Psychoshady3

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I am interested in the scholarship for either marine or air force rotc, since that is what I'd like to do in college. However, I am also seriously considering enlisting in the Marines first before I go to college, unless I get the scholarship. I want to get a general idea where I stand, and maybe some advice before I make my decision. Here are my current stats:
-I got a 1430 on my SAT, 1450 superscored
-my gpa on a 4.0 scale is 3.63, or 4.9 on a weighted 5.0 scale (the highest is like 5.5)
-My school doesn't rank, only the top 10 percent, I am confident that I am probably top 25 percent though, out of a class of approx. 900 students.
-My courseload has always been rigorous since my freshmen year, I have taken a total of 10 ap courses, and 11 honors courses, and am taking 4 more ap courses my senior year.
-I plan to major in civil engineering, and want to also study a foreign language, although I don't know if that matters or is possible
- My extracurriculars and leadership are my weakest points: I don't have any actual leadership positions. I was involved in school clubs such as Student Emergency Response Team for my freshmen and sophomore year, then in my sophomore year, I have been a part of the debate team, competing regularly, but haven't won a whole lot of tournaments. I have spent a significant part of my time in high school, particularly my summers, helping with the family business of real estate, which was basically labor, and that took a lot of time, and I don't even know if the board will care for it. I don't know if I should mention this, but i have taken college/sat prep classes that took a lot of time, so I don't know if this counts as extracurricular.........?
-I have 80 volunteer hours, done at a hospital, and some other hours at religious organizations
-I don't know if this impacts my application, but I am fluent in a foreign language (Hindi).
- Once again, I understand that my extracurriculuar/leadership portion looks weak, but after some personal issues, I began spending a lot of time weightlifting/calisthenics: it was for personal development, I didn't compete, but it made me stronger, physically and mentally. I haven't taken my physical fitness assessment yet, but hopefully will score high on it. (what are some good numbers?)

If you need additional information, I can provide it. I just want to get a general overview of where i stand for marine and air force rotc scholarships compared to other applicants, past and present. My other option is enlisting in the marines first, so if anyone has any experience with that, active duty or reserves, I would greatly appreciate some insight and advice.
 
Start with this: What is your main goal? Is it to become a Marine in general or a Marine officer in particular? Is it to be an officer, but you’re ambivalent as to whether it’s Marines or Air Force? Is it to win a scholarship to help pay for college?

The more clearly you can answer that, the more clear your path will be. For example, if you want to be a Marine officer above all, then enlisting is a very difficult way to get there. It can be done, just not as direct a path as Navy ROTC Marine Option (or USNA).

Knowing that academics is most, but not all, of what matters, you seem to be in pretty good shape. SAT is solid, but always room to get better. Class rank is more important than GPA. Course rigor in the context of your school is very important, and you’ve taken a lot of AP courses.

As for leadership, it’s more about real impact than positions held. And if it’s Marines you want, you’ll be held to a higher standard physically, so the CFA is very important. What about athletics (partly for evidence of physical skills, but also for teamwork, resilience, determination)?

You certainly seem in the running for an ROTC scholarship, from what little you’ve shared. Best wishes to you.
 
Start with this: What is your main goal? Is it to become a Marine in general or a Marine officer in particular? Is it to be an officer, but you’re ambivalent as to whether it’s Marines or Air Force? Is it to win a scholarship to help pay for college?

The more clearly you can answer that, the more clear your path will be. For example, if you want to be a Marine officer above all, then enlisting is a very difficult way to get there. It can be done, just not as direct a path as Navy ROTC Marine Option (or USNA).

Knowing that academics is most, but not all, of what matters, you seem to be in pretty good shape. SAT is solid, but always room to get better. Class rank is more important than GPA. Course rigor in the context of your school is very important, and you’ve taken a lot of AP courses.

As for leadership, it’s more about real impact than positions held. And if it’s Marines you want, you’ll be held to a higher standard physically, so the CFA is very important. What about athletics (partly for evidence of physical skills, but also for teamwork, resilience, determination)?

You certainly seem in the running for an ROTC scholarship, from what little you’ve shared. Best wishes to you.
My goal is to definitely be an Officer. If i enlist, I won't make a career out of it, once I become officer, I intend to make a career out of it. I have looked in both the air force and the marines, and both offer careers in what I want (humint or special operations), which is why I am ok with either, although would definitely prefer the air force over the marines mainly for the cultural differences (not a major factor). If I enlist, it won't be for money purposes. I am applying for the scholarships for money reasons obviously, but I intend to become a officer one way or the other, the scholarship plays no role in that. But, the scholarship will play a role in determining if I go to college or enlist first, then go later on, it's like a financial incentive. I want to enlist in the marines for the experience in combat arms (infantry), so that it will make me a better candidate in in the air force or marine careers of special operations or special investigations/human intelligence. However, I realize that if I enlist for 4 years, then go to college, I will be around 27 years old by the time i graduate, which is pretty late to start a career if I want to get far up the ranks. That is my main concern, I don't know if enlisted experience will pay off later as an officer. I don't intend to take my SAT again, so that isn't really changeable. Aside from independent athletics, weightlifting, calisthenics, recreational sports, I don't have much athletics, I spent most of my time working out.
Anyhow thanks for your response. At this point, I am reaching a point where I need to know what I am going to do, what career I am aiming for, so I can make the decision of whether to enlist or not. I am talking to a marine recruiter, but obviously the info I received from him is biased, he insists enlisting will make me a better officer. I just want some outside perspective, and once again, I would really appreciate any more insight or advice you might have for me if any. I don't mean to be annoying, but this is an important decision for me, and any knowledge is helpful.
 
I am talking to a marine recruiter, but obviously the info I received from him is biased, he insists enlisting will make me a better officer.

Stop talking to the enlisted recruiter.

His mission is to recruit enlisted personnel ONLY. Look up the Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer (OSO) for legitimate info on becoming a Marine officer.

Here is a link the 8th Marine Corps District OSO list. They may be able direct you to the OSO nearest to you.
https://www.mcrc.marines.mil/8thmcd/Units/Officer-Selection-Offices/
 
+1 to the above comments.

Keep in mind that if you do not get a scholarship, you can still participate in a ROTC program while in college and commission upon successful completion of the program and graduation. This is the route my son took and he won a scholarship during his sophomore year. There is more than one opportunity to earn a scholarship. BTW, if I were to pick an area where he was weak while applying for a scholarship in high school, it was leadership. His first billet as a USMC Communications Officer was to command a platoon of 78 Marines while being responsible for $20 mil of comm equipment and the entire Battalion's motor transport. I'd say he's a leader today and it will be one of the skills he will be "selling" whenever he leaves the Corps.

A ROTC program is your best route to become an officer. You should also look at the USMC Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) which is normally done over two consecutive summers while in college. Then there is OCS after college if that's what works for you and there are still officer slots available for that year.

Personally, I encourage everyone to do college first (if financially possible) , even before enlisting. Enlisted college graduates are DS's go-to guys in his platoon for the difficult tasks.

In the Corps no one goes to an special forces billet first. You first go Infantry (generally) and earn a slot from there. I expect the same is true for the Air Force.

Enlisting first doesn't generally make one a better officer. In some cases it does, in others it's actually a detriment to being a good officer. It all depends on the person.
 
His first billet as a USMC Communications Officer was to command a platoon of 78 Marines while being responsible for $20 mil of comm equipment and the entire Battalion's motor transport.

Man, this is why I believe there are few better ways to start one’s professional career than to be a military officer. (Not germane to OP, just something I wanted to call out.)
 
Man, this is why I believe there are few better ways to start one’s professional career than to be a military officer. (Not germane to OP, just something I wanted to call out.)
Yeah. No one gives young leaders the opportunities the military does.
 
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