- Joined
- Dec 11, 2012
- Messages
- 808
Hello,
I just would like to say thank you for everyone on this forum for contributing to the "share of wealth" [of information]. I've been looking around this particular form, but could not find any posts on interview tips.
I am fixing on applying for both Army & AF ROTC scholarships, and I have my Army interview up at Penn State next Monday; have previously met the LTC once over a summer visit. I've been reading posts everywhere online about tips and suggestions. Does anyone have any further tips for interview?
Academics:
GPA (unweighted/weighted): 4.97/3.89
SAT: 1090 (M: 620 R: 470)
ACT: Composite ~ 24
Have taken/will complete approx 20 honors/AP courses by years end. (6 AP, remaining honors; NO dual enrollment)
Sports:
Cross Country (11 + 12)
Indoor (Winter) + Spring track (11)
Extracurricular:
Anchor Club (school service organization) (11, 12 - secretary)
Model UN (11, 12 - VP)
Renaissance Club (11, 12 - honorary officer)
In a bunch of other clubs, NHS, Steering Committee, miniTHON committee, yearbook, varsity club, german club, right way club
Voluteerism via Anchor Club + NHS; approx. 75 service hours
High school tutor
Summer job (grades 9-12) mowing lawns for my dad's business
Leadership Conferences:
Keystone Boys State
Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge - Spirit of America
National Student Leadership Conference - Intelligence and National Security (** part of wreath laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknowns)
Awards:
Cross Country - varsity letter + scholar-athlete award (12th)
Honor Roll (9-11th)
Student of the Month award (11th)
Society for Academic Excellence in Foreign Languages (11th)
I am currently Penn State Class of 2017 (regardless if I get a 4 year scholarship); College of Engineering - Aerospace Eng. and will most likely go AF. I'm not in it to get the money; I'm in it to get that commission, to be a leader of men. I am planning on at least 20 years active + 5-10 Guard/Reserve. I want to Serve my Country.
I've ready in many places mixed answers of what to wear to an interview. I've heard suits to khakis and everything in between. I am fixing on wearing a suit; is there some wrong with that? I attended Keystone Boys State over the summer and had a chance to speak with the ROTC cadre at Shippensburg. The admissions officer told me to "dress for success", referencing a suit.
In terms of the interview questions - how many should I prepare for? I've got about 30 nailed down so far; how many more should I prepare for? 25? 50? 100? And for the actual questions themselves - would I just pull them from typical job interview questions -- but modify it to fit ROTC instead of it being a job?
For the interview, what all should I know? Geneva Convention (to what extent?) Army/AF core values? Army/AF history (to what extent?)
In terms of situational questions, does anyone know where I can find some online? I've tried looking for ones involving military situations - couldn't find any. Are these suppose to be the type of questions in which you can't really prepare for - requiring on-the-spot answers? ... a friend who goes to AFA also told me, that there ARE wrong answers to situational questions - true?
And also, I've gotten the general big idea of the essential questions that I will be asked:
Why do you want to be an officer?
Why should I admit you into ROTC?
Why do you want to join the Military?
Biggest high school achievement?
Biggest failure?
What are you strengths?
What are you weaknesses? (then state how to turn them into strengths?)
Tell me about yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Are there any other questions that I am missing? What other questions should I study/prepare for? ... how many more questions should I prepare for?
... also; I know this is probably a very, very stupid question. But for answering: Why do you want to be an officer ... what could I say? Does anyone have any brainstorming ideas; because frankly - I have no idea what to say about this (I know; I want to be a leader, and can't answer this question ...)
I've also run into another issue with some of the questions I've been preparing for. For some questions like: "Tell me about yourself", "greatest high school accomplishment", "What have you done to prepare", and "What adversity did you face, how did you handle it?" I seem to be some what repeating myself. For all of the above stated questions, they all have reference to Cross Country. For the first question, I mentioned how basically Cross Country unlocked a whole new world for me; social development; extracurricular involvement (10+ clubs), interest in photography. 2nd question - greatest accomplishment was Cross Country - told me that you can push yourself past what you thought was your physical/mental limit in order to achieve a goal. 3rd question - physical conditioning via Cross Country. 4th question - Cross Country, sprained my ankle during senior year + resprained ankle twice more ...
Is this bad that I mentioned Cross Country more than once? Or will it be viewed in a positive manner - how it changed my life?
Be honest and truthful; be confident but NOT cocky/arrogant. Is showing up 30 minutes early okay? or should I just stick to around 15 minutes early?
Also, I had another question pop up. As I've mentioned before, I am interviewing for Army at Penn State on Monday @1000 EST.
... I have just received news from my local AF ROTC/AFA liaison officer, that due to her schedule she can interview on Monday as well, requesting it @ 1530EST. I'm just a little concerned w/ the time. Worst case scenario, the Army interview lasts for two hours; ending at 1200 - drive back home takes about 2 hours 30 min (w/o traffic) - a little worried that it's cutting it close - will request to move time to an hour later.
Anyways; my main question I had, was for my AF interview - how should I word the email requesting to move it back an hour? Should I make any reference to the Army interview? I fear that my chances of 4 year scholarship may decrease if I tell her I'm also interviewing for Army.
Or should I just not mention the Army interview; and just ask to move the time one hour back?
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I just would like to say thank you for everyone on this forum for contributing to the "share of wealth" [of information]. I've been looking around this particular form, but could not find any posts on interview tips.
I am fixing on applying for both Army & AF ROTC scholarships, and I have my Army interview up at Penn State next Monday; have previously met the LTC once over a summer visit. I've been reading posts everywhere online about tips and suggestions. Does anyone have any further tips for interview?
Academics:
GPA (unweighted/weighted): 4.97/3.89
SAT: 1090 (M: 620 R: 470)
ACT: Composite ~ 24
Have taken/will complete approx 20 honors/AP courses by years end. (6 AP, remaining honors; NO dual enrollment)
Sports:
Cross Country (11 + 12)
Indoor (Winter) + Spring track (11)
Extracurricular:
Anchor Club (school service organization) (11, 12 - secretary)
Model UN (11, 12 - VP)
Renaissance Club (11, 12 - honorary officer)
In a bunch of other clubs, NHS, Steering Committee, miniTHON committee, yearbook, varsity club, german club, right way club
Voluteerism via Anchor Club + NHS; approx. 75 service hours
High school tutor
Summer job (grades 9-12) mowing lawns for my dad's business
Leadership Conferences:
Keystone Boys State
Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge - Spirit of America
National Student Leadership Conference - Intelligence and National Security (** part of wreath laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknowns)
Awards:
Cross Country - varsity letter + scholar-athlete award (12th)
Honor Roll (9-11th)
Student of the Month award (11th)
Society for Academic Excellence in Foreign Languages (11th)
I am currently Penn State Class of 2017 (regardless if I get a 4 year scholarship); College of Engineering - Aerospace Eng. and will most likely go AF. I'm not in it to get the money; I'm in it to get that commission, to be a leader of men. I am planning on at least 20 years active + 5-10 Guard/Reserve. I want to Serve my Country.
I've ready in many places mixed answers of what to wear to an interview. I've heard suits to khakis and everything in between. I am fixing on wearing a suit; is there some wrong with that? I attended Keystone Boys State over the summer and had a chance to speak with the ROTC cadre at Shippensburg. The admissions officer told me to "dress for success", referencing a suit.
In terms of the interview questions - how many should I prepare for? I've got about 30 nailed down so far; how many more should I prepare for? 25? 50? 100? And for the actual questions themselves - would I just pull them from typical job interview questions -- but modify it to fit ROTC instead of it being a job?
For the interview, what all should I know? Geneva Convention (to what extent?) Army/AF core values? Army/AF history (to what extent?)
In terms of situational questions, does anyone know where I can find some online? I've tried looking for ones involving military situations - couldn't find any. Are these suppose to be the type of questions in which you can't really prepare for - requiring on-the-spot answers? ... a friend who goes to AFA also told me, that there ARE wrong answers to situational questions - true?
And also, I've gotten the general big idea of the essential questions that I will be asked:
Why do you want to be an officer?
Why should I admit you into ROTC?
Why do you want to join the Military?
Biggest high school achievement?
Biggest failure?
What are you strengths?
What are you weaknesses? (then state how to turn them into strengths?)
Tell me about yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Are there any other questions that I am missing? What other questions should I study/prepare for? ... how many more questions should I prepare for?
... also; I know this is probably a very, very stupid question. But for answering: Why do you want to be an officer ... what could I say? Does anyone have any brainstorming ideas; because frankly - I have no idea what to say about this (I know; I want to be a leader, and can't answer this question ...)
I've also run into another issue with some of the questions I've been preparing for. For some questions like: "Tell me about yourself", "greatest high school accomplishment", "What have you done to prepare", and "What adversity did you face, how did you handle it?" I seem to be some what repeating myself. For all of the above stated questions, they all have reference to Cross Country. For the first question, I mentioned how basically Cross Country unlocked a whole new world for me; social development; extracurricular involvement (10+ clubs), interest in photography. 2nd question - greatest accomplishment was Cross Country - told me that you can push yourself past what you thought was your physical/mental limit in order to achieve a goal. 3rd question - physical conditioning via Cross Country. 4th question - Cross Country, sprained my ankle during senior year + resprained ankle twice more ...
Is this bad that I mentioned Cross Country more than once? Or will it be viewed in a positive manner - how it changed my life?
Be honest and truthful; be confident but NOT cocky/arrogant. Is showing up 30 minutes early okay? or should I just stick to around 15 minutes early?
Also, I had another question pop up. As I've mentioned before, I am interviewing for Army at Penn State on Monday @1000 EST.
... I have just received news from my local AF ROTC/AFA liaison officer, that due to her schedule she can interview on Monday as well, requesting it @ 1530EST. I'm just a little concerned w/ the time. Worst case scenario, the Army interview lasts for two hours; ending at 1200 - drive back home takes about 2 hours 30 min (w/o traffic) - a little worried that it's cutting it close - will request to move time to an hour later.
Anyways; my main question I had, was for my AF interview - how should I word the email requesting to move it back an hour? Should I make any reference to the Army interview? I fear that my chances of 4 year scholarship may decrease if I tell her I'm also interviewing for Army.
Or should I just not mention the Army interview; and just ask to move the time one hour back?
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!