ways to better prepare myself for an ROTC scholarship?

USacademyhopeful

5-Year Member
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Nov 28, 2011
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Well I know that I don't have the greatest grades with a 3.4 cumulative GPA. I've been working hard and this year (junior year) I have a 3.8 GPA. I've accepted the fact that I my time to significantly raise my GPA has passed but I look at this as a chance to better my EC and community service. Here is what I already do;
1. Student Council- Two years experience
2. Civil air patrol- just recently joined so airman first class but I am a Flight Sergeant (my commanders said my leadership was outstanding so I was put on staff. I was also promoted to Airman my first meeting) I am also radio operations qualified as well on the color guard/drill team
3. Ministry club- two years
4. Spanish club- two years
5. Football- I played sophomore year and had to take off this year because I wanted to pay attention to school.
6. Lacrosse- I played two years of lacrosse and am excited to play this year and make Varsity.
7. Swimming- I've been swimming over the summer for a swim team for the past six years now. I place in the top tens for back stroke, free style and breast stroke every year.
8. Winter time service project- I collect hats, gloves and coats to give to local soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
9. Treats for Troops- I collected old halloween candy within my community to send to the Treats for Troops program that sends care packages daily to the brave men and women overseas.
10. community service- I started working local soup kitchens and I hope to soon start volunteering at a local retirement home or VFW.
11. Squires- I have been a member of my churches squires program for the past three years now. Squires is a junior Knights of Columbus.
12. Alter Serving- I have been an Alter Server for my Parish the past six years now and I have become their "Go-to" server for important masses with Bishops and Cardinals.
13. Boy Scouts- I was a Boy Scout for a few months but it was a waste of time. My leaders never helped us with merit badges, promotions or anything. They had us play games such as kick ball for meetings so I left and joined CAP because I knew I would get valuable experience out of it.

I feel what I have in itself is a lot but I want something really killer that would set me apart from other candidates. What would you suggest that I do to really wow the Board?
 
It seems to me you do a lot. Maybe too much. I'd keep up with the CAP and shoot for a leadership office on the student council. I'd also shoot for team captain for the lacrosse team and swim team too. Get that letter in lacrosse. Shoot for quality not quantity on the ECs but make sure sports and leadership are in there.

Take the PSAT (hope you did it in October for National Merit Scholarship eligibility). Start taking SATs after the holidays. Take it mulitple times. Take the ACT in case its a better fit for you.

Look at the physical fitness test (if there is one) for the branch(es) you are interested in and work to excel at that as well.

Have a plan B, C, and D for getting yourself through college and commissioned.

Good luck. I'm glad you started here early. :thumb:
 
It seems to me you do a lot. Maybe too much. I'd keep up with the CAP and shoot for a leadership office on the student council. I'd also shoot for team captain for the lacrosse team and swim team too. Get that letter in lacrosse. Shoot for quality not quantity on the ECs but make sure sports and leadership are in there.

Take the PSAT (hope you did it in October for National Merit Scholarship eligibility). Start taking SATs after the holidays. Take it mulitple times. Take the ACT in case its a better fit for you.

Look at the physical fitness test (if there is one) for the branch(es) you are interested in and work to excel at that as well.

Have a plan B, C, and D for getting yourself through college and commissioned.

Good luck. I'm glad you started here early. :thumb:

Thanks for your help! I already planned on running for executive board and I feel that I have a pretty good chance at making it. As far as swimming goes though, over the summer the team I swim for does not offer Captain positions. I hope to make Captain for lacrosse but that position is only for seniors so I have no chance at having it in time to apply for ROTC scholarships.
I did take the PSATs in October and I took a SAT class over the summer to give myself an edge and to hopefully do better. Thanks again for your help! And congratulations on your son doing NROTC Marine Corps option. That's exactly what I want to do
 
Thanks for your help! I already planned on running for executive board and I feel that I have a pretty good chance at making it. As far as swimming goes though, over the summer the team I swim for does not offer Captain positions. I hope to make Captain for lacrosse but that position is only for seniors so I have no chance at having it in time to apply for ROTC scholarships.
I did take the PSATs in October and I took a SAT class over the summer to give myself an edge and to hopefully do better. Thanks again for your help! And congratulations on your son doing NROTC Marine Corps option. That's exactly what I want to do

Good for you. Get that lacrosse captain slot in senior year and update the application (if possible). Don't forget to take the ACT. If you aren't already you should be looking at colleges you want to attend and pay them a visit so you're ready to list top 5 choices when the time comes. My son's #5 school became his #1 school after visiting all the colleges. Make sure you have in-state picks as well. You might want to consider some more distant and less competitive (from a ROTC perspective) campuses. Navy scholarships are tied to the school so your chances of getting a scholarship might improve at a less competitive school.

You do know the marines are a department of the Navy, right? ..... the Men's department! :wink:
 
And when you visit the colleges try to arrange a meeting with the battalion. Try to talk to the cadre AND cadets/midshipmen. Each battalion will have its own personality. Even if its short notice they will go out of their way to try to meet with you.

If you don't get a scholarship consider doing ROTC as a college programmer. If that doesn't work out look at Platoon Leaders Course. And if that doesn't work look at OCS.

Apply for non-ROTC scholarships at the colleges and any other sources.

There is more than one way to skin this "college and commissioning" thing.
 
Yeah, it's already been said... you need LEADERSHIP experience. The military is looking for:

-Scholar
-Athlete/Fitness
-Leader

Comments on Leadership:
Leader would be President ofStudent Council, Senior Class, Captain of your Varsity Sport, Captain of your Debate Team, etc.

Captain, not member or helper
President, not Vice President, Secretary, etc.
Founder, not member
for work: Do you hire, or supervise others?

you get the idea. An officer must be a leader, so if it isn't something that comes naturally to you, you need to develop it... fast.
 
Yeah, it's already been said... you need LEADERSHIP experience. The military is looking for:

-Scholar
-Athlete/Fitness
-Leader

Comments on Leadership:
Leader would be President ofStudent Council, Senior Class, Captain of your Varsity Sport, Captain of your Debate Team, etc.

Captain, not member or helper
President, not Vice President, Secretary, etc.
Founder, not member
for work: Do you hire, or supervise others?

you get the idea. An officer must be a leader, so if it isn't something that comes naturally to you, you need to develop it... fast.

I know saying your a natural leader is a bit cocky, but I do feel that I am. I work exceptionally well with others and I work very well in a team type setting where everyone needs to do their share and when they need someone to tell them what to do and how to do it. All the positions you listed for my school are reserved for seniors. No junior can be a club President, student council President or a Captain of a sport. I go to a private Catholic school and that's just how they do things.
 
Understood. But nevertheless you will need evidence of leadership so land those spots Sr. year... or look at what you CAN achieve outside of school along those lines. And in any case APPLY! or your chances of getting a scholarship is 0. You'll be able to update your application in the fall of senior year and you will probably need to anyway for other reasons... SAT scores etc.
 
One note here. AROTC will let you update your application with senior year activities, awards , etc. AFROTC will not let you add senior year activities and awards. They only consider grade 9-11 achievments.
 
Packer is completely correct. I tried to update my AFROTC package recently when I was elected Senior Class Vice President and Spanish Club Vice President but was told by the AF Scholarship technician that I couldn't (9th-11th grade is the only thing that counts). I was hoping to boost my Leadership portion of the application.
 
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