Advice when applying for Navy ROTC scholarship

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inthenavy2008

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Here are some words of advice for those of you applying for a Navy ROTC scholarship for the class of 2014:

  • Don't assume because your SAT scores are well above the minimum stated on the scholarship website that you will be a "shoe in." The Navy is looking for the best and the brightest to be potential officers.
  • Use the spring and summer to work on the required essays. What they say is important!
  • Get your application in as early as possible. Don't wait until the deadline. The earlier your application is submitted, the more times it will be seen by a review board. So, if you aren't offered a scholarship in the first review board, you will be reviewed again in subsequent review boards.
  • Prepare for your interview. Know and mean what you said in your essays. Present yourself as a candidate of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Be honest. Rehearse with someone before you go, just as you would for a job interview.
  • Carefully consider the colleges that you will list on your application. Speak to the recruiters at the units where you apply. Your #1 choice should probably be a school to which you are fairly certain you will get admitted to and would definitely be happy to attend. A "reach" school you would like to attend should be lower on your list--there is a possibility to transfer your scholarship.
  • Seek advice on this Forum. People who have gone through the process have a lot to offer.
Good luck to all!
 
Last edited:
inthenavy2008 said:
Here are some words of advice for those of you applying for a Navy ROTC scholarship for the class of 2014:

  • Don't assume because your SAT scores are well above the minimum stated on the scholarship website that you will be a "shoe in." The Navy is looking for the best and the brightest to be potential officers.
  • Use the spring and summer to work on the required essays. What they say is important!
  • Get your application in as early as possible. Don't wait until the deadline. The earlier your application is submitted, the more times it will be seen by a review board. So, if you aren't offered a scholarship in the first review board, you will be reviewed again in subsequent review boards.
  • Prepare for your interview. Know and mean what you said in your essays. Present yourself as a candidate of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Be honest. Rehearse with someone before you go, just as you would for a job interview.
  • Carefully consider the colleges that you will list on your application. Speak to the recruiters at the units where you apply. Your #1 choice should probably be a school to which you are fairly certain you will get admitted to and would definitely be happy to attend. A "reach" school you would like to attend should be lower on your list--there is a possibility to transfer your scholarship.
  • Seek advice on this Forum. People who have gone through the process have a lot to offer.
Good luck to all!
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All excellent tips for sure!
I would like to submit one more point of advice, in terms of the essays (though it should go without saying!):
Have an English teacher review your writings.

Though a lot of you might not be quite as bad at the mechanics of writing as I am (I go too fast!), please please please have a teacher read and proofread your work, I promise they will pick up on things you wouldn't even think about! And in something as important as your scholarship essays, I would think any and all help should be sought!

Best of luck class of 2014! If anyone is interested in attending the University of South Carolina, look me up!
 
gamecock_kid said:
All excellent tips for sure!
I would like to submit one more point of advice, in terms of the essays (though it should go without saying!):
Have an English teacher review your writings.

Though a lot of you might not be quite as bad at the mechanics of writing as I am (I go too fast!), please please please have a teacher read and proofread your work, I promise they will pick up on things you wouldn't even think about! And in something as important as your scholarship essays, I would think any and all help should be sought!

Best of luck class of 2014! If anyone is interested in attending the University of South Carolina, look me up!
Click to expand...

Make sure, however, that the English teacher has a reputation of turning out students with good writing skills! I hate to say it, but not all English teachers are created equal!
 
inthenavy2008 said:
Make sure, however, that the English teacher has a reputation of turning out students with good writing skills! I hate to say it, but not all English teachers are created equal!
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Haha, this is true! Perhaps I should edit my post to come across that way! I'm spoiled since my English teacher had around 4 degrees in teaching and English, and is a top notch editor!

Good thing to point out! :thumb:
 
It doesn't even have to be an English teacher! A "second eye" to your essays can be someone with good writing and/or editing skills; but, it should be someone who lets your essays be YOUR essays and reflect who YOU are. Some parents or friends might be perfect for that. . .
 
inthenavy2008 said:
It doesn't even have to be an English teacher! A "second eye" to your essays can be someone with good writing and/or editing skills; but, it should be someone who lets your essays be YOUR essays and reflect who YOU are. Some parents or friends might be perfect for that. . .
Click to expand...

The whole "your essay" part is crutial! The NROTC coordinators and even the colleges/ Service Academies, that you are applying to do not care about what someone else has to say they want to know what you have to say and also it is definitely a good judge of how you think and string together your thought process into an essay. I had a great time applying to the MC option but I also had some help- actually a couple people on this forum :). So, don't be afraid to ask for help but also don't let someone completely do it for you. This truly is your time to shine and to really show them everything you have worked so hard to accomplish thus far. And even when it gets hard always keep that dream in the back of your head! I know I did and I was chosen for the MC ROTC scholarship (to VMI- back up to USNA), and other ROTCs/ Service Academies (I applied to 5 altogether and was appointed to all). And I accepted my USNA appointment.
 
I've been wondering about this. How the heck do you get appointed to multiple academies (not including the USCGA)? Do you need to get multiple nominations, when you only have one congressman (your best bet)? Back in the day, I know I would have taken a nomination and appointment to USNA, but I had my heart set on USMA and didn't want to queer my chances by asking my congressman for USNA in the alternative.
 
tucker92- sorry for not getting back to you earlier. For my Congresswomen, I was allowed to interview for all of the Academies. I was the only one for the USMMA that had a board and the USNA board was so impressed they advised my Congresswomen to give me the principle nom to both the USNA and USMMA (the USNA board also did my interview for the USMMA). Now my Senators only allowed me to seek out a nom to 1 Academy but because I had already received a principle to the Academy I wanted to attend they moved on to othe candidates (because CA is such a large state :)...) Anyways so some Congressional and even Senate offices allow you to interview for more than one nomination (so to multiple Academies). But my board also knew quite plainly after I had finished my interview that if I was appointed to the USNA I would accept it over any other Academy/ College (they granted me the second nom primarily for my back-up plans). But, they can grant us a nom to more than one Academy just as long as they have room to have it charged against them if we decided to go to that Academy.
 
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