AROTC Scholarship Candidate seeking advice.

alvarado

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
11
I had my PMS interview on December 20th and my the scholarship website has been in the boarded stage for about 5 weeks. I'm wondering whether I should give up on the idea of receiving a scholarship because I have yet to hear any news, good or bad. Any advice? Do you think I should give up already?

I'm the battalion XO at my schools JROTC program.
Been on everything; raiders, color guard, honor guard, NCOIC of the s-4 shop, exhibition
3.7 unweighted GPA
All honors or AP/dual enrollment classes through high school
National Honors Society for three years
200+ Volunteer hours

Sat scores
Math: 500
Reading:590
Writing: 610

Act scores
English: 28
Math: 21
Reading: 26
Science: 19
Composite: 24

PT scores
1 min push-ups: 30
1 min sit ups: 55
1 Mile run: 7:53

I'm aware my scores aren't very high, but I though they might be good enough.

What do you think?
 
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Way too early to give up, Was your application completed in time to be reviewed by the Jan. Board? Even if you were reviewed, in which case since you have not seen a change in your status you have not been offered a scholarship from the Jan. Board, it's not time to give up. There is one more Board in March, you will have that chance at a scholarship again from that Board.

Your academics look good, your SAT is a little low but your ACT score was high enough to give you the max points on the academic section of the interview. You listed some leadership although it was all from JROTC, did you have any other leadership positions outside of JROTC. One thing you didn't mention was Athletics, what if any did you list on your application.

A lot will depend on the schools you listed as well, it may take until the last board to see how they fill their slots.
 
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Were you boarded in time for the second board? Not sure what the deadline was. If not then you will have a shot at the third board. Also keep in mind you will have the oppurtunity to compete for any scholarships offered at your college. Good luck
 
OP -- you still have a good chance.

I'm sure you know the weak area in your application is the 21/500 on the math section of the ACT/SAT. I think that is about 50th percentile, or just a little above, which could be a cause for concern about whether you might have academic struggles in college.

JCleppe -- I doubt the 24 composite score would get max points on the academic section of the PMS Interview sheet.
 
Hang in there

I just spoke with the AROTC Detachment at my #1 school today. They said over half of the scholarships are yet to be awarded. The March board is the big board where most of those will be awarded. It's a marathon not a sprint....
 
I had similar SAT scores and I received a 4-year to my #1.
 
OP -- JCleppe -- I doubt the 24 composite score would get max points on the academic section of the PMS Interview sheet.

http://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/benefits/forms/cc159-R.pdf

To receive the Maximum points for the academic section of the interview the applicant must meet two of the listed criteria. One of the criteria is that they have a GPA over 3.0 and either a SAT of 1100 or better or a ACT of 24 or better, the wording of "over" is misleading, son had a 24 and received the max points.

The OP had met at least two of the other criteria.

My son took the ACT twice and was able to get just a 24, and that was super scored. He received a 4 year scholarship to 5 schools on the first board and is carrying a 3.8 GPA into his 6th semester. Standardized testing can be misleading sometimes. Now if your looking at Electrical Engineering with a 21 in math, that might deserve a second look.
 
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Way too early to give up, Was your application completed in time to be reviewed by the Jan. Board? Even if you were reviewed, in which case since you have not seen a change in your status you have not been offered a scholarship from the Jan. Board, it's not time to give up. There is one more Board in March, you will have that chance at a scholarship again from that Board.

Your academics look good, your SAT is a little low but your ACT score was high enough to give you the max points on the academic section of the interview. You listed some leadership although it was all from JROTC, did you have any other leadership positions outside of JROTC. One thing you didn't mention was Athletics, what if any did you list on your application.

A lot will depend on the schools you listed as well, it may take until the last board to see how they fill their slots.

For one year I was on student council and I didn't have any athletics unless you think they would consider bowling. Which I highly doubt they would. Also I run 5k's occasionally.

I'm assuming the lack of athletics definitely lowered my chances; regardless, I'm hoping for the best.
 
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"Do you think I should give up already?"

This will be very blunt, but let me ask you this... How would you feel about entrusting your teenage son or daughter to be led by an Army officer whose confidence level was such that in the middle of the scholarship application review process they asked something like "Should I just give up?"

If you really want to be an Army officer you should be saying “I’ll keep fighting for that scholarship until the end, and if I don’t get a scholarship, I’ll still enroll in the program because I’m going to be an Army officer and lead the warriors of tomorrow. I will show them I am worthy of an Army commission.” If you can “take or leave” being an Army officer, my advice to you is… Yes, you should quit. Soldiers deserve great leaders.
 
"Do you think I should give up already?"

This will be very blunt, but let me ask you this... How would you feel about entrusting your teenage son or daughter to be led by an Army officer whose confidence level was such that in the middle of the scholarship application review process they asked something like "Should I just give up?"

If you really want to be an Army officer you should be saying “I’ll keep fighting for that scholarship until the end, and if I don’t get a scholarship, I’ll still enroll in the program because I’m going to be an Army officer and lead the warriors of tomorrow. I will show them I am worthy of an Army commission.” If you can “take or leave” being an Army officer, my advice to you is… Yes, you should quit. Soldiers deserve great leaders.

+1. Good post! :thumb:
 
I just spoke with the AROTC Detachment at my #1 school today. They said over half of the scholarships are yet to be awarded. The March board is the big board where most of those will be awarded. It's a marathon not a sprint....
The situation is even more hopeful than that. This past year Cadet Command shifted more of the scholarship money to Brigade/Battalion level, by taking those monies away from the National Board. So not only is more than half of the National Board money yet to be allocated, there is a lot of money, more than before, to be allocated by the PMS each Fall and Spring.

If you put together both of those pieces of information, it wouldn't surprise me to read that 2/3 of the scholarship money to be used in the upcoming school year has not yet been allocated.
 
The situation is even more hopeful than that. This past year Cadet Command shifted more of the scholarship money to Brigade/Battalion level, by taking those monies away from the National Board.

+1

At the end of son's interview with the PMS that he interviewed with, the PMS came out into the hallway where I was waiting an talked to me. In the conversation the PMS said that Cadet Command stated that national scholarships were the "least effective" (this was the PMS' exact words and I didnt want to annoy DS by asking the PMS to clarify what "least effective" meant-honestly he was already annoyed that I was in the hallway) The PMS stated they are moving more towards local awarding of scholarships and there were less national scholarships and more local scholarships.
 
I just spoke with the AROTC Detachment at my #1 school today. They said over half of the scholarships are yet to be awarded. The March board is the big board where most of those will be awarded. It's a marathon not a sprint....

I thought I had read that with each selection board the chances are less to get a scholarship. Could anyone look at my son's stats and evaluate. He applied before first board:

Schools:
Citadel...Accepted
VMI...Accepted
U of Delaware/Instate... Accepted
PSU University Park...Accepted
Pitt
VT Corp of Cadets
James Madison

Major: History

SAT:
64 Reading
59 Math
61 Writing

ACT: 24 composite, only one testing

GPA: 3.43 private catholic high school/ grades on 7pt scale
All honors, AP classes
Honor Society
Leadership and many service hours
4 years Varsity Sport, Ice Hockey
4 years summer job

Interviewed at VMI

PFT:
50 Pushups
48 Situps
6:40 Mile
 
More to come

The situation is even more hopeful than that. This past year Cadet Command shifted more of the scholarship money to Brigade/Battalion level, by taking those monies away from the National Board. So not only is more than half of the National Board money yet to be allocated, there is a lot of money, more than before, to be allocated by the PMS each Fall and Spring.

If you put together both of those pieces of information, it wouldn't surprise me to read that 2/3 of the scholarship money to be used in the upcoming school year has not yet been allocated.

I agree. My son's number one school personally called him as they were surprised he didn't show on the last board as a winner. He is going for a personal interview with the commander in two weeks. They are looking at him for a potential sideload if the national level scholarship doesn't come through. Who knows why he hasn't been awarded a scholarship yet....his weakness is there are not athletics at his school (he goes to a STEM magnet school) but he is a Black Belt, weightlifter, and runs 5Ks. He got the points for some athletics but not maxed out.

The important info is the schools have your info and they are watching the boards. Be prepared to show you are interested. Be prepared to immediately show the leadership you can pass the PT test. Desire and determination go a long way.
 
I thought I had read that with each selection board the chances are less to get a scholarship.
Firstly, I don't think that is true in a normal year, but secondly, it is less so this year because of the uncertainties about budget at the end of last year. The PMS quoted above is probably correct… the majority of money has not yet been allocated out of Boards 1 and 2.

As to your son's stats, they are strong. He has an excellent chance still, and more chance still to get a scholarship once arriving at his Battalion.
 
Firstly, I don't think that is true in a normal year, but secondly, it is less so this year because of the uncertainties about budget at the end of last year. The PMS quoted above is probably correct… the majority of money has not yet been allocated out of Boards 1 and 2.

As to your son's stats, they are strong. He has an excellent chance still, and more chance still to get a scholarship once arriving at his Battalion.

Would it be wise for him to contact his first choice school and speak with PMS there?
 
^ sure, or the ROO, or both. If it's your his choice, does the ROO and PMS know that?
 
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