3rd Board AROTC 2024-25

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AEK

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Dec 11, 2024
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Curious about who gets picked on this board. Still waiting on 2nd Board, but I’m wondering if I should still hold out hope for the 3rd board if I do not get accepted. I’ve heard different things about what kind of applicants are accepted on 3rd board, just wanted to hear this community’s thoughts.
 
If you do not receive a scholarship offer on the second board, you are absolutely still alive for the third board. I have seen people who got no offers in October or January get 4-year scholarships in March. I know the waiting is hard, but there's nothing you can do but try to live your life and be patient. Enjoy senior year. Make the most of your time. All will be revealed in time.

Oh, and have a good Plan B, C and D. There are no guarantees in life, and this is a good opportunity to be prepared to pivot. It's a skill you use repeatedly as an adult.

Good luck!
 
Cadet command uses the same order of merit list for all three boards. The third round winners are the top of the OML after the third board. Be advised…we are in uncharted territory. If you want to be an Army Officer and lead soldiers some day, have a plan that doesn’t include a scholarship.
 
clarksonarmy said:
Cadet command uses the same order of merit list for all three boards. The third round winners are the top of the OML after the third board. Be advised…we are in uncharted territory. If you want to be an Army Officer and lead soldiers some day, have a plan that doesn’t include a scholarship.
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Can you please elaborate on "uncharted territory" in terms of scholarship awards/availability?
 
Ok so from what I understand the third board is less competitive in terms of OML compared to the 1st and 2nd?
 
I’m not sure that the OML is “less competitive” - it is what it is - but they’re going to make all the remaining offers based on where the demarcation line is on the OML and based on how many scholarships total they’re offering. Therefore, 3rd board typically has the most offers. At least, that’s my understanding. Caveat is I have no prior experience in this, am basing this off what I’ve read to understand the process.
 
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AEK said:
Ok so from what I understand the third board is less competitive in terms of OML compared to the 1st and 2nd?
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I don't think you are truly understanding how the OML works, but I hopefully this helps. Every scholarship applicant who completes the application and gets reviewed by a scholarship board (October, January and March) gets put on the SAME Order of Merit List, based on their final Whole Person Score. It's literally a giant spreadsheet with everyone there, from the highest score to the lowest score.

A certain number of scholarships are handed out in October and January, but the Army holds back a large number of scholarship offers (IDK exact what percentage) until the March board. This makes sense, because a really terrific candidate who doesn't apply until January should NOT be penalized for not applying in October or January. The truth is, and while some ROOs seem to feel applicants should rush to get to the October board, the U.S Army does not run the ROTC national scholarship like an early-decision admissions program at a university. There is really no advantage to applying in October, unless you know you are a dynamite candidate who is very likely to get a scholarship offer sooner, and you just want to be able to make your college plans sooner and/or use that scholarship offer as a bit of extra leverage with admissions. This is why I advise over and over on this forum that the most important thing is to submit your BEST application, NOT your fastest application.

Once the March board has finished reviewing all applications, the OML is FINAL and COMPLETE. At that point, the Army looks at how many scholarships it has remaining and draws a line on the OML spreadsheet. EVERYONE above that cutoff line will receive a 4-year or 3-year scholarship offer. Basically, everyone from a certain point down gets a 4-year, and then everyone below that on down to the cutoff line gets a 3-year. This explains why some kids who were reviewed at the October board but did not get a scholarship then or in the January board do end up getting one in March. It's because their score, while good, simply was not good enough to make the cut in those earlier award rounds.

Make sense?
 
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pa-outdoorsman said:
I don't think you are truly understanding how the OML works, but I hopefully this helps. Every scholarship applicant who completes the application and gets reviewed by a scholarship board (October, January and March) gets put on the SAME Order of Merit List, based on their final Whole Person Score. It's literally a giant spreadsheet with everyone there, from the highest score to the lowest score.

A certain number of scholarships are handed out in October and January, but the Army holds back a large number of scholarship offers (IDK exact what percentage) until the January board. This makes sense, because a really terrific candidate who doesn't apply until January should NOT be penalized for not applying in October or January. The truth is, and while some ROOs seem to feel applicants should rush to get to the October board, the U.S Army does not run the ROTC national scholarship like an early-decision admissions program at a university. There is really no advantage to applying in October, unless you know you are a dynamite candidate who is very likely to get a scholarship offer sooner, and you just want to be able to make your college plans sooner and/or use that scholarship offer as a bit of extra leverage with admissions. This is why I advise over and over on this forum that the most important thing is to submit your BEST application, NOT your fastest application.

Once the March board has finished reviewing all applications, the OML is FINAL and COMPLETE. At that point, the Army looks at how many scholarships it has remaining and draws a line on the OML spreadsheet. EVERYONE above that cutoff line will receive a 4-year or 3-year scholarship offer. Basically, everyone from a certain point down gets a 4-year, and then everyone below that on down to the cutoff line gets a 3-year. This explains why some kids who were reviewed at the October board but did not get a scholarship then or in the January board do end up getting one in March. It's because their score, while good, simply was not good enough to make the cut in those earlier award rounds.

Make sense?
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Oh, and I will add that this also explains why some students who get 3-year offers in earlier rounds are "upgraded" to 4-year scholarships after the March board. Again, it just depends on where those cutoff lines fall, and the Army honestly cannot determine that until ALL applications are reviewed and the OML is finalized.
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
Can you please elaborate on "uncharted territory" in terms of scholarship awards/availability?
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Territory that hasn't been charted yet. Do your kids want to be Army Officers and lead soldiers some day? If so, there will be a pathway.
 
clarksonarmy said:
Territory that hasn't been charted yet. Do your kids want to be Army Officers and lead soldiers some day? If so, there will be a pathway.
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Well yes, there are multiple pathways to being an Army officer that don’t include a national ROTC scholarship. Our DD wants to join ROTC even without a scholarship, but I recognize that won’t financially be an option for everyone.
 
clarksonarmy said:
Territory that hasn't been charted yet. Do your kids want to be Army Officers and lead soldiers some day? If so, there will be a pathway.
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DS earned a 3-year AD offer last cycle so he should be OK. But I do feel for the many others who will be impact. Yes, there are many paths to serve for those who want to. On the other hand, I spoke to a fellow (non-scholarship) ROTC cadet who was among many called into a meeting a told there will be no campus-based scholarships available. This is going to force many people to have to transfer schools for financial reasons, or drop out of school. And of course for those waiting for national scholarship decision, they will be impact if the number of scholarship offers is reduced.

I fully realize this is out of everyone's control. And I also understand a big of learning "life" for young people is learning to deal with adversity and pivot. But right now my heart is just heavy for many young people who are being thrown a big curveball they had not anticipated. Will they be OK in the end. I hope so. And I wish them all the best.

Hopefully the Army will be able to provide some clarity in the near future.
 
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