NROTC (Here we go again question!)

Hello everyone!

I am glad to have found this website (along with many other parents I'm sure) regarding trying to find info on the scholarship process as well as general and specific info on NROTC "life".

My son has applied for the NROTC Scholarship. Like many others, I'm just a very anxious parent. I also realize we may or may not hear anything until April or May.
As if this question hasn't been asked enough... (yes, here we go again!) I am wondering about his chances...(which I also realize a conclusive answer is not really possible), just wanting to get a few opinions from people that obviously have more experience and time around this program than we do.

All his application material is turned in, and the portal reads the usual "no determination has been made" etc...
We are not sure if his info got to the October Board in time or not due to the local recruiter "losing" all his info, and after a two week delay, having an officer step in to get everything cleared up and all the hard copies re-submitted...

His GPA is a little on the low side... 3.2 (slacked his freshman year but worked hard to pick it up)
His ACT is 27, with a SAT conversion to a 530 Math and a 680 Verbal.

He listed his intended major as tier 1. (engineering)

His 1st choice school is also in state (Auburn University) and he has been accepted.

He received excellent letters of recommendation from his teachers and counselor. (hard working, committed, dedicated, well rounded student etc...)

He works part time and received a "tremendous" letter of recommendation from his employer. (hard working, dedicated, team player, initiative, leadership qualities, and is actually in a management position (locally owned restaurant).

He will have played 4 years of Varsity Tennis including last year and this year as team Captain.

3 Years of JROTC at his high school.

The usual community work etc...

His essays were very good (he wrote them himself) and had his English teacher go over them with him.

His interview went very, very well. Lasted almost 45 mins. His interviewer told him that he would give him a high recommendation, and that he thought his application would be very competitive towards getting the scholarship.

That is about it in a nutshell. Thanks for taking the time to read!

The waiting game is on!

I believe if he showed improvement in his GPA as you stated, then that will probably not be an issue. His major weakness appears to be that ACT score and especially the math. Ignoring NROTC for a moment, I'd be worried about someone tackling any engineering curriculum with that Math score. On the surface, at least, it seems to me he would struggle. I would hope he is listing engineering because that is truly what he wants to do and not listing it to increase his chances at a scholarship. My son hates Math and while I tried to steer him to engineering, because he is so interested in how things work, he was wiser than me and went with History.

He should try to retake the ACT and at least give the SAT a try. Some folks do better on one than the other.

Not saying he cant get a scholarship, just trying to point out areas that need improvement. Make sure plan B is in place which would hopefully include NROTC as a college programmer at Auburn. Maybe they can come up with a great financial aid package should it be needed.

I agree with kinnem, the ACT needs to come up in the Math portion not only from a scholarship perspective, but as a student pursuing an engineering degree. Have him re-take the ACT or try the SAT out.

Also, since there has been some discussion on this recently, I thought I would point out that NROTC Navy Option super scores on the SAT and ACT. Since you mentioned he is applying tier I I have to assume he is applying as a Navy Option. So there is nothing to lose by retaking these tests except a small amount of money.

Kinnem and Pima - I read the original post a little differently. I agree with your comments and if there are still test dates and if NROTC could update the score on his application then good guidance. I don't follow the test cycles any more but seem to remember early November and then January. Since today is Halloween it doesn't leave too much time to get a test in before his packet would be reviewed (unless he falls to the late boards). I am just not confident that a retest and update (can't recall if the Navy makes this very easy - my memory says that updating is difficult to impossible but I would be pleased to be wrong on that!) can be done in time.

Also, agree with your assessments regarding Engineering but if he has already been accepted into Auburn's Engineering Department they must see enough potential with the scores given - at least in theory. Of course, if Auburn is one of those schools that "accepts" a wide range of students but then culls them out when it comes time to be accepted into the Engineering college then I would be a little concerned.

My response to the OP would be that your DS has done what he can, he has gotten the application in, there is nothing to do but wait it out at this point. "Chancing" yourself has no real value.

USMCGrunt said:

Kinnem and Pima - I read the original post a little differently. I agree with your comments and if there are still test dates and if NROTC could update the score on his application then good guidance. I don't follow the test cycles any more but seem to remember early November and then January. Since today is Halloween it doesn't leave too much time to get a test in before his packet would be reviewed (unless he falls to the late boards). I am just not confident that a retest and update (can't recall if the Navy makes this very easy - my memory says that updating is difficult to impossible but I would be pleased to be wrong on that!) can be done in time.

Also, agree with your assessments regarding Engineering but if he has already been accepted into Auburn's Engineering Department they must see enough potential with the scores given - at least in theory. Of course, if Auburn is one of those schools that "accepts" a wide range of students but then culls them out when it comes time to be accepted into the Engineering college then I would be a little concerned.

My response to the OP would be that your DS has done what he can, he has gotten the application in, there is nothing to do but wait it out at this point. "Chancing" yourself has no real value.

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I don't disagree with you Grunt. You raise a good point about acceptance to Auburn.

I don't know how hard it is to update the scores with NROTC. I would hope simply having the College Boards send them in would be sufficient, but I really have no idea. I believe there is a SAT scheduled for 12/7 but don't know locations of course.

From the NROTC scholarship website:

Valid Test Dates for the 2014 Scholarship Year are December 2011 through December 2013.

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Perhaps already being board ready nullifies any effort to improve the score, but I think I would spend the time to confirm if there were a chance. Also, having a somewhat lower ACT/SAT math score could be overridden by actual high Math grades, but we have no insight into that.

I agree with you, if it is to far down the pike to take another SAT/ACT than just keep moving forward.

I would have your DS talk to the cadre at Auburn if that is his number 1 choice and ask how competitive the unit is regarding scholarships from a SAT/ACT cgpa perspective. NROTC scholarships are tied to the cadet and the school.

He may get a scholarship to his number 5 school, and come spring when he wants to ask for a transfer of scholarship, Auburn may say there is no room at the inn.
~~~~ Something to consider....go on scholarship to the bottom choice, go to the top choice school with no scholarship.

There is a reason people don't like chance me threads: WE DON'T KNOW THE SCHOOL PROFILE.
~ A 3.2 from a school that doesn't hand out A's like candy on Halloween, and your rank is 20%, where 25% go to Ivies, 50% go 4 yr private/public and 25% go 2yr, is different than attending a school where your rank is 50%, and 0% go Ivy, 25%% go 4 yr, 50% go 2 yr and 25% go directly into the workforce.

As USMC stated right now anything we say will not relieve the angst

As far as updating ACT or SAT scores for NROTC it is super easy. The day the scores come back online take a screen shot of the scores and email them to NROTC. They updated my DS scores the next day and he received an email back from them they were updated. The portal will reflect the new scores as well.

OP - our ds might join yours next fall. His first choice is Auburn - with or without NROTC scholarship (if USNA doesn't work out) (mom and dad's first choice might depend on scholarship offers elsewhere since we are out of state!). He is admitted to Auburn and listed Mech E as major. Best of luck to you!!!

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the replies...

I was surfing around some of the threads on this topic from last year, and have a cpl of questions...

It looks like some scholarship applications were possibly updated and or had items added after submission... Things like college acceptance letters, additional letters of recommendation, etc...

Has anyone had any experience with this or know the details of it being possible?

Thanks again everyone!

I am curious as to my own chances in all honesty,
3.89 GPA, 30 ACT - 31 English, 27 Math, 31 Scince, 31 Reading
NJROTC, all the JROTC Teams, J.V. Track for 2 years, quiz bowl, NHS, and a part-time job, as well as being a minority.
I passed DoDMerb already, and have good letters of recommendation. I also sent in my App very very early, around early August.

Just a broad comment to all posters asking for a chance.
~ If you want to be chanced you need to give all pertinent information.

For NROTC your intended major and college selection matters.

I.E.
3.89 uwcgpa or wcgpa?
What is the scale for wcgpa? 4.5, 5.0, 6.0?
How many AP/IB and honors....any or none?
Class rank? 3.89 uwcgpa may sound great on paper, but not so much if your class rank is the top 30%.

Minority?
URM or ORM? Under represented minority, or Over represented minority. Believe it or not there is a difference from a diversity perspective. The same will be true for college admission selection.

What schools?
~~ Harvard/MIT or UMiami will result in a different answer.

What major?
~~ 85% of scholarships awarded go to tech major applicants. Majoring in Poli Sci compared to majoring in AeroSpace Engineering may result in a different chance answer.

The board places all of this into the equation when awarding scholarships for NROTC because they have a limited amount of scholarships for each unit. It is not like AFROTC where the scholarship is tied to the cadet and major only. School choice has no impact for them.

chances

+1 Pima.
From the information you give, my initial reaction is that it appears you lack leadership, and varsity athletics-those both could hurt. But as many have said the only way to know is to apply. FYI JROTC membership without leadership positions within your battalion doesn't count for much. All the scholarships and SAs want to see that you've joined and can/will lead.

have good letters of recommendation

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For posters wanting a chance, there is no need to state this fact. Is there anyone that has submitted what they thought were bad letters of recommendations? Recommendations are subjective. It is redundant because we already expect that fact when applying for a scholarship.

I am not trying to pick on you Dan, but just trying to assist posters on what is needed if you want a true chance.
~~~ In the end we will also say we do not sit on the boards. There have been many posters that posters would say your stats are great and not get a scholarship. Just as there have been many posters that people have said you need to do X,Y,Z because it looks weak and get a scholarship.

All we can say is you have 100% chance of not getting a scholarship if you don't apply.

The other stat you left out was your PFA. I don't know about NROTC, but I know for AFROTC, you bust one portion of the PFA, but max everything else, you will get 0 for the PFA portion because it is a pass/fail. Once you pass they than award points based on the scores submitted which is applied to the WCS.

It is out of your hands now, and even if we said based on what you originally posted that you will get a scholarship, it will make you happy for a few days, but come a week or two or three from now when this site lights up of awards and you are not one of them, your heart will sink.

Go and enjoy your senior yr. Hang with your friends, and make memories because no matter what the result is, you know you tried and that is all that really matters in the end.

3.89 unweighted, 4 point scale
Rank 48 of 225
No pfa needed for nrotc
Tulane university, already accepted, tier one major.
Hispanic for race.
I have held leadership in njrotc for 2 years, as admin officer and a team commander as well as president of a service club for 2 years.
I am also on rifle team and drill team which apparently count as sports

From what i was told

I will leave this now to posters like kinnem for a response.

Just out of curiosity have you asked the CoC at Tulane what your chances are, or at least how many scholarships they expect to be awarded this yr?

Danmart95 said:

3.89 unweighted, 4 point scale
Rank 48 of 225
No pfa needed for nrotc
Tulane university, already accepted, tier one major.
Hispanic for race.
I have held leadership in njrotc for 2 years, as admin officer and a team commander as well as president of a service club for 2 years.
I am also on rifle team and drill team which apparently count as sports

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Academically I would say you look good, including your ACT scores. Can't speak to leadership other than saying at least you have some. Tier 1, as you know, is good and Tulane has a great unit. Not sure about the availability of scholarships there. Your race is probably a plus. Rifle team and drill team are good, but I would have to say you're weak in the athletics department. But then again we are talking NROTC Navy option, who don't even bother with a fitness test, so...

You have a shot. If you do not receive a scholarship and are still able to attend Tulane, participate as a college programmer and shoot for a sideload scholarship. Don't overdo Mardi Gras. I doubt you'll be able to as I'm sure the unit will have you busy with the national Drill Competition they have each year.

In any case, scholarship or not, make sure you train for the PFA over the summer. You want to contract as soon as possible so the money starts flowing. And if you don't have a scholarship, showing you're physically fit right out the door will help you get one.