follows up in March, I can submit a request for transferring the scholarship.

If you want a transfer, you need to start talking to Battalion right away. You need them on your side! I'm class of 2014 and the only way I was able to transfer my scholarship was because the Bn was working with me! Now that the situation is even tighter, it's gonna be even harder now. Goodluck!
 
If you want a transfer, you need to start talking to Battalion right away. You need them on your side! I'm class of 2014 and the only way I was able to transfer my scholarship was because the Bn was working with me! Now that the situation is even tighter, it's gonna be even harder now. Goodluck!

Thanks for the advice, ill send over a letter to the ROO at VMI on behalf of my candidacy for transfer of the 4-year scholarship to VMI.
 
Thanks for the advice, ill send over a letter to the ROO at VMI on behalf of my candidacy for transfer of the 4-year scholarship to VMI.

*********************************************************

I suggest you follow up your letter with a phone call, particularly if you haven't established a relationship with the ROO. If VMI is your first choice I would emphasize that.

This may enable you to get a sense of where you stand in the ranking of candidates at that school. As other threads have noted some scholarship recipients notify Cadet Command of their acceptance but end up at a service academy. In future Cadet Delahanty's case, he was fourth or fifth down for the last available slot at his #1 choice school, but everyone ahead of him went to USNA or USMA.

Be careful not to jump the gun if you have not yet been accepted by the school.
 
Can someone please explain to me the process of transferring a scholarship (particularly to VMI and its partnership schools)? Thank you.
 
- You formally accept the scholarship to unwanted school
- You email and phone Cadet Command asking for whatever form you need to formally request a tranfer from unwanted school, to wanted school
- Per post #7 above, it helps if wanted school cadre pull for you.
 
Those of you looking for advice on transferring schools might want to start a new thread with that as a subject line, you just may get more answers. This thread has side tracked a bit.
 
Getting back to the original topic....What's Next?

For those planning on starting ROTC in the Fall, especially those on scholarship, you need to start working out...a lot. Don't think that the PFT you took for the application is a good indicator of how you will do on your APFT, it's not.

Push ups will be harder, they will only count the ones that are done to regulation, and the regulation PU's are not easy. Many new cadets show up day one bragging that they did 65 PU's in one min. for the PFT only to find out they can't even do 42 on the APFT and they fail the test. It happens a lot more then you can imagine.

Sit Ups are a bit easier regarding the regulations but still hard, if your back does not hit the ground each time they don't count, they are not crunches, they are harder.

The run, well if you ran a 7:30 mile and you feel pretty good about that, guess again. You can't just double that time and say Great, I can pass with a 15:00 flat, it doesn't work that way. Start running...A Lot, I mean A Lot, do 3, 4, 5, plus miles get your endurance up. Practice timing your self on a 2 mile run and do it right after you have done all the PU's and SU's you can in 2 min. each because that is how the test is done, you only get about a 10 min rest before you start your run.

If you look through this board you will see several posts stating that all but one of an incoming class of scholarship cadets failed their APFT, it happens a lot.

Remember you do not get to contract until you pass the APFT, you get no stipend, no book money and your tuition is not paid until you pass the test and contract, you don't want to drag this out. A scholarship cadet at my son's school failed....well actually they all failed but my son, his MS4 brother made sure he was ready. This cadet took the test again a month later and still failed, a week after that he broke his ankle. Now he has to wait until he is cleared to begin working out again, he will only have one more shot at the APFT before the end of the semester, because he will have almost no time to work out before the test the Chances of passing are very slim for him. This means he will not have contracted his first semester, no book money, no stipend, no tuition, from my understanding that money will not be paid retroactive and he could be on the hook for all the cost of the first semester.

This cadet thought he was ready, he even bet the other cadets he would have the highest score on the APFT because he did soooo well on the PFT, he had a big shock when he failed.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to work out starting right now, if you have any doubts that you are doing everything to regulation, go to a local recruiter and ask them to watch you and tell you if your doing it correctly.

This is just one of the "What Now?' things you should be aware of. Hopefully more people and some current cadets can add some good advice as well. lets keep this thread on track, new cadets can learn a lot from some of the current cadets.
 
Thank you for bringing this thread back on track Jcleppe.

Another point that has been presented as a "heads up" over the years is the need to avoid any legal trouble. There have been stories of scholarships lost due to minor (or major) legal trouble prior to reporting to your unit. Temptations during your final semester of senior year abound: parties, proms, senior pranks, etc. Be smart - its not worth jeapordizing your scholarship.
 
My application status for NROTC was updated on October 18. I still have yet to receive any paperwork in the mail or instructions on how to accept the scholarship.

Should I be a bit more patient, or is this a problem?
 
My application status for NROTC was updated on October 18. I still have yet to receive any paperwork in the mail or instructions on how to accept the scholarship.

Should I be a bit more patient, or is this a problem?

Yes be patient,,,,

Now can we please try and stay on the topic.

Great point USMC Grunt.
 
Getting back to the original topic....What's Next?

For those planning on starting ROTC in the Fall, especially those on scholarship, you need to start working out...a lot. Don't think that the PFT you took for the application is a good indicator of how you will do on your APFT, it's not.

Push ups will be harder, they will only count the ones that are done to regulation, and the regulation PU's are not easy. Many new cadets show up day one bragging that they did 65 PU's in one min. for the PFT only to find out they can't even do 42 on the APFT and they fail the test. It happens a lot more then you can imagine.

Sit Ups are a bit easier regarding the regulations but still hard, if your back does not hit the ground each time they don't count, they are not crunches, they are harder.

The run, well if you ran a 7:30 mile and you feel pretty good about that, guess again. You can't just double that time and say Great, I can pass with a 15:00 flat, it doesn't work that way. Start running...A Lot, I mean A Lot, do 3, 4, 5, plus miles get your endurance up. Practice timing your self on a 2 mile run and do it right after you have done all the PU's and SU's you can in 2 min. each because that is how the test is done, you only get about a 10 min rest before you start your run.

If you look through this board you will see several posts stating that all but one of an incoming class of scholarship cadets failed their APFT, it happens a lot.

Remember you do not get to contract until you pass the APFT, you get no stipend, no book money and your tuition is not paid until you pass the test and contract, you don't want to drag this out. A scholarship cadet at my son's school failed....well actually they all failed but my son, his MS4 brother made sure he was ready. This cadet took the test again a month later and still failed, a week after that he broke his ankle. Now he has to wait until he is cleared to begin working out again, he will only have one more shot at the APFT before the end of the semester, because he will have almost no time to work out before the test the Chances of passing are very slim for him. This means he will not have contracted his first semester, no book money, no stipend, no tuition, from my understanding that money will not be paid retroactive and he could be on the hook for all the cost of the first semester.

This cadet thought he was ready, he even bet the other cadets he would have the highest score on the APFT because he did soooo well on the PFT, he had a big shock when he failed.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to work out starting right now, if you have any doubts that you are doing everything to regulation, go to a local recruiter and ask them to watch you and tell you if your doing it correctly.

This is just one of the "What Now?' things you should be aware of. Hopefully more people and some current cadets can add some good advice as well. lets keep this thread on track, new cadets can learn a lot from some of the current cadets.

I second jcleppe on this. Even if you don't get a scholarship but plan on participating in ROTC work out a lot. It will make things so much easier and if you avoid remedial PT will also save you some time as a freshman. You can also catch the cadres attention by excelling right out of the gate.

In addition to what jcleppe recommended I would suggest doing intervals to increase both speed and endurance. If your an NROTC MO work on those pullups. One thing my kid did was do 1 and then drop from the bar. Then do 2 and drop, etc. to exhaustion.

Also think about cross-training. Find something you enjoy and do it. DS would run 2 miles to a local rock climbing wall, do that for 45 minutes and then ran home. It really helped build up those back muscles and helped in easily max out on pullups for his first official PFT in September.

USMCGrunt makes a good point as well. Stay out of trouble. Keep your nose clean. You don't want to lose your scholarship or your opportunity to commision. I know some kids who failed to do that, much to their regret. If you get nailed for underage drinking, or worse, say goodbye to your ROTC dreams. This stuff is NOT tolerated.

Good luck everyone.
 
And to continue the theme:

Getting the scholarship is just the beginning. From this point forward you are being watched, assessed, evaluated. Be professional and be as prepared as you can be. You're going to make mistakes - everyone does - but don't make the ones that can be avoided by paying attention and doing as you're told. (Example: DS read the memo from the detachment that told them to report for orientation in collared shirt and khakis. One guy didn't, and turned up in t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Guess who got lots of extra attention that week?)

Do things other than ROTC when you are able to - get a job, do internships as you can between your summer assignments. It adds to your resume and brings practical experience to your training.

Above all, don't just aim to 'get by.' A lot of posts here will talk about scholarship students that don't do very well in the program. It happens - a lot. It's easy to coast and do the minimum to keep your scholarship. However, your scholarship is a loan that you pay back with your service and those years can be really, really long if you don't like what you're doing. They're even longer if you realize when assignments come out senior year that you could have had your first choice if you'd put the effort in.
 
Parties are fine as the years go on, that's just how college life is and unless you are belligerent you can't really get into any trouble if you are over 21. However, the one thing that CAN screw you over is getting a DUI.....instant career killer. Oh and MIPs might put you on a watch list or probation (really PMS dependent) but they are not the end of the world. Just be smart if you are under 21. I am not going to say don't drink because that is not realistic, however don't set yourself up to fail (i.e gigantic frat party just screaming to get busted).........Advice from a current college student

Oh and lift weights.... I see the 3 event studs in ROTC all the time but they are neither healthy nor really in shape. They train for the PT test and that's it.
 
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NROTC pft requirements

Thanks for this thread. It is good to be prepared and there really isn't any better way than hearing from those who have been there. What are the minimum requirements for NROTC pft? When do they take the test?
 
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