PMS interview location

frenzymando

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Does the location that I do my PMS interview at matter? None of the nearby schools for me to do the interview are schools that I am applying to. Is it ok for me to do my interview at a school I will definitely not attend or would I be better off doing the interview at a school that I am actually applying to?
 
I'm pretty sure Clarkson Army would recommend doing it at a school you hope to attend if at all possible. But don't take my word for it. Yo can read the Master's comments on it here: https://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/the-interview/

And any AROTC applicant should have this link in their list of favorites: https://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/category/army-rotc-information/

This site is truly a wealth of information.
Thanks for the links, but in the first one there appears to be information conflicting with what a ROTC representative at one of my schools of choice(my number 1 choice) said. He told me that I can do the interview over the phone with him(though I am hesitant to do this because I don't feel like I would interview as well over the phone as I would in real life) but on that link it says it has to be done in person. Does anyone know if I am allowed do it over the phone? I live several states away from the school so there isn't really a way I could do in the interview at the school itself.
 
I'm pretty sure Clarkson Army would recommend doing it at a school you hope to attend if at all possible. But don't take my word for it. Yo can read the Master's comments on it here: https://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/the-interview/

And any AROTC applicant should have this link in their list of favorites: https://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/category/army-rotc-information/

This site is truly a wealth of information.
Thanks for the links, but in the first one there appears to be information conflicting with what a ROTC representative at one of my schools of choice(my number 1 choice) said. He told me that I can do the interview over the phone with him(though I am hesitant to do this because I don't feel like I would interview as well over the phone as I would in real life) but on that link it says it has to be done in person. Does anyone know if I am allowed do it over the phone? I live several states away from the school so there isn't really a way I could do in the interview at the school itself.

I know you can do a Skype interview. Not sure about phone. I think in person is best way.

My husband recommends this book to his interested students/parents.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/15010...t+Kirkland&dpPl=1&dpID=51f2n1V3HwL&ref=plSrch
 
Thanks for the links, but in the first one there appears to be information conflicting with what a ROTC representative at one of my schools of choice(my number 1 choice) said. He told me that I can do the interview over the phone with him(though I am hesitant to do this because I don't feel like I would interview as well over the phone as I would in real life) but on that link it says it has to be done in person. Does anyone know if I am allowed do it over the phone? I live several states away from the school so there isn't really a way I could do in the interview at the school itself.
I don't think it conflicts. He said 'if you can'. If you can't that's fine, and I would say a phone interview or Skype would be acceptable if it works for you.
 
Both of my kids reached out to their #1 schools, that were very far from where we lived, and explained to them that due to the distance it was impossible for them to travel to interview with them. They were both told to interview with the PMS at the closest University. During the interviews, they both were asked why they weren't interested in attending that University. They figured they would be asked that question and had their answers prepared. It was not a detriment to not interview with their top choice, as they both were awarded 4-year scholarship to their top schools. I would say that if it IS possible to interview at your top school, then make every effort to do so, but if you can't don't sweat it. PMSs are professionals and they want quality future officers in their Army, regardless of where they go to school. It's highly unlikely that the PMS at the university you initially attend will even be there anymore by the time you graduate/commission.
 
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If I was a PMS and I had someone call and ask about doing a phone interview the first thing that would go through my mind is "why is this applicant willing to "phone it in" instead of taking the time and effort to put their best foot forward. Cadet Command asks you to do an in person interview. They allow for distance and the PMS discretion, but if you can't find the time to travel and interview in person you are sending a message, whether intended or not.

You should interview at a school on your list if possible because then you won't have to hear the sales pitch and explain why you aren't interested in the PMS's school, and if you don't get an interview and you still attend the school you are already known to the PMS and ROO and your chances of getting a campus based scholarship may be better.

Let's also think about it this way. I've got one scholarship left and two applicants...one showed up in person, dressed well, handed me a resume and made an impression. The other called in and we had a brief phone conversation. Which one gets the scholarship?
 
If you want the Army to invest in you, then you should invest in the process. We traveled over 1,000 miles each way three times this year to visit campus and the ROTC program. The last time was for the PMS interview. By then, the cadre knew my son pretty well as they stayed in contact with him via email from March until his interview on September 29, and then since then, too. My son first visited with the PMS in March, attended classes with one of their 4-yr scholarship winners in the same major my son wants to pursue, and he attended and participated in a morning PT session. This summer we visited again when we picked up my son from the University football camp. Then in September, Duncan went to a football game and participated in the game work the battalion does and even fired the cannon at a touchdown. We had the interview on a Monday and flew back home that night. All in all we put at least a few thousand dollars into these trips, but it paid off with a 4-year scholarship and a strong relationship to get him off on the right foot. We are in a tight financial condition, as are many families, but we knew this was important to do. You must make yourself a memorable applicant. What can you highlight about you that will make you stand out from the crowd? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to make this happen?
 
When my son began the process he had not received any guidance or info and so when he was told to interview, he was given a list of four PMSs within 30 miles from us and was told to pick any of those for the interview. None of them were schools on his list. It never even crossed our minds to travel or try to interview at one of the schools he identified on the application at that point although he had toured each. We thought he had to interview with one of those four people. After he completed the interview, three schools on his list contacted him. Two wanted to set up the PMS interview and the third wanted to encourage him to quickly complete the application and interview and apply early action to that school. He kept in touch with two of those schools along the way, noting his continued interest in the schools and his status of the application etc. seemed to work fine for him as he was just offered the 4 yr scholarship.
 
When my son began the process he had not received any guidance or info and so when he was told to interview, he was given a list of four PMSs within 30 miles from us and was told to pick any of those for the interview. None of them were schools on his list. It never even crossed our minds to travel or try to interview at one of the schools he identified on the application at that point although he had toured each. We thought he had to interview with one of those four people. After he completed the interview, three schools on his list contacted him. Two wanted to set up the PMS interview and the third wanted to encourage him to quickly complete the application and interview and apply early action to that school. He kept in touch with two of those schools along the way, noting his continued interest in the schools and his status of the application etc. seemed to work fine for him as he was just offered the 4 yr scholarship.
I'm confused. You said after the interview he was contacted for the PMS interview. So where did he end up doing the official scored interview for the app? It seems like building a relationship and have a PMS working on your behalf is a great place to be in! Congratulations to your son.
 
When my son began the process he had not received any guidance or info and so when he was told to interview, he was given a list of four PMSs within 30 miles from us and was told to pick any of those for the interview. None of them were schools on his list. It never even crossed our minds to travel or try to interview at one of the schools he identified on the application at that point although he had toured each. We thought he had to interview with one of those four people. After he completed the interview, three schools on his list contacted him. Two wanted to set up the PMS interview and the third wanted to encourage him to quickly complete the application and interview and apply early action to that school. He kept in touch with two of those schools along the way, noting his continued interest in the schools and his status of the application etc. seemed to work fine for him as he was just offered the 4 yr scholarship.
I'm confused. You said after the interview he was contacted for the PMS interview. So where did he end up doing the official scored interview for the app? It seems like building a relationship and have a PMS working on your behalf is a great place to be in! Congratulations to your son.

Sorry. After he selected from the list and interviewed close to home, a few schools that he had listed as his preferred schools of choice emailed him to set up the PMS interview with them without knowing he had already completed the interview. If we knew then what we did now we could have just scheduled it at his #1 school choice and took a weekend trip out there so they could have met him but seems to have worked out anyhow.
 
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