Advice Needed

Amcelmeel

5-Year Member
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Aug 6, 2013
Messages
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My DS is a 17 year old senior and is applying for a NROTC Marine Option scholarship. He has a 3.9 (weighted) GPA with multiple honors and AP courses. He's a 3 sport varsity athlete, Captain of his wrestling and baseball teams, National Honor Society and received awards for outstanding leadership through his school. He hasn't officially taken the PFT but on his own and when he drills with the recruiters, he is scoring between a 285 and 290. His letter's of recommendation were very good from what I've seen.

The problem is with his ACT. He currently has a 24 and will be retaking it on September 21st. He's been doing a lot to prep. He does 3 hours a night at Huntington and takes a practice test every Saturday. His recruiter wants him to do the Officer Interview and PFT shortly and send in the packet for the first board which he says meets in early November even before he gets his September ACT scores. Do you think he should send it in even with his low ACT or wait and send it in if/when he raises his ACT score? Thank in advance for the help!
 
My DS is a 17 year old senior and is applying for a NROTC Marine Option scholarship. He has a 3.9 (weighted) GPA with multiple honors and AP courses. He's a 3 sport varsity athlete, Captain of his wrestling and baseball teams, National Honor Society and received awards for outstanding leadership through his school. He hasn't officially taken the PFT but on his own and when he drills with the recruiters, he is scoring between a 285 and 290. His letter's of recommendation were very good from what I've seen.

The problem is with his ACT. He currently has a 24 and will be retaking it on September 21st. He's been doing a lot to prep. He does 3 hours a night at Huntington and takes a practice test every Saturday. His recruiter wants him to do the Officer Interview and PFT shortly and send in the packet for the first board which he says meets in early November even before he gets his September ACT scores. Do you think he should send it in even with his low ACT or wait and send it in if/when he raises his ACT score? Thank in advance for the help!

I don't think he has anything to lose by getting his application before the first board. First, there is a chance those scores will be sent prior to the first board. This is from the ACT website:
Most scores are available for online viewing within 2 ½ weeks after each national or international test date. Your scores are not reported any faster if you view them online. Score reports are normally released within 3 to 8 weeks after each test date.
Second, even if he does not get a scholarship at the first board, he will automatically be reboarded and subsequent test results will be applied before the second board meets.

Remember that for Marine Option there is no super scoring... it's best sitting. Good luck to your son. He sounds like a fine candidate. And by the way, he has a better chance to get his first choice school during the first board since all the available scholarship slots at the schools are open during the first board (by definition).
 
Amcelmeel: I have no particular expertise in regards to your question but I would think that your DS should go ahead and complete the application, crush the PFT and interview and then retake the ACT later. I have heard repeatedly that the scores can be updated prior to boarding - others can tell you the process.

The minimum eligible score is 22 so you are above the minimum

Two other points: I think the Navy application allows ACT superscoring so the best score from each test section and dates are combined to create a higher score than any of the individual sittings.

Also, some students do better on the ACT, others on the SAT. You may want to consider sitting for the SAT also.
 
Thanks Kinnem - we cross posted but you are correct regarding superscoring. I guess it isn't allowed but...

I just checked the website and it states this only in regards to the SAT. It reads: "The SAT math and critical reading scores must be from the same and most recent test. Applicants cannot combine their best math and critical reading scores from the SAT to achieve the qualifying score for application"

But I would probably agree that no superscoring with either SAT or ACT
 
Thanks Kinnem - we cross posted but you are correct regarding superscoring. I guess it isn't allowed but...

I just checked the website and it states this only in regards to the SAT. It reads: "The SAT math and critical reading scores must be from the same and most recent test. Applicants cannot combine their best math and critical reading scores from the SAT to achieve the qualifying score for application"

But I would probably agree that no superscoring with either SAT or ACT

Yeah, I guess I'm making an assumption about the ACT, but it seems reasonable since it's not allowed for the SAT. I do know that two years ago my son was allowed to update anything in his application between the boards, obviously including the test scores. I would expect the same process to apply here for the Marine Option.
 
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