Where do I apply?

Hello!

I am a rising senior that is very interested in pursuing a career in the military. I am not quite sure what I want to do- I am in the process of applying to several academies and scholarships. The most important thing for me is having a college experience that balances the following three aspects:

• Being able to pursue swimming in college
• Having some sort of uniformity/discipline (hence why I am so interested in the academies)
• Going to a school with a great Academic record

I am looking for some advice on where I should apply and where I would have the greatest chance of acceptance. My current order of interest is as follows:

1. USMMA
2. USCGA
3. Army ROTC, to a school like UT or Dickinson

Any advice at all would be great. If anyone could weigh in on my chances of acceptance to any programs that would be great. I am also confused as to how the Army ROTC scholarship process works- if you are accepted, how do you know you will get into the college you applied for? Also, do schools really care that much about my ability to write? I am a decent writer but I indicated that I didn't like to write on the Army ROTC questionnaire.

Here are my stats:

GPA: 3.3 UW / 3.7 W - UPWARD TREND (3.0 freshman, 3.7 sophomore, 4.2 junior)
ACT: 32 (35E, 32R, 30M, 29S) Essay - 8
SAT: 1400/2030 (690M, 710R, 630W) Essay - 8

- Eagle Scout
- Varsity Swimming for 3 years, JV for 1 - Captain 12th
- Club Swimming for 5 years - Captain 12th
- Special Olympics coach for 4 years
- Club President
- Club VP
- National Honor Society - 11th/12th
- Cornerstone Athlete Scholar
- Over 100 service hours
- Several jobs as a personal swim coach
- Tons of AP classes, also recognized as a National AP Scholar with Honor

Swimming is year round and has been my life for the past 5 years so I wasn't able to diversify and join other varsity sports during high school. I consider my self well above average in terms of fitness. I ran a mile in 5:40 last year and recent I did 60pu/min and 75 su/min.

The AROTC National Scholarship process is separate from the school application process - you find out if you get accepted/denied to the school(s) you apply for separate from finding out whether you get the scholarship or not.

Stats-wise, you are very similar to me in most aspects, and I'd received a 4-year AROTC scholarship from the second board this past school year. Judging by what I see here, I think are definitely a contender, depending on how well your interview goes

Axxif said:

The AROTC National Scholarship process is separate from the school application process - you find out if you get accepted/denied to the school(s) you apply for separate from finding out whether you get the scholarship or not.

Stats-wise, you are very similar to me in most aspects, and I'd received a 4-year AROTC scholarship from the second board this past school year. Judging by what I see here, I think are definitely a contender, depending on how well your interview goes

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Does being contracted AROTC student have an influence on the college admissions process?

You will not be able to contract into AROTC until you are on campus.
Being awarded an AROTC scholarship is noteworthy to admissions, and from what I have heard, sometimes the units at the schools can give their two cents to admissions.

IMPO you are looking on the positive side for the three interests you have named, with the given information.

You may also want to take a look at the Senior Military Colleges. You can be a member of the Corps of Cadets, similar to the Academies. You would still need to apply separately for the ROTC scholarships.

soccmomer said:

You may also want to take a look at the Senior Military Colleges. You can be a member of the Corps of Cadets, similar to the Academies. You would still need to apply separately for the ROTC scholarships.

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Yeah he is right, look into those senior military colleges. Im sure they would take you

EVDfootball said:

soccmomer said:

You may also want to take a look at the Senior Military Colleges. You can be a member of the Corps of Cadets, similar to the Academies. You would still need to apply separately for the ROTC scholarships.

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Yeah he is right, look into those senior military colleges. Im sure they would take you

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soccmomer said:

You may also want to take a look at the Senior Military Colleges. You can be a member of the Corps of Cadets, similar to the Academies. You would still need to apply separately for the ROTC scholarships.

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I have done a great amount of research on the senior military colleges, and I am not sure I like any of them too well. Are you suggesting them because I am not qualified for any service academy? It is also my understanding that the SMC's don't have the best academics, whereas I could go to a school like Purdue with a 4 year AROTC scholarship and get a much better education.

I am suggesting them because of their military style. My son is at Norwich University on a 4yr AROTC scholarship, he was on the NWL but QNS at USMA. Your stats are great, but as many of us know who have applied to service academies, or who's children have, nothing is guaranteed. That is also true of getting a ROTC scholarship to the school of your dreams.
I am not going to debate the better education/not better education at a regular college vs a SMC, because I really don't know about that - there are threads on here which discuss it. Always depends on your major as to which college is best, whether it be an academy, SMC or regular college.

Yes, schools really care about your ability to write.
So do ROTC programs
So do Academies
So do SMCs
So does your supervisor when you are on active duty
So do civilian bosses

Virginia Tech is a SMC.. It has excellent academics and an excellent Corps of Cadets... Check it out.

Prospective,

Some SMCs have strong academic programs. For example, VT admissions is not a cake walk, especially for OOS. VT by state law can have no more than 30% of the class from OOS. The avg SAT for all of VT is @1300. If you think about it, there are only 7 SMCs in the nation. For them they will have a lot of OOS applicants. It would not shock me if their SAT scores are even higher than the avg.

Their engineering program is known to be difficult. The registrars office sets up desks outside the engineering building during finals week because they have so many dropping their major, it is just easier to come to them. They are told during the 1st week 33% of them will not graduate as an engineer.

The school is so demanded that it is known not to take anyone off their waitlist because the majority of them matriculate to the school. I think the highest I ever saw taken from waitlist was 80, but most years it is 0. The year my DD applied (class of 2014), the congrats letter said they had over 33,000 applicants for an incoming class size of 4500. Now, the fine print is of course they offer way more than that, but it tells you how many do apply.

One difference for VT compared to TAMU is they will charge you OOS as even if you are part of the Corps.

xposted with Navyhopeful

One quick question, your choices seem a little strange to me.

I get USMMA and USCGA....water, but I don't get the AROTC thing. Why not NROTC? Or why not USMA?

Was going to ask the same question Pima. Two very water, maritime based schools and then AROTC. Three very different worlds. What about NROTC and USNA? You list AROTC, so why not USMA? OP, you want to swim in college, great. No issue with that. Have you researched the swimming programs at these schools? Do your times put you on par with those currently swimming there? Have you filled out any student athlete documentation for the coaches? If you are a good enough swimmer, having the coaches tag you as a recruit can certainly help in the process. USMMA and USCGA compete at the DIII level. You mention your priorities in your initial post for schools. Its fine if an SMC isn't on your list. Are you competitive enough to swim at the schools you are looking at for ROTC? You mention Purdue, not sure if you are interested in them or not, but Purdue has a great swim program. Purdue swimming vs USMMA/USCGA programs are night and day difference. I don't mean that in a bad way, but DI and DIII swimming is different. Are your stats good enough to swim there? If they are, then why not USNA or USMA?

As someone who did play a sport in college, I can tell you regardless of school; SMC, SA, regular college, you will live a more disciplined life than a non-student athlete. Between practices, classes, study sessions, more practice, you don't have much time but to sleep, eat and study when you aren't with your team. When you throw ROTC in there on top of that, you won't have alot of time to get in trouble. AROTC and student-athlete combination is a tough gig, but not impossible. That combo alone will make it a disciplined lifestyle.

NavyHoops said:

Was going to ask the same question Pima. Two very water, maritime based schools and then AROTC. Three very different worlds. What about NROTC and USNA? You list AROTC, so why not USMA? OP, you want to swim in college, great. No issue with that. Have you researched the swimming programs at these schools? Do your times put you on par with those currently swimming there? Have you filled out any student athlete documentation for the coaches? If you are a good enough swimmer, having the coaches tag you as a recruit can certainly help in the process. USMMA and USCGA compete at the DIII level. You mention your priorities in your initial post for schools. Its fine if an SMC isn't on your list. Are you competitive enough to swim at the schools you are looking at for ROTC? You mention Purdue, not sure if you are interested in them or not, but Purdue has a great swim program. Purdue swimming vs USMMA/USCGA programs are night and day difference. I don't mean that in a bad way, but DI and DIII swimming is different. Are your stats good enough to swim there? If they are, then why not USNA or USMA?

As someone who did play a sport in college, I can tell you regardless of school; SMC, SA, regular college, you will live a more disciplined life than a non-student athlete. Between practices, classes, study sessions, more practice, you don't have much time but to sleep, eat and study when you aren't with your team. When you throw ROTC in there on top of that, you won't have alot of time to get in trouble. AROTC and student-athlete combination is a tough gig, but not impossible. That combo alone will make it a disciplined lifestyle.

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I chose these schools to put on my list because I don't feel well qualified enough for USNA or USMA. I would love nothing more than to attend either school, but I was just being realistic with my expectations as I know USCGA and USMMA are slightly easier to get into academically. My ACT and SAT scores are fine- but my GPA is lacking. I have looked through my school's college lookup engine and only 2/12 kids were accepted for my school, and the average GPA was a 4.1, whereas I am sitting at a 3.7. I do understand I would have a small chance at getting in but I would rather apply to a school I have a better shot at if the academic programs are similar. Similarly, I chose AROTC instead of NROTC because I know it is somewhat less competitive to get a 4yr scholarship. Also because my preferred MOS is infantry based.

Pima said:

Prospective,

Some SMCs have strong academic programs. For example, VT admissions is not a cake walk, especially for OOS. VT by state law can have no more than 30% of the class from OOS. The avg SAT for all of VT is @1300. If you think about it, there are only 7 SMCs in the nation. For them they will have a lot of OOS applicants. It would not shock me if their SAT scores are even higher than the avg.

Their engineering program is known to be difficult. The registrars office sets up desks outside the engineering building during finals week because they have so many dropping their major, it is just easier to come to them. They are told during the 1st week 33% of them will not graduate as an engineer.

The school is so demanded that it is known not to take anyone off their waitlist because the majority of them matriculate to the school. I think the highest I ever saw taken from waitlist was 80, but most years it is 0. The year my DD applied (class of 2014), the congrats letter said they had over 33,000 applicants for an incoming class size of 4500. Now, the fine print is of course they offer way more than that, but it tells you how many do apply.

One difference for VT compared to TAMU is they will charge you OOS as even if you are part of the Corps.

xposted with Navyhopeful

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Wow, I'm glad you said all that! I have always been interested in VT but never got around to doing too much research on the school. The way you described it, I would be privileged to go there! I will definitely add it to the list in terms of ROTC schools and I will do some more research on their swim team.

I would also like to mention to everyone that I live in an EXTREMELY competitive district. Getting a nomination for USMMA would be much, much easier than USMA or USNA.

ProspectiveCandidate12 said:

Does being contracted AROTC student have an influence on the college admissions process?

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Like what Kronk said, sometimes obtaining the AROTC Scholarship helps out with admissions. However, it doesn't do that at every school, and it is possible to get the scholarship and be denied/waitlisted to the school you accepted the scholarship to. Honestly, every AROTC unit is different; I'd talk with the ROO at the school(s) you're interested in going to, as they can inform you of specific information (I.E. if I get the scholarship, will it help with admissions, how competitive are things at this unit, et cetera).

If you are interested in those schools, apply. Yes, it is a lot of work to apply, but if the schools and the future careers that USNA and USMA offer interest you, then fill out the application. Your GPA is a little low, but your ACT scores are solid. I would definitely work on those. Also, you mention swimming being a huge part of your life and something you want to continue. If you are good enough to swim at the DI level, then contact the coaches. All the SAs have questionnaires on their sports websites for potential recruits. Being labeled a recruit can help in the admissions process. Also, if you want a career in the military you need to get used to learning the phrase, "Whats the worst that can happen? They tell me no." In the military you will apply for certain billets, schools, training, etc. There might only be a handful of spots sometimes. If it is something you want to do, then apply. The worst they can tell you is no. You brush it off, learn from the process, and continue to move forward. Also you list the ones you think you have the best shot of getting accepted into. USCGA might even be the toughest of all SAs. There are no nominations, so competition is truly national and they accept so few folks. You mention wanting to go Infantry, so that should mean the USMC and Army should be at the top of your list. That means AROTC, NROTC-MO, USNA and USMA should be the choices that equate to infantry type careers. That isn't necessarily reflected in your choices. Yes, USMMA does offer opportunities to commission into active duty. Make sure to read some of the older threads on that topic, remember everything is needs of the service. If I was sitting on a nomination panel (I have) and I asked what you want to do in the military and why and you said Infantry, I would be perplexed with your SA choices. I would be fine with USMMA as long as you had done some research on the process to commission active duty at USMMA. Good luck in this adventure and hope some of this info has been helpful.

To add on to that, it may also vary year to year. For example, the college may have all 3 ROTC branches. They may rotate every year the CoC that sits on the admission board. LY it could be the AROTC CoC, TY it could be NROTC CoC and next year the AFROTC CoC.
~ I do not believe, and I could be wrong, but if you apply and receive an AFROTC scholarship only the AFROTC unit will know you have it in hand. Thus, if they are not on the admissions committee this year than nobody would know.

Our DS did not apply to UNC, but he received the congrats letter from the school. We called them and said there has to be a mistake since he never applied. Their response was NO. The CoC of the AFROTC unit sat on the board, and submitted his scholarship stats, from there they felt he was a match. Basically he was recruited by them.
~ A few weeks later he got 2 more congrats you have been accepted to colleges he never applied to in the fall. The other 2 were OOS. In that same letter it even stated since he was OOS, they were offering him free room and board, plus more merit to use on books.

It is a rarity, but it does happen where ROTC units do get involved. I think part of it also depends on how much recruiting the unit is doing and if you are seen as a match or they see you as above their incoming class.
~ I don't think you would have much assistance if the school is on your reach list.

NavyHoops said:

I would be fine with USMMA as long as you had done some research on the process to commission active duty at USMMA.

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I could not agree more. I know for AF if you wanted to fly, attending USMMA would be a very high risk. AFROTC scholarship would be a safer bet.

College/SA is 4 years where you get the final decision of where you will attend and your major for 30 weeks a year. Life after commissioning is 5 years 24/7/52 weeks where they have the final decision on what you do and where you will live.

As you said you want infantry. Okay, but from an interview perspective how would you answer this question:
What would you want to do if you did not get infantry?

It would be like going into the USMMA and you saying I want to commission over into the Navy as a pilot. Okay, but what if there are no slots allotted?
What is your plan B?

Plan B will keep changing over the years, but you will always need that plan B in place for the years you are in college/SA.

Oh, and yes I also agree with NavyHoops USCGA may be the most competitive since it starts and ends on a national level. There is no spreading the wealth. If they have nobody from Arkansas or North Dakota, oh well! If 1/4 of the incoming class is from California, oh well!
~ It is like the ROTC scholarships...national competition from the get go.
~~ No flaming, I know they will want a diversified class, just saying the other SAs are partly tied to where you live.