ROTC scholarship?

I'm not 100% sure if this question hasn't been answered already, but I thought I would ask anyways. Last month I was awarded an AROTC scholarship from the first national board. Would it be appropriate to send a copy of the award letter to the admissions office to show that I will be serving my country regardless of an appointment? I feel like this would show my dedication, and show that I am in high demand (at least according to Cadet Command, as only the top 1% were awarded from the first board.) Is this a good idea?

IMO I would not send them a letter regarding your ROTC scholarship. Also, I believe that USMA and Cadet Command share some information, so they may already know (please don't quote me on that).

Thanks for the input, but just curious, why do you think I shouldn't send the letter?

Also, I meant to say top 10% of the first board, not 1%.

Well if WP knows you have a ROTC scholarship and it's neck and neck between you and someone else, I would venture to say from a big Army picture they'd take the other applicant because that means the Army gets two good officer candidates instead of one.

845something said:

Well if WP knows you have a ROTC scholarship and it's neck and neck between you and someone else, I would venture to say from a big Army picture they'd take the other applicant because that means the Army gets two good officer candidates instead of one.

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Not true.

1) WP is looking for the most competitive candidates - period. WP does not "steal" from ROTC, and ROTC is not in competition with WP. Both accession programs are looking for the most competitive candidates from the applicants that they have in hand. Although they don't directly work together, after the WP class is settled, WP admissions normally sends ROTC the names and info of desirable QNS candidates to insure that ROTC options are considered - if they are still available.

2) WP knows (assumes) that you have a desire to serve so it is not going to change their evaluation of you one iota. If they were wavering on that, they likely have figuratively crossed-you-off-the-list.

3) WP Admissions will tell you to pursue ROTC as a Plan B. I would venture a guess that 95% of all appointees had ROTC scholarships as a backup plan in place when they reported for R-Day in June because: a) they desired to serve; and b) they understood the academy was not guaranteed. An ROTC scholarship is automatically revoked once the oath is sworn at the academy.

4) If it is neck and neck between you and another applicant for that last spot off the NWL, some other characteristic about your application is going to weigh-in for or against you. That being said, if you are number 1201 out of 1200, chances are a BFE will show up after a few offers are declined (and there will be declines; a few offers went out in May of last year). If it comes down to you and one other candidate off your competitive slate, one of you will be competing nationally - all dependent on whatever makes one of you stand out from the other.

+1 GoBlue

#3 on their post is important to understand.

This is not their 1st walk in the park. They know that the majority of SA candidates will apply ROTC as plan B, but the majority of ROTC scholarships will not apply for an SA as plan B.


The Army does not need to play the 2 for 1 game. ROTC scholarship recipients are the minority...by about 4 to 1.

It comes down to the WCS in the end.

My son (class of 2015) had a ROTC full ride and an appointment. Funny thing is that since the Army totally screwed up the ROTC scholarship, he didn't even know he had one until after he accepted his appointment. He then got a letter saying that since he hadn't accepted his ROTC scholarship by the deadline that it has been awarded to someone else. Too bad he was never NOTIFIED that he'd received an ROTC scholarship until he got that aforementioned letter. Anyway - he is where he belongs and he loves it!