School selection (Long)

hugaber15

hugaber15
5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
14
Hi everyone,
I read that school selection is very important to recieve an AROTC scholarship. To be more specific how does that work? I thought from reading the posts that they give you a national score. If you score high enough you get one if not the next board.

I am curious how your school list would affect that. My goal is to be an Army or Navy officer. I see school as a means to that end. With that said I have schools that I would prefer. I know the NROTC is not school specific but I am not going to be a technical major so it's more challenging.

My stats are, I am a junior.

3.70 uw gpa 3.9 weighted
1250 SAT 650m 600cr
2 years varsity football one year as captain (will probably be captain next year) All league center.
2 Years varsity wrestling. Will probably be district champion this year. I will be a captain next year.
Jewish student union
NHS member
Outdoor school counselor 2 years
Youth baseball coach for three years. Named head coach this year.

I take four IB classes. I hope to attend Univerity Of San Fransisco or Gonzaga. I know there are no absolutes. I am asking if I would be competetive at those schools.

If not what schools would I have a better chance at. Sorry for the long post.
 
At University Of San Fransisco it looks like you are very close to being a University Scholar...w/your other qualifications that makes you a strong candidate. Get to work --- that is a nice scholarship :thumb:

--University Scholars link
The University Scholars program is awarded to students who apply through Early Action (The Early Action application Deadline is November 15th), who have a minimum grade point average of 3.8 as calculated by the USF Office of Admission, and a minimum combined SAT test score of 1320, or a minimum ACT test score of 30. The University Scholars program pays $19,500 a year for eight semesters of undergraduate study, provided the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average at USF.
 
There has been a lot of talk on these boards about the stratagy of selecting schools, the fact is the best thing is to choose the schools based on your desire to attend and how the school fits your needs. In the end you need to be happy at the school you attend. List these schools on your application and hope for the best.

That being said, there are a few factors that come into play. Some schools have a greater number of applicants that list taht school, this will make the choice more competitive. When you submit your application you will probably get a few emails or letters from schools you didn't list. These schools usually have fewer applicants and they are loking to fill their slots with good candidates. This does not mean that the schools or ROTC programs are inferior, just that they are not as well known. The avgerage stats of those listing a school such as University of Montana will probably not be as high as those whoe list VMI or Texas A&M, there will be a lot more applicants at those schools as well. As an example....My one of the schools my son received a scholarship to on the first round was the University of Montana, they said that 42 applicants were looked at on the first board that listed their school and 2 scholarships were awarded. Higher profile schools will have a far greater number.

Two of my son's friends received scholarships to Gonzaga last year and their stats were similar to yours. Remeber though that things will be even more competetive next year if this pattern continues so kkep your grades up and get the best test scores you can, try taking the ACT as well, they will use whatever test score is higher. Ane make sure you list every leadership position you have done. Oh, and Run Run Run to get a good time.

The best thing to do is to start talking to the ROO at the schools you are considering, my son started talking to them in the spring of his junior year.

Remember, you need to go where you'll be happy, Another friend of my younger son went to a school because they offered him a scholarship for Track and Cross Country. The scholarship was great but he hated the school and has transferred to a different school for this next semester, he said it was worth it even with having to give up the scholarship. There are many different ways to earn your commission, don't let a bad school decision stop you in your tracks.

Good luck and keep up the good work.
 
I know the NROTC is not school specific but I am not going to be a technical major so it's more challenging.
Both the NROTC and AROTC are school specific in the sense they will assign (approve) you to a specific school(s).
 
aglages said:
Both the NROTC and AROTC are school specific in the sense they will assign (approve) you to a specific school(s)

True, but the strategy of matching is COMPLETELY different.

NAVY
Navy awards the scholarship to ONE SCHOOL + Cross-Town affiliate schools. If awardee is not admitted via Admissions into that ONE school/affiliate, then he/she needs to petition the NETC in Pensacola, FL to have the scholarship transferred to another Unit that has open billets. There may be no open Billets at all, or none to schools Applicant wants to attend and to which it is not too late to gain admission.

Implication: This means the applicant needs to be very careful about listing as #1 choice a school where he/she is not a strong likelihood to get in via Admissions. Applicant might be better to list a "sure thing" school as #1. Then, if the applicant gets into his/her "dream school" in mid-late March Regular Decision notification, Applicant can then petition NETC for that Dream School's Unit, with the fallback position of being able to attend the school/unit already assigned to him/her.

Example: Applicant's top 3 choices for NROTC are Fordham, Tulane and Notre Dame. Applicant applies Early Action to Fordham and Tulane. Applicant is deferred at Tulane, but accepted into Fordham on Dec. 10. Applicant then lists Fordham as #1 on NROTC application, and submits the application that day, with Notre Dame as #2 and Tulane at #4. #3 must be an in-state college, so Applicant's flagship U is listed at #3. applicant learns on Jan. 21 that he/she was Awarded a 4 yr. NROTC scholarship to the Fordham unit. Now, flash forward to March 26, when Applicant learns he/she was admitted into Notre Dame. Applicant informs NETC, and petitions to have Scholarship transferred from Fordham to Notre Dame. Applicant learns ND is out of billets, and requests to be put on ND's waitlist. Two weeks later, Applicant is informed that 2 Notre Dame NROTC scholarship awardees didn't get into the school, and one got into Annapolis and chose it over ND, freeing up three spots. Applicant jumps on the NROTC opening at ND.

ARMY
Army awards up to SEVEN scholarships (the reality is more like 2-3) from the list of seven schools listed on the scholarship application. Awardee then has approx. 30 days to inform Cadet Command in Ft. Knox, KY, which of the school offers is accepted.
Implication: This means Applicant doesn't have as much risk in listing a school as #1 or #2 where there is only 50/50 chance to get in via Admissions.

Timing: In both cases, applicant is rewarded by getting the application completed before the FIRST Board. In the Navy case, that is the first of about 15 Boards. In the Army case, the first of three Boards. However, the applicant takes a risk by Boarding before any admissions results are received.

Timing Implication Navy: It might be a better idea to wait for Early Action or Rolling Admissions decisions before submitting for the 3rd, or 6th or whatever Board is ready to meet in late December when all EA and Rolling Admissions results are in. Then putting #1 Navy choice as a school already admitted to is no risk.

Timing Implication Army: There isn't much downside to getting the App in very early, unless applicant is expecting better SAT scores from Oct. or Nov. sittings. An app in by early September (means May SATs) gets consideration at all three Army Boards (Oct/early Jan/late Feb).
 
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I know the NROTC is not school specific but I am not going to be a technical major so it's more challenging.
Both the NROTC and AROTC are school specific in the sense they will assign (approve) you to a specific school(s).
True, but the strategy of matching is COMPLETELY different.
Seems to me that the OP was under the erroneous impression that the NROTC wasn't "school specific". I'm not sure why your felt the need to quote my post or to clarify it in regards to "matching".
 
aglages, I should have worded that a little better. Agreeing with you, then expanding on OP's original question "how does that work?".
 
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