When to start MO ROTC application?

36cmadawg

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I'm a high school Junior. When do I need to start the application process for a Marine option scholarship? If I start now, will I be considered by the March selection board? Also, what are my odds of getting it? I have a 4.0 and am a 3 year letterman in football. I also ran track for 2 years. I'm the Student Council treasurer and am FFA president. I just took the ACT today so I don't know what my scores are, but I felt like I did pretty solid. I've tested myself some this summer and I did a 22 minute 3 mile. I don't remember my push-ups and sit-ups, but I think it was 60 or more. Thanks for the input! This is a great site, I've learned a lot!
 
You probably should've applied a while back; there's still time though, so get going now!

EDIT: See my below post....disregard this post immediately!!!
 
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If you are a high school junior, then you should start the process this spring/ summer. Try to finish by the start of your senior year.

Spend some time looking through this forum for information and hints.

Work out often and research the USMC PFT standards. By the way, Marines do pull ups not push ups.

Good luck
 
I'm a high school Junior. When do I need to start the application process for a Marine option scholarship? If I start now, will I be considered by the March selection board? Also, what are my odds of getting it? I have a 4.0 and am a 3 year letterman in football. I also ran track for 2 years. I'm the Student Council treasurer and am FFA president. I just took the ACT today so I don't know what my scores are, but I felt like I did pretty solid. I've tested myself some this summer and I did a 22 minute 3 mile. I don't remember my push-ups and sit-ups, but I think it was 60 or more. Thanks for the input! This is a great site, I've learned a lot!

Edit: Cross posted with USMCGrunt.

No no no! It's too early to start if you're a junior in high school. The online application should open up for your school year on or shortly after April 1. You cannot start now. Your stats sound good but SAT and ACT will be critical. If you can land captain of the football team that would be great. Take some AP courses when/where possible but don't overload on them. Take what you can handle without a major grade impact.

That's a good runtime for a junior. Over the several months get as close to 18 minutes as your can. Also practice the entire PFT the way it will be given, not just the events in isolation. You don't mention pullups. Pushups are not part of the Marine Option PFT. It's pullups. Try to get to 20 if possible but low teens can work if necessary. This is probably the hardest part of the PFT. And shoot for 100 crunches. These times/reps I'm mentioning are the maxes. If you can't hit them don't worry; many Marine Options can't. But do your absolute best. You MUST achieve a first class score of 225. Here's a link to the scoring:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/blfitmale.htm
 
Oopps! I read it too fast :rolleyes: :eek:, thought he said he was a senior. My bad, sorry everyone!
 
Ok, so Ill be reviewed by the November board then I take it? I know I can get a captain spot on the team, there will only be 3 seniors that play next year (small school with barely enough for a JV team). That being said, can I just kind of assume this on my application or should I wait until August when 2 a days start to submit it? Or do I want to get it in as soon as possible? I don't wont to be presumptuous but I also want to show my leadership capabilities more. I'm also in NHS. I would do AP classes, but coming from a small school these aren't really offered in the sense that a larger school may have. I am taking physics, env. science, trig and pre-calc this year if that is reflection of my course load. I plan on chemistry, biology 2, and college algebra next year. I lift weights 3 days a week in the mornings before school because I don't have a PE class as I'd rather fill up my hours with more challenging courses. If it is 100 sit-ups in a row, I've got that part licked. I thought it was how many you could do in a minute.:rolleyes: Mostly I need to focus on getting more pull-ups (I can do 14 or so) and getting back to distance running again.
 
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Ok, so Ill be reviewed by the November board then I take it? I know I can get a captain spot on the team, there will only be 3 seniors that play next year (small school with barely enough for a JV team). That being said, can I just kind of assume this on my application or should I wait until August when 2 a days start to submit it? Or do I want to get it in as soon as possible? I don't wont to be presumptuous but I also want to show my leadership capabilities more. I'm also in NHS. I would do AP classes, but coming from a small school these aren't really offered in the sense that a larger school may have. I am taking physics, env. science, trig and pre-calc this year if that is reflection of my course load. I plan on chemistry, biology 2, and college algebra next year. I lift weights 3 days a week in the mornings before school because I don't have a PE class as I'd rather fill up my hours with more challenging courses. If it is 100 sit-ups in a row, I've got that part licked. I thought it was how many you could do in a minute.:rolleyes: Mostly I need to focus on getting more pull-ups (I can do 14 or so) and getting back to distance running again.

Don't assume on anything you list on your application. Only list what you've received. You can normally update it if something significant happens after you've submitted the application. If you get your application submitted in September then its plenty of time to meet the November Board. You will need to do an interview which is normally immediately followed by the PFT and you can't do that until you submit the application. So if you submit application in September you'll have plenty of time to squeeze this in prior to the November board. All this needs to be done prior to your package being sent up to the board for review. As you can see from the link I posted earlier the crunches (not situps) are timed. The max score is 100 in two minutes. Practice crunches, not situps. The link I gave should describe how to do them. They are very particular. If you're not following the proper form you'll hear them count something like 1,2,3,3,3,4,5,5,5,6... Don't waist your energy doing them improperly. The run, of course, is timed. The pullups are not timed; you just can't touch the ground. 14 right now is pretty good. Make sure you're using the proper form. You should be able to easily get it to 20 by late September early October.

Start your application in April. You'll need recommendations from specific teachers. Starting in April will let you get that part done prior to the summer break.

As far as APs go you're fine. Take the heaviest load you can without biting off too much. When you send in your transcript in September your guidance counselor will also send along a description/stats about the school and the courses available. They're really looking for whether or not you took a heavy course load compared to what's available.

They're looking for physically fit, academically qualified, well rounded leaders/individuals. It looks like you fit the bill. Once you're offered a scholarship (sometimes it happens before but not often) you will do a DoDMERB physical. They'll tell you the "local" doctor to go to for this. They're just looking to make sure there are no health or physical issues to prevent you from serving. Once you pass that then your next step would be freshman orientation and either during it or shortly thereafter you will do another PFT. As long as you pass that you can contract. Money doesn't start flowing until you contract so stay in shape even after the scholarship is awarded.

You will need to list 5 schools you would be willing to attend on your application, in order of preference. One of these must be a public school which will grant you in-state tuition. Of course they must have an NROTC unit. The scholarship would be awarded to one of these schools. Be certain you only list schools you would be willing to attend. One or two stretch schools in the list are OK but you need to make sure you can be admitted to at least one of these schools. I recommend listing two or three schools your pretty sure you can get into and one that you are absolutely certain to get into along with an optional stretch school.

Good luck. Hope this has been helpful! :thumb:
 
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kinnem... are there colleges that have Navy Option that do not have Marine Option?
 
kinnem... are there colleges that have Navy Option that do not have Marine Option?

Not that I know of. I hope I didn't imply that in some post. Of course the fact that I don't know of one doesn't mean there isn't one either but I would highly doubt it. The MOI and AMOI play key roles at any battalion and since they will be present I see no reason why they wouldn't go ahead and have Marine Option MIDN there as well.
 
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