Dan; you asked if there were any tips for an upcoming ROTC interview. First thing I would say, is to recognize WHY your daughter is being interviewed. You listed, basically her resume, but you have to realize why she's being interviewed. I did a few academy and ROTC interviews this season. Most were between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I had access to the individual's grades, application, resume, etc... Basically, the resume/application information is there to tell us if a person is worthy enough to get an interview. If the resume itself was important, we'd just read that and wouldn't need the interview. Your daughter's resume is very good. Only stating this for you to understand the "Perspective" to think about this. This is a "JOB INTERVIEW" of her life. That's what the interview is for. Just like a job interview, we've already seen the application. We're probably not going to ask about school, grades, ACT, etc...
We're "Or at least I", ask questions that you can't study for. I ask you how you handled a particularly difficult time in your life. How you handled difficult people in your life. How you performed as a leader. How you got people to work as a team. How you worked as a team player. Basically what I'm saying is: we want to know WHO THE CANDIDATE IS. The resume/application got you to the interview; it will be calculated as part of your total score. But I don't think I really asked or talked much about anything that was ever on an individual's resume or application. The interview is where I get to find out who the REAL APPLICANT IS. Is this what THEY WANT; or is it what their parents or family wants. Do they have natural leadership potential, or are they definitely a follower. Do they have confidence in themselves and pride in their accomplishments; (Border line arrogance and contempt); or are their accomplishments, achievements, and their direction all because that was "Expected" of them growing up. I interview to find the REAL CANDIDATE. I admit; if their application, grades, resume, etc... aren't good; they'd probably not get an interview. But at the end of the day, when someone receives an ROTC scholarship or academy appointment; you're now in the company of thousands of others with outstanding grades, class rank, act/sat scores, etc... I want to know: "WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU". I even ask that question. Most people applying are all in the same area of academics and achievements. "Why Should I pick you"?
Anyway; just trying to help you put the interview into a perspective that goes outside of accomplishments and achievements. More inline with determining WHO the person is, instead of WHAT they have accomplished. Best of luck. Mike....
