AFROTC Application in Light of COVID

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Frank3458

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Joined
Jun 8, 2020
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Hi there,

I just finished my junior year in highschool, and am planning on applying for an AFROTC scholarship. I am in Boy Scouts, and I just have to finish my Eagle Project before I earn Eagle rank. Due to COVID, however, all service projects are closed, and I am not allowed to proceed in any way until the council gives the go ahead. This is projected to not happen until October, after one or possibly two of the AFROTC selection boards. My question is this: In my situation, is it better to submit the application now and update it once I get Eagle so I have a chance at being selected at every board, or should I wait to submit it at all until I can say I'm an Eagle scout?

I also have another question. I was nominated to go to Boy's State this year, but Boy's State was canceled due to COVID. How will activities that "would have been completed" be evaluated? Will I still get full or partial credit for this?

Thanks for any advice or information you can give.
 
Have you thought about practicing writing this as if you won't be able to complete your project or participate in the events? Consider describing what they would have meant and what you hope to learn. On the project... can you consider what you've accomplished to date?
 
You will not be the only one in this boat and the boards know it.

For you it will be easier to state it
~ Nominated Boys State.
~~ They will realize that you could not attend because most of the country is still in phase 1. These are officers that sit on the board. My husband works at the Pentagon. They are still at essential personnel only.

Eagle Scout is great, but they can read between the lines there too. Again, they understand the situation. What is just as important is to see the long term commitment that you had to the organization. In essence, you stuck with it from start to finish.
 
So do you think it would be better to submit now without Eagle, or like I've heard about other years, should I wait until I can submit my, "strongest application"?
 
Frank3458 said:
So do you think it would be better to submit now without Eagle, or like I've heard about other years, should I wait until I can submit my, "strongest application"?
Click to expand...
It's a tradeoff that you have to make. You want to submit the best application possible while still having time to get before s couple boards, at least. Each subsequent board is going to award more scholarships than the previous board, to allow time for the applicant pool to develop. Earlier is always better but don't cut corners either. If you feel it's critical to your application either wait, or find a way to do a project with proper social distancing prior to the first, or an early board. You have to make that decision.

There is another recent thread here where someone has compiled all the known board dates for each service. I cannot attest to it's accuracy, and plans always change, but you might want to find it so you can make a more informed decision. In fact you can find that thread here: https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...tc-scholarship-board-dates.75462/#post-747034
 
As an Eagle myself (and a 2021 AFROTC HSSP applicant), I would say wait it out- not until the last board, of course, but just in case to give you time to do your project if it does become possible. I say that because an Eagle Scout award is a major accomplishment- it attests to a lot of time, dedication, and hard work on your part. It would set you apart from the crowd (assuming the majority of applicants are not Eagle Scouts).

But, it is your choice in the end.
 
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