NROTC operates on "rolling admissions" basis similar to USNA. Candidates who have com
pleted their apps prior to first board in Sept typically are notified in mid October. Everything adjusts after that. Don't give up the ship!
I wouldn't say that's necessarily accurate, as least for Navy option. You could have your application in and ready for the September board, but not hear anything until late April. If you are not selected on a board, you are rolled over to the next board and reviewed again. You would be reviewed on each subsequent board until you are either awarded a scholarship or denied. If you are rolled over to the next board, you do not get any notification. Denials seem to start coming out in February and awards and denials are completed in late April.