Interview and Parents

soccmomer

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OK, thoughts on this....DS has his interview with the PMS of a fairly local college (half hour away). We have visited there twice, but never met the PMS. I am driving him there, but should I go in to see if they want to speak to a parent, or just drop him and go shopping? I don't hink he cares either way - although he would probably prefer I just dropped him.
 
My mom went with me, sat in the waiting room for the main interview, and then the PMS wanted to talk to her at the end to make sure she was okay with what I was getting in to lol! I think it'll be fine either way.
 
I was sort of thinking about doing that and bringing a book....does that mean I have to dress to impress too???
 
OK, thoughts on this....DS has his interview with the PMS of a fairly local college (half hour away). We have visited there twice, but never met the PMS. I am driving him there, but should I go in to see if they want to speak to a parent, or just drop him and go shopping? I don't hink he cares either way - although he would probably prefer I just dropped him.

My suggestion would be to have DS initially go in by himself, ask the PMS if you will be needed at any point during the meeting, and then call you on your cell phone to let you know whether or not you will be needed. I just think it gives the PMS the impression that your DS can handle things on his own.

Just my two cents...
 
Future, I thought of that angle too! Does this mean we have to let them grow up??? Just kidding, this one is my youngest....
 
Future, I thought of that angle too! Does this mean we have to let them grow up??? Just kidding, this one is my youngest....

I only have one, so when he flees the nest, it will officially be empty.:frown: I can't tell you how hard I'm trying to NOT be the typical helicopter parent!
 
He is #4 so DD1 and DD2 got the brunt of the helicoptering! By the time we got to DS1 and DS2.....however, the "lasts" are starting to hit home - those things that we have been through 3 times already, and now suddenly it is the "last" time!
However, ROTC and USMA are firsts for us so....I will try not to helicopter, but have been stock piling bubble wrap at an alarming rate!
 
My suggestion would be to have DS initially go in by himself, ask the PMS if you will be needed at any point during the meeting, and then call you on your cell phone to let you know whether or not you will be needed. I just think it gives the PMS the impression that your DS can handle things on his own.

Just my two cents...

And make sure his phone is on vibrate or turned off!
 
My mom went with me, sat in the waiting room for the main interview, and then the PMS wanted to talk to her at the end .

this is what I did (see above in quotes).

I meant to dress to impress but we ran late and couldn't find parking so I never got a chance to "fix myself up" because we were on the timeline of "fifteen minutes is early is on time..."

i did have questions at the end but they were more about process then my son in particular.

Glad I was there at the end-but glad I didn't go in.
 
For the interview I wouldn't show up, if it's just an informational meeting then go right ahead and ask as many questions a possible. By the the time of the interview your DS should already know why he wants to be in ROTC and what questions he should ask.

For lurkers I have done a bunch of info meetings with parents and it's great to have questions written down but do not dominate the convo. I've literally had entire meetings where the kid said nothing! How do you think that looks? Haha.
 
OK, thanks everyone! I think I will dress nicely, stop and get the parking sticker, drop DS on the sidewalk, go park and walk around. He can call me if they want me for something. However, if he actually WANTS me to walk into the reception area with him, I will, with the understanding that I am not asking any questions. He has his resume, a copy of his transcript, etcetc, and some paper to write on (which will have a few questions on it before he gets there), and his late granpa's lucky army tie, which he has worn to every "important" interview type meeting that he has gone to.
I will be much less nervous if I can walk around, as opposed to sitting in the waiting room!
 
DS went by himself. Drove himself 2 1/2 hours one way to meet with the PMS and ROO. He had all of the questions already written out. To this day I have still yet to meet anybody from his ROTC unit. Believe me I so wanted to go to the interview. Our thought is they must fly on their own sometime. Good luck.
 
When I did my interview, the PMS asked to speak with me alone for the interview, while another person in the office spoke to my parents. Then after the interview was over, the PMS spoke to my parents. I imagine it might vary from location to location.
 
The PMS told DS that he was glad he went by himself. It shows that he is independent, mature, and taking responsibility for his future. He drove an hour to the university and spent the night with his brother in the dorm, then drove back after the interview. As hard as it was to let him go by himself, I felt like I did the right thing. Then for spring orientation, DS and I met with the ROTC admissions and that is when I asked more specific questions.

BTW, tell him NOT to even take his cell phone with him..... Leave it in the car. Even if it is on vibrate, it still makes noise. which is distracting and rude.

Best of luck to your son!!!! :thumb:
 
OK, interview complete. I parked in the parking lot and sent DS in on his own. He was back out in 30 minutes! He said the PMS was very nice. He haded him his resume and his sealed letters of recommendation. the PMS took one look at the resume and asked how he had time to do all of those things. Said he would open and read the letters later so DS would not have to wait. Didn't ask him any hard type questions. Asked him what he ultimately wanted to do, and it seems like he was the PMS's clone....so they got along great! Ended with the PMS saying he thought he was a highly competitive candidate and that he would have no problem recommending him for a scholarship.
So, all in all, I think it was a great experience for him for a first interview!
 
OK, interview complete. I parked in the parking lot and sent DS in on his own. He was back out in 30 minutes! He said the PMS was very nice. He haded him his resume and his sealed letters of recommendation. the PMS took one look at the resume and asked how he had time to do all of those things. Said he would open and read the letters later so DS would not have to wait. Didn't ask him any hard type questions. Asked him what he ultimately wanted to do, and it seems like he was the PMS's clone....so they got along great! Ended with the PMS saying he thought he was a highly competitive candidate and that he would have no problem recommending him for a scholarship.
So, all in all, I think it was a great experience for him for a first interview!

Oh, that's wonderful! I betcha DS is glad to have that behind him! Now, it's all over but for the waiting.
 
Congrats to you guys. Now the hardest part....WAITING!!!! I can't tell you how many times I checked the portal hoping to see a change in DS status.. But I'll never forget the day I saw the change.

DS was in his truck leaving for school. I ran out banging on his window but wouldn't tell him. He was not happy I made him come back into the house to see something. But once he read it ... he was beaming.:shake: Totally awesome. I'm sure in four years the commissioning ceremony will only enhance that feeling.
 
OUr fall is so busy with sports and marching band that the wait will go by quickly! Does anyone know, if they don't get offered something in the first board, do you get notification that they did not, and that they will be considered in the 2nd or 3rd boards? Or does one assume if they get no notification of an award after the 1st board, that they did not get anything and then you just wait some more?
 
OUr fall is so busy with sports and marching band that the wait will go by quickly! Does anyone know, if they don't get offered something in the first board, do you get notification that they did not, and that they will be considered in the 2nd or 3rd boards? Or does one assume if they get no notification of an award after the 1st board, that they did not get anything and then you just wait some more?

Sometimes they notify you, more often they don't. If you do not hear anything, one way or the other, then you are automatically rolled over to the next board. It could be a long wait. Some folks don't hear until April. Hope that's not the case in your household.
 
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