How are my chances for NROTC (Marine Option)?

autokrat

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I'm a Junior in Highschool and hoping to go to NROTC Marine Option and gain a commission.

My SAT score is 1800 and 28 on the ACT. However, my GPA is a low 2.8 since I messed up badly Freshmen Year (Sophomore year brought it up by 0.3). I have successfully taken AP World History, AP European, am taking AP Government, and am considering taking AP Calculus and AP Psychology my Senior year. I intend to major in Aerospace once I get to college.

I do cross-country and track for the school; I'm new to both sports, and have only made JV in CXC but lettered for track. Prior to this, I was in the band but quit after Sophomore year. I'm in two clubs and volunteer to do community service, and also started a club myself, but I have never held a leadership position in the school (Beyond the one I started).

For the PFT, my mile time is 5:44 (From Track), two miles is 13:57, three miles is 20:50 (From CXC); I can do 40 pushups in a minute and 70
curlups.

Whether or not I get a scholarship is indifferent, all I want is the commission. My GPA and lack of leadership positions are huge weak points, but I'm hoping my grades this year and running for Senior President later on will help me. Maybe I have a better shot at AROTC Scholarship, but I just want to know what I'm getting into.
 
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Well, you'll need to show more leadership and keep trying to bring your GPA up.

For the Marine Option your PFT will be pull-ups crunches and a 3 mile run. Your run time is pretty good but there is always room for improvement. See here for the scoring: http://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-pft-charts
The PFT is pretty important for the Marine Option.

You can commission without the scholarship. Join an NROTC unit at your college and participate as what they call a college programmer. You'll be able to re-apply for a scholarship of some form each semester. Even if you don't win a scholarship you can apply for Advanced Standing and if approved continue to participate the last 2 years and commission. With Advanced Standing you would also be entitled to the stipend.

My son did not win the high school scholarship and participated as a college programmer. He was fortunate enough to win a MO scholarship that kick in the second semester of his sophomore year. He's a 2ndLt at The Basic School today. Go for it and never give up!
 
Yep! Agree with kinnem and rocatlin.

Kinnem did beat me to the punch - I was going to point out its pull ups not push ups for Marines.
 
Thanks for the answers, I think I have a better clue of what I'm doing.

Sorry to bother you, but I have a couple more: what would be my chances at a AROTC scholarship (From what I heard, they are more forgiving)? And even if my HS GPA was bad, would they accept me into the program as a Freshman in college (Not with scholarship)?
 
Thanks for the answers, I think I have a better clue of what I'm doing.

Sorry to bother you, but I have a couple more: what would be my chances at a AROTC scholarship (From what I heard, they are more forgiving)? And even if my HS GPA was bad, would they accept me into the program as a Freshman in college (Not with scholarship)?

Zero chance if you don't apply. Get your application in and keep improving your stats!

Regarding enrollment in AROTC, anyone who is enrolled in the college can be accepted as a MS-1 cadet. You can then apply for a campus based scholarship thereafter and will be encouraged to do so if you thrive there.

http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/college-students.html

You can also do something similar at a campus that offers NROTC. They call it being a "college programmer." Again you simply enroll in NROTC courses so long as you are enrolled in the college. In your second year, if you do well you will be offered to continue in the advanced course and a contract.

http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships.aspx
 
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Marine option scholarships are very competitive. If money is not an issue, the Marines have a couple of other pathways to commissioning, PLC and OCC, as well as the Naval Academy.

As you are a junior, I would recommend that you apply for the 2016 summer USMC SLCDA program. My daughter participated a couple of years ago and it offers a great way to see the Marines up close and personal and looks great on an . She received both the NROTC (MO) and AFROTC scholarships.

https://www.facebook.com/MarinesSLCDA

I agree that the first step is to start the application. You can't get anything if you don't apply.

If you want money up front from the USAF (Type 1 or Type 2), those are very competitive as well. Otherwise, just join the Detachment when you get to school.
 
Well, you'll need to show more leadership and keep trying to bring your GPA up.

For the Marine Option your PFT will be pull-ups crunches and a 3 mile run. Your run time is pretty good but there is always room for improvement. See here for the scoring: http://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-pft-charts
The PFT is pretty important for the Marine Option.

You can commission without the scholarship. Join an NROTC unit at your college and participate as what they call a college programmer. You'll be able to re-apply for a scholarship of some form each semester. Even if you don't win a scholarship you can apply for Advanced Standing and if approved continue to participate the last 2 years and commission. With Advanced Standing you would also be entitled to the stipend.

My son did not win the high school scholarship and participated as a college programmer. He was fortunate enough to win a MO scholarship that kick in the second semester of his sophomore year. He's a 2ndLt at The Basic School today. Go for it and never give up!


How difficult is it to apply for Advanced Standing, and if I don't get in, can I switch to another branch of ROTC?
 
In NROTC, you apply for a scholarship during your freshman and sophomore years. They award two year scholarships first, and if they still have spaces available they may award some advanced standing positions to sophomores who did not receive a scholarship. The number each year varies with the needs of the Marines. Last year for navy options, there were eighteen Advanced Standing slots allocated nationally, in previous years the number has ranged from twenty to over a hundred. I don't know how many Marine Option slots have been offered.
 
I'll rely on bman for the info on advanced standing as I really have no insight. I do know of folks who have moved from NROTC to AROTC. Not sure if it was after they applied for advanced standing or if it was a when they saw the writing on the wall. Other folks try for PLC or OCC which could happen if the needs of the service changes over the next year or two. Again, I have no insight as to whether these folks were successful.
 
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