Nrotc (marine option)

Hello, I'm a junior in a private school down in south Florida. I just want to describe myself as best as possible so perhaps someone can tell me whether or not they think i'm a strong candidate for a NROTC (MO) scholarship. OK so basically i have about a 3.9 G.P.A. on a 4.0 scale. I am ranked 101 out of 265 11th graders. Currently I am taking all Honor classes and on Dual Enrollment and one A.P. I have been an honor roll student all 3 years at my school and always strive for excellence. My SAT scores are as follows READING: 480, MATH: 600 WRITING: 550 ESSAY: 9 ... My ACT composite is a 21, (I’m retaking both within this month). I am also a U.S. Sea Cadet and played Varsity Lacrosse all 3 years (also will 12th grade) i played 2 years of J.V. football as well. I was just accepted into Florida’s BOYS STATE leadership program this summer and taking my fourth summer school course (not needed summer school but i heard it helps to take summer school)

My whole life i wanted to be an officer either NAVY or MARINE option. I find myself to have the utmost respect for both however there’s something about the Marines that make me want to be one. I am in average shape i can run a mile in about 8 minutes and about 40 pushups in under a minute and about 3 pull-ups. I’m working on running faster and doing more pull-ups.

I know i need to start filling out an application very soon and just want to have people state their opinions about my situation. I realize this is just a forum and not the actually admissions board, but many on this website are or know someone who’s gotten a ROTC scholarship.

The colleges that really caught my eye were OLE MISS, VIRGINIA TECH, AUBURN, and UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. I know I must be admitted into the school first but from your opinions, does it look like I am a strong candidate? I would really appreciate your honest response and look forward to it.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!

Welcome to the forum.

thanks admin!

Hey!

What I'll tell you is what everyone would tell you I suppose: Improve those standardized test scores!

Also, I don't know how is it at your school, but at WP at least class rank is, normally, more important that GPA (for inflation and everything). They DO take into account the competitiveness of your school, so you might wanna have that in mind!

Also, for the Physical part: http://www.realitymod.com/forum/f11...-improve-your-physical-aptitude-army-way.html

Hope I've been of help!

thanks! and yea my schools a very well known academic school in florida its hard so i guess that'll help. As for the PFT if i get a class 1 do you think that HIGHLY improve my chances of getting in?

Come again?

for the PFT exam, for MARINE OPTION, if i get a class 1 (highest score) then does that increase my chances for the scholorship alot? what if i only get a class 2?

I'm mostly familiar with the Air Force Academy, but based on your resume, it isn't bad at all. You do need to fix those test scores. A 21 ACT isn't even qualified. SAT is definitely on the low side. But as you said, you can retake those and fix that. Your GPA is actually a bit misleading, so the academy will definitely review your "School Profile". I say misleading, because you have a 3.9, yet you are ranked barely in the top 50%. Meaning; almost half your class has an "A" gpa. Depending on the school profile, that could appear to be a very easy graded school. Or, if a private school, it could mean only the cream of the crop are admitted. But that's what school profiles are for. The academy can look at that and determine exactly how you stack up against the rest of the applicants throughout the country.

You have some good leadership activities like Boy's State. You have sports, that too is very good. Do you have any other clubs, interests, activities, etc... that you are involved with. The academies look for "Well Rounded" individuals. Not just academics, and/or sports, or other individual categories. They want the academics, sports, leadership, club involvement, leadership in those clubs/activities, volunteer time, etc.. Plus, with competition getting tougher each year, you have to "STAND OUT". Realize, there are thousands and thousands of other applicants who also have the type of states that you do. The entering class will have an average GPA almost 3.9. They'll have all the varsity sports, leadership, etc... that you have.

So yes, if you improve your test scores and expound more on your extra curricular activities, and the leadership you have in those, you will definitely be competitive. Does that mean an appointment? No one here knows, because we don't know WHO your competition is in your congressional district, or state, or nationally. Best of luck to you.

thanks alot! But just wondering, does that mean they give scholorships depending on competition form your disctrict?... also would you say it's harder to get a NROTC scholorship or a NROTC Marine Option Scholorship, ive heard different answers. Oh and to clarify my school's G.P.A. well I'm ranked 101/264. I have a 3.9 because if you take honors and get an A the G.P.A. count you recieve is a 5.0. Thing is i didn't take honors freshmen year, however still got all A's. Now that i stacked up with all honors and A.P. my grades aren't all A's but they are still good i did get 2 C's each semester which DEEPLY disturbes me, but i mean i really did give it my all and they were the hardest classes in my school. Basically im looking to apply for the colleges and schlorship this summer meaning ill have to wait for my new S.A.T. scores to come in, then take the P.F.T. test, however if its easier to apply for Navy instead of Marine option than i would be more inclined to do that. Lets say i could get a great score on the Navy PT test and an average score on the Marine PFT, should i just apply for navy instead? anyway i really appreicate your response thanks alot for the help! Also should i be talking to a local officer because i dont know where to go and who to talk to, thanks for the help!

I think Christcorp was speaking more towards chances for the different service academies when he was speaking of the competitiveness of your district as a factor. That becomes a factor when you're competiting for a nomination, a requirement to have to be able to be admitted to an academy. Any of the ROTC scholarship competitions are nationwide and you will be stacking up against people from all over the country nationally

quick question, if you look at my first explanation of myself, i said how i had a 3.9 GPA, all honors, ext. I just got my report card in, I got 3 C+'s i know thats not good at all but they were all my hardest classes, and most importantly all honor classes and one A.P. So do you think this will DRASTICALLY change my chances for getting a NROTC or NROTC MO scholorship, or am i still looking good because i've played 3 diffrent sports in higschool, varsity letters, Sea Cadet, Club Leader, ext... Thanks for the help! God Bless

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY said:

I [just] got 3 C+'s ... So do you think this will DRASTICALLY change my chances for getting a NROTC or NROTC MO scholorship?

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Yes, unfortunately I do. Second semester Junior year are the most important grades of your high school career... they are given the greatest weight by scholarship committees, and admissions committees at colleges. 3 C+ in core classes would make it very long odds to receive a scholarship in any of the three ROTCs.

However, even if you don't receive a scholarship, you can participate in ROTC, especially Army ROTC, and when you do well, you will either receive a scholarship, or after two years qualify to go Advanced Standing and compete with everyone else for Active Duty slots after your Jr. Year.

P.S. there is nothing stopping you from using the SMP program within ROTC to receive benefits while you are in college.

Welcome to the forum.

Things aren't adding up here. You go to a competitive school have a 3.9 gpa through your soph yr. out 4.0, but your rank is @ top 40%? 101/265. Either your school hands out A's like candy, which would not make them deemed competitive by the scholarship board, or you are not taking the most rigorous course load available and that will hurt you too.

The boards look at your stats, but they also look at your school profile, and the rigor of your course load. As dunninla, unfortunately it will hurt because they want to see an academic progression in a positive manner. I would not get wrapped up over this because it is only your quarter markings, pull A's 2nd quarter and your mid would be a B.

Understand they will re-weight your gpa to their standards, so even that 3.9 may drop depending on how your school scales and weights each grade.

Additionally as other have stated your SAT/ACT are far below avg even for scholarships. This brings me back to how do you have a 3.9 gpa and a 21 ACT, more importantly a 480 CR if your school is competitive. These test scores usually are big selling points for private schools in their pretty glossy brochures to get parents to pay out of pocket for school. I can't imagine paying money out of my pocket if the schools avg is a 26 ACT and the public school's avg is 30.

As others have stated it is national, not geographic like the SA's, but also understand it is drilled into every SA candidates cranium to have Plan B, which is usually ROTC scholarship. It is not drilled into every ROTC candidates mind to apply to an SA as Plan B. Hence, use this forum and this time to see the stats coming out for the TWE for USMA/USNA because they are the ones that usually will take the scholarship.

A/NROTC scholarships are tied to the cadet and the school, they are not like AFROTC where the cadet can take it to any school of their choice as long as the school accepts the scholarship. A/NROTC scholarships are awarded to the cadet for the schools on their list of 5. They have a pre-determined number awarded to each school. Every yr there are candidates that get a scholarship, but rejection by the college they got the scholarship for. There are also candidates that get the school, but not a scholarship.

I would at this point also join www.collegeconfidential.com and start searching the schools you intend to apply to for admission to see if they are matches, safeties or reaches. I would also look into Naviance. A lot is going to come down to submitting a list that you can at least match. Not saying don't make it 5 matches, but at least have a match or safety on that list.

Remember for AROTC the word is out there that they will be re-aligning their scholarships to be more STEM (like AF/NROTC) and so this will be an issue for you unless you raise those scores.

I would also ask posters like Clarkson or Marist if the AROTC scholarship board superscores. AFA superscores, AFROTC does not. AFROTC takes the best "sitting".

Money is tight and is not expected to get better next yr. for the DOD. Scholarships are no longer being handed out like candy. I believe it was Clarkson who stated that in the past 3 yrs his school went from 20 AROTC scholarships down to 6. NROTC is also stating that the competition is getting harder each yr because of the economy.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY said:

thanks! and yea my schools a very well known academic school in florida its hard so i guess that'll help. As for the PFT if i get a class 1 do you think that HIGHLY improve my chances of getting in?

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Not to put a damper on you, but I will relate what happened to my DS for a MO NROTC scholarship last year: He had a weighted 4.0, a Reading and math SAT score of 1400 (a perfect 800 in reading), was an Eagle Scout and had 7 AP scores of 3 and above (including several 5s) and had a First Class PFT for the Marines. He did not get the scholarship last year. It has gotten extremely competitive. He opted to go to VMI on a partial Institute Scholar scholarship and is trying for a Marine commission there. Good luck.