ROTC Scholarship Questions

Hello, I am going to be a senior starting this year, and have planned on joining the army since I was very little. The time has now come to start applying, but I have a few questions first:



1. How Competetive is my Application?

I have a 3.53 overall GPA with 2 AP classes and 1 honors. My ACT score was 26, but I am retaking it this September and will most likely at the very least get a 27. My extracurriculars are Debate, DECA, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council, Boys State, Coaching a Little League Team, and I played football my freshmen year (although I did play football since I was 7 years old.) I can also get 4 glowing reccommendations, 2 from AP teachers.



2. Is the writing portion of the ACT required?



3. And lastly, I noticed in the online application FBLA and Deca were not listed as options. Is there a way to get those on my Application?



Thank you for your help.

I can't help you with the purely Army aspects of your questions. In my opinion your application is lacking in athletics although your other accomplishments could pull you through. You might consider doing a sport during your senior year. I suggest you read this thread: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/sports-and-your-academy-application.44076/
Although this thread appears on an academy forum. it's logic applies to ROTC as well.

I could do Tennis my senior year, not sure how much that would count for. However, I was told that they don't look at senior year because that's when the admissions take place. Is that true?

Darien said:

I could do Tennis my senior year, not sure how much that would count for. However, I was told that they don't look at senior year because that's when the admissions take place. Is that true?

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If you enjoy tennis, by all means do it. However, since you haven't done it before, saying that you're going to dabble in a sport whose season most likely begins after the application process is over will count for very little. Make sure you perform well on the fitness test.

EDelahanty said:

Darien said:

I could do Tennis my senior year, not sure how much that would count for. However, I was told that they don't look at senior year because that's when the admissions take place. Is that true?

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If you enjoy tennis, by all means do it. However, since you haven't done it before, saying that you're going to dabble in a sport whose season most likely begins after the application process is over will count for very little. Make sure you perform well on the fitness test.

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Yes, that was my original plan. I was given an offer by a Marine recruiter to come and do PT with him and his unit every Thursday, so I will be doing that.

I agree that you may need more athletically and your ACT is a bit low. Glad to hear you are retaking it.

Good luck!

Arotc doesn't ask for letters of recommendation, so those won't help. There are a couple places on the app I call white space. Those are places where you can list your DECA and FBLA. Anything you think might highlight your scholar/athlete/leader attributes should go in the white space

Darien

One thing to consider regarding the application.

If you look at the boxes to check on the application there are boxes for 10,11,12 school year. there are no boxes for 9th grade even though many high schools in the country are 4 year.

When you fill out the application you will need to check the boxes for 10 and 11 for things you have done, and then check the 12 box for things you honestly anticipate you will be doing your senior year. If Cadet Command did not want you to list things for your senior year they would not have included a box to check for year 12.

For everything you completed your freshman year you will need to include in the Additional Remarks section, or as Clarkson put it "The White Space" This is also a place you can expand on the things you have done and add the activities that are not listed in the main application. Half of my son's leadership positions were listed in the Additional Remarks section because there were not boxes to check in the application.

Jcleppe said:

Darien

One thing to consider regarding the application.

If you look at the boxes to check on the application there are boxes for 10,11,12 school year. there are no boxes for 9th grade even though many high schools in the country are 4 year.

When you fill out the application you will need to check the boxes for 10 and 11 for things you have done, and then check the 12 box for things you honestly anticipate you will be doing your senior year. If Cadet Command did not want you to list things for your senior year they would not have included a box to check for year 12.

For everything you completed your freshman year you will need to include in the Additional Remarks section, or as Clarkson put it "The White Space" This is also a place you can expand on the things you have done and add the activities that are not listed in the main application. Half of my son's leadership positions were listed in the Additional Remarks section because there were not boxes to check in the application.

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That's weird, 9th grade shows up as a checkable box for me. Also are you sure reccomendations don't count? I know the Academies require reccomendations, and a Lieutenant Colonel told me that reccomendations would help my application too. Thanks for the help.

Darien said:

hat's weird, 9th grade shows up as a checkable box for me. Also are you sure reccomendations don't count? I know the Academies require reccomendations, and a Lieutenant Colonel told me that reccomendations would help my application too. Thanks for the help.

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Who knows, maybe the application has changed since my sons went through. Does the application your looking at have a box for year 12?

AROTC does not take recommendation letters, there is no place on the application to include them. Clarkson is a ROO for an AROTC Battalion so he's pretty much up to date on these things. Academy applications are completely different from ROTC and require a different process.

Jcleppe said:

Darien said:

hat's weird, 9th grade shows up as a checkable box for me. Also are you sure reccomendations don't count? I know the Academies require reccomendations, and a Lieutenant Colonel told me that reccomendations would help my application too. Thanks for the help.

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Who knows, maybe the application has changed since my sons went through. Does the application your looking at have a box for year 12?

AROTC does not take recommendation letters, there is no place on the application to include them. Clarkson is a ROO for an AROTC Battalion so he's pretty much up to date on these things. Academy applications are completely different from ROTC and require a different process.

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Ok, thank you for the help. I was hoping my recommendations could get in, because my teachers like me, but oh well.

These are my thoughts on LORs...not the official positions. What do you think all LORs say? That the applicant is squared away, right?

When the board meets there are a handful of Lieutenant Colonels sitting in a room reviewing files. There are three boards and approximately 12,000 applicants each year. The board has to look at about 3-4,000 files in a few days. Do you think they have time to carefully read and evaluate a bunch of LORs? They probably just barely have enough time to look at the application, PFT, and interview. I say again...Cadet Command does not ask for LORs. You can upload them or send them in if you want, but I'm pretty sure they aren't going to help or hurt your application. Some of the other branches and Academies will ask for them, so make sure you submit them when asked. I don't think any of my 11 scholarship winners in the incoming freshman class had an LOR in their file.

clarksonarmy said:

These are my thoughts on LORs...not the official positions. What do you think all LORs say? That the applicant is squared away, right?

When the board meets there are a handful of Lieutenant Colonels sitting in a room reviewing files. There are three boards and approximately 12,000 applicants each year. The board has to look at about 3-4,000 files in a few days. Do you think they have time to carefully read and evaluate a bunch of LORs? They probably just barely have enough time to look at the application, PFT, and interview. I say again...Cadet Command does not ask for LORs. You can upload them or send them in if you want, but I'm pretty sure they aren't going to help or hurt your application. Some of the other branches and Academies will ask for them, so make sure you submit them when asked. I don't think any of my 11 scholarship winners in the incoming freshman class had an LOR in their file.

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Thank you for the help, I greatly appreciate it.

My JROTC SAI who was a former PMS strongly encouraged me to submit my best LOR for the given situation. He felt that if the person's title at the head of the letter seemed relevant/important that it would be a nice touch.

When my son had his AROTC scholarship interview, when the ROO was telling him what to bring to the interview with the PMS, he suggested bringing any LORs that he may have. That is all that he did with LORs.

kinnem said:

I can't help you with the purely Army aspects of your questions. In my opinion your application is lacking in athletics although your other accomplishments could pull you through. You might consider doing a sport during your senior year. I suggest you read this thread: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/sports-and-your-academy-application.44076/
Although this thread appears on an academy forum. it's logic applies to ROTC as well.

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So I've been told numerous times that participating heavily in athletics is very important, and to not make excuses as to why you didn't do it. I am now trying to figure out how to explain why I stopped playing football in my application.

I played football since I was 7 on the line and was always complimented on my ability to block on offense and get past the line on defense. However, when it came to my freshman year in Highschool, all 130 pounds of me were facing off against other players who were 200-300 pounds, and I was basically being picked up and moved aside. The fact that the coach only put the heaviest kids on the starting line did not help.

Despite this I stayed with the team all my freshman year and still did the Sophmore summer practice and tryouts. Although I had gained weight and strength, it still wasn't enough. I was constantly beaten on the line by shear blubber, so for the last month of the summer practice I tried corner back and various other non-line positions. However, when you compete with other players who have been playing that position their whole football career, a position in which you are just now starting to learn, you get beat badly.

This was not the only factor in my decision to leave, however. The team itself wasn't really a team. There were no values like your link describes. Players got in fights, verbally and physically constantly. Starting players made fun of and looked down on other players. Half of the Varsity team was once even caught intoxicated at a party and the coach turned a blind eye. Shortly put; I didn't gain anything from the time I spent in the program, and if it wasn't for the prestigious and rigorous training program, I would dare say the entire football program was a complete waste of time.

That is pretty much the shortest explanation I can give. I do not know if I should include an explanation like that in my application. Part of me thinks the admissions would see that as a brash excuse. The other part thinks that it may help significantly.

Let me know what you guys think, and as always, thank you for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.

I wouldn't explain it in an application but only in an interview or something like that, and then only if asked. That's just me though...

I agree with kinnem.

Putting it on paper (well typing) would make it harder for a reader to understand it is not just an excuse. Speaking of it in an interview would let you voice on the subject be more clearly shown.

Different question: My son is applying for an Army ROTC scholarship. It looks like he will be competitive. I am wondering what numbers are expected on the Physical Fitness Assessment. I realize the real test is for 2 minutes push-ups, sits and 2 mile run, but the paperwork sent in for the scholarship are only push ups for one minute, sit ups for one minute and time for a one mile run...What numbers do you need on these to be competitive? Everything online lists the goals for the 2 minute and time for the 2 mile run...
Also on college visits, he was told to schedule his interview ASAP. We are waiting on the guidance counselors returning to the high school to submit his transcript. That will happen the end of August. Does he need a letter from Cadet Command to do the interview? Or can he call a local ROTC and request an interview when they get back from Ft. Knox?

curious83 said:

Different question: My son is applying for an Army ROTC scholarship. It looks like he will be competitive. I am wondering what numbers are expected on the Physical Fitness Assessment. I realize the real test is for 2 minutes push-ups, sits and 2 mile run, but the paperwork sent in for the scholarship are only push ups for one minute, sit ups for one minute and time for a one mile run...What numbers do you need on these to be competitive? Everything online lists the goals for the 2 minute and time for the 2 mile run...
Also on college visits, he was told to schedule his interview ASAP. We are waiting on the guidance counselors returning to the high school to submit his transcript. That will happen the end of August. Does he need a letter from Cadet Command to do the interview? Or can he call a local ROTC and request an interview when they get back from Ft. Knox?

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Yes, I would also like to know this, especially for the AFT. I have to prove that my lack of sports the past 2 years has had no effect on my fitness. During an ROTC tour I did, the Lieutenant Colonel told us not to apply to the early review board if we didn't think we could ace the AFT. Your score on the AFT cannot be changed after you take it; it stays with you through all future boards.

Applying early should aways be an option, but not if it jeopardizes your AFT score. Also, the earlier boards are much more selective, choosing the most prominent recipients first.