Army ROTC 3rd Board Results...

[SOG-SA]

I'll second EEBTTF. Really hard to know with those qualifications, which are outstanding. I remember back in my cadet days we had a cadre member for whom PT was everything. That's all he cared about in terms of preparing us for camp, maxing the PT test. Needless to say, that's only one piece of a multi-faceted puzzle. Nevertheless, if your son had the misfortune of being interviewed by someone like that, well, that would be a very unfortunate mismatch.

Take that NROTC scholarship and run with it!

Agreed.

My boy had some stats that don't compare to @DCHokie's child...and others that did. My son also had add-ins that were not mentioned, at all.

Sometimes, it's the essays and the CBEF that make all the difference. My son said both seemed to be straightforward, and the finalized version of his essays were borderline Shakespeare-level.

Other times, the interview makes all the difference in the world. My boy spent an hour on Skype (or MS Teams....or Zoom....can't recall) with his PMS interviewer, and he believes it went off like gangbusters.

I feel like the actions behind the curtain, and the intangibles, make all the difference.

I suggest @DCHokie tell his son to run with the NROTC ball, and congratulate him on a tremendous achievement

 

[Heatherg21]

Things are good!

All hooked up with a summer job, assignment to basic camp... just need to take a pulmonary function test to try and get a waiver.

Scholarship board meets this week... hopefully that means good news for me.

Good luck to you @Jarhead713 and thanks for sticking around the forums!

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

But they have historical data I'm sure that gives them a pretty good idea of how many awardees will choose high-priced schools and how many will choose state schools. Then use that data to generate a blended rate and plan using that. And not only that, but doesn't the national board itself somewhat control where the scholarships go by determining which schools the scholarships are awarded to?

My point is that they should have a pretty good idea going in to the first board of an FY how many 4-year and how many 3-year scholarships they want to award for the year. And if they don't, they should. That's planning and budgeting 101. But my distinct impression is that none of the services actually do. And I don't understand why not. At a bare minimum, why not advertise, "We plan on awarding at least x 4-year scholarships, and y 3-year scholarships this FY." Then, after every board, publish the numbers. "A" files were reviewed, and x and y scholarships were awarded along with GPA/SAT/ACT and other assorted data (varsity letters, NHS, Boys/Girls State, Eagle Scouts, etc.) -- just like they do for the SAs -- as to who got which awards. But they don't do it, and I can't figure out why not.

Last thought. Why NOT make ROTC scholarships a known, set cost also? Isn't OCS supposed to be the variable safety valve?

Speaking only for the Army. There is a known, set number of scholarships awarded. Their are a little over 2000 scholarships awarded: 1000 4YR, 1000 3YR, and a couple of hundred 2YR MJC scholarships. Demographics of winners are released later in the year. Upgrades occur after 3rd board if 1000 4YR scholarships haven't been awarded. There is a very high cutoff score for selecting 3 and 4 yr winners during the first two boards, based on historical data. After the 3rd board when they have all the actual numbers, upgrades typically occur. The only advantage for the first board if you are an elite applicant, as if you get an offer you will have a known scholarship in OCT. For most applicants it may be more advantageous to be boarded during the 2 and 3rd boards, as it gives you more prep time for the fitness assessment, additional SAT opportunities, and interview prep.

 

[franknd]

Speaking only for the Army. There is a known, set number of scholarships awarded. Their are a little over 2000 scholarships awarded: 1000 4YR, 1000 3YR, and a couple of hundred 2YR MJC scholarships. Demographics of winners are released later in the year.

I appreciate the response. Is this a new known set of numbers, or is that what they just ended up awarding this year? The University of North Georgia web site says, "For the academic year 2018-2019, more than 7,000 high school senior applications for the scholarship were reviewed. About 3,000 applicants were awarded a scholarship. About 25% of those were 4-year scholarships and 75% were 3-year scholarships."

Army ROTC Scholarship

ung.edu

I've also never seen a statistical profile of last year's winners. For the year before I remember seeing a profile that appeared to have been leaked on reddit, which appeared to reflect 4-year winners, but that wasn't clear. And I know Cadet Command published in a briefing that was on the amcsus web site a year or two ago some data that showed how 4-year winners compared favorably with WP cadets. In any event, I don't doubt that cadre get the data, but my distinct impression is that it tends not to filter out from there or be publicized, for example on the Cadet Command web site.

Again, I appreciate the response.

 

[DCHokie]

The AROTC process has a few components that are very important and the applicant gets very little (if any) feedback on how they did. The Essays are a big factor, the interview and the CBEF survey. No real way of knowing. Congrats to your DS on the NROTC!

The AROTC process has a few components that are very important and the applicant gets very little (if any) feedback on how they did. The Essays are a big factor, the interview and the CBEF survey. No real way of knowing. Congrats to your DS on the NROTC!

Thank you!

 

[DCHokie]

I'll second EEBTTF. Really hard to know with those qualifications, which are outstanding. I remember back in my cadet days we had a cadre member for whom PT was everything. That's all he cared about in terms of preparing us for camp, maxing the PT test. Needless to say, that's only one piece of a multi-faceted puzzle. Nevertheless, if your son had the misfortune of being interviewed by someone like that, well, that would be a very unfortunate mismatch.

Take that NROTC scholarship and run with it!

Thank you!

 

[SMArnold2]

I just found this forum today. DS applied and is still showing Boarded/Under Consideration. He is one of the kids who unfortunately was unable to take an SAT/ACT due to extended COVID lockdowns in our state and surrounding states (believe me, I tried to get him scheduled whereever I could.) He reached out to the PMS of the school he plans to attend, and the PMS said that he could see that my son was not offerred a 4 year scholarship, but from what he could see, no one that didn't submit SAT/ACT recieved a scholarship. Now if that is true, it could mean two things. 1) People who did not have an SAT/ACT weren't even competetive and shouldn't have bothered applying. Or 2) they are awarding scholarships for those kids off a seperate list. My understanding was those applications were held to the third board so they would all be considered together. I guess my question is, did any of you who were awarded scholarships NOT submit SAT/ACT? and for anyone else who did not submit SAT/ACT, do you know your selection status? Have you heard anything different? Is there still hope for my son in getting a National scholarship?

 

[EEBTTF]

Welcome. In terms of your last question, my understanding is that all of the scholarship winners have been notified via the portal - so if your DS is still showing B/UC he did not receive a scholarship this year. @Montana State Army ROTC or @clarksonarmy are your two best sources for the specific questions regarding this years selection criteria. I am fairly certain that I remember a post by @Montana State Army ROTC that stated the majority of applicants did have standardized test scores in their packet. Best of luck to your son.

 

[SMArnold2]

Welcome. In terms of your last question, my understanding is that all of the scholarship winners have been notified via the portal - so if your DS is still showing B/UC he did not receive a scholarship this year. @Montana State Army ROTC or @clarksonarmy are your two best sources for the specific questions regarding this years selection criteria. I am fairly certain that I remember a post by @Montana State Army ROTC that stated the majority of applicants did have standardized test scores in their packet. Best of luck to your son.

If that's the case, it really sucks that there were kids who were penalized through no fault of their own. What a bummer.

 

[ghostwritergirl]

If that's the case, it really sucks that there were kids who were penalized through no fault of their own. What a bummer.

I am still trying to fully understand the process, but my understanding is that kids with no test scores were given the base test score (instead of NO test score), which only accounts for about 18% of the total 1400 points. Some applicants with test scores would have been right around that same number. But their packets consist of SO much more than just that standardized test score. After reading the posts on here the last few months, it sounds like many kids that go on to earn campus/battalion based scholarships once they arrive at school.

 

[EEBTTF]

I am still trying to fully understand the process, but my understanding is that kids with no test scores were given the base test score (instead of NO test score), which only accounts for about 18% of the total 1400 points. Some applicants with test scores would have been right around that same number. But their packets consist of SO much more than just that standardized test score. After reading the posts on here the last few months, it sounds like many kids that go on to earn campus/battalion based scholarships once they arrive at school.

If no test score was submitted you were given a 998 (SAT Score). @ghostwritergirl - where are you getting the 18% number from?

You are correct in that the majority of scholarship funds are campus based awards

<<<Quote below from @Montana State Army ROTC >>>

Cadet Command understands students have encountered challenges finding
opportunities to take SAT and ACT tests. We further understand many colleges have
waived the SAT/ACT requirement for admissions.


The Test Flexible policy was developed to ensure every high school scholarship applicant
is afforded the opportunity to submit the most complete and competitive application as
possible.

Those students who were able to take the SAT or ACT but did not earn a qualifying
score are NOT eligible to compete for a scholarship using the Test Flexible policy.

As in previous years, those students are invited to participate in ROTC when they
arrive on campus. They will be eligible to compete for a scholarship in college once
they have earned at least a 2.5 term and cumulative GPA.

Process
Students not able to test can submit supporting information beginning 29 JAN 2021
through the March Selection Board document deadline of 1 MAR 2021 for those who
cannot take the ACT/SAT before 7 FEB 2021. Supporting information includes one of the
following:

Cancelled test registration communications from ACT or College Board.

A brief statement from a high school guidance counselor for students not able to
register due to COVID-19 restrictions; no tests were scheduled in their area.

Upload one of these document categories as “ACT/SAT CANCELLATION DOCUMENT”

Once this document is approved, RMID processors will change the document type to
“SAT SCORES” and an SAT score of 998 (499 EBR&W and 499 Math) will be entered
into their application. ALL test flexible applicants will have a 998 SAT test score.

Given the student also submitted a qualifying high school transcript, their status will
change to Interviewee (see Selection Status tab of your application).

This will enable them to continue the application process to prepare their packet for
the March Selection Board.

They must still complete the rest of the application, the Physical Fitness Assessment,
and PMS Interview in order to be boarded and considered for scholarship selection.

All “test flexible” applicants will be boarded together during the 15-19 March 2021 board
window. Notification of selected applicants will be made with the normal March board.

Students boarded through the “test flexible” process and not selected through the
centralized process are still eligible to be awarded one of the brigade’s 3AD scholarship
allocations. No test score waiver will be required for 3AD winners

 

[SMArnold2]

If not test score was submitted you were given a 998 (SAT Score). @ghostwritergirl - where are you getting the 18% number from?

You are correct in that the majority of scholarship funds are campus based awards

<<<Quote below from @Montana State Army ROTC >>>

Cadet Command understands students have encountered challenges finding
opportunities to take SAT and ACT tests. We further understand many colleges have
waived the SAT/ACT requirement for admissions.


The Test Flexible policy was developed to ensure every high school scholarship applicant
is afforded the opportunity to submit the most complete and competitive application as
possible.

Those students who were able to take the SAT or ACT but did not earn a qualifying
score are NOT eligible to compete for a scholarship using the Test Flexible policy.

As in previous years, those students are invited to participate in ROTC when they
arrive on campus. They will be eligible to compete for a scholarship in college once
they have earned at least a 2.5 term and cumulative GPA.

Process
Students not able to test can submit supporting information beginning 29 JAN 2021
through the March Selection Board document deadline of 1 MAR 2021 for those who
cannot take the ACT/SAT before 7 FEB 2021. Supporting information includes one of the
following:

Cancelled test registration communications from ACT or College Board.

A brief statement from a high school guidance counselor for students not able to
register due to COVID-19 restrictions; no tests were scheduled in their area.

Upload one of these document categories as “ACT/SAT CANCELLATION DOCUMENT”

Once this document is approved, RMID processors will change the document type to
“SAT SCORES” and an SAT score of 998 (499 EBR&W and 499 Math) will be entered
into their application. ALL test flexible applicants will have a 998 SAT test score.

Given the student also submitted a qualifying high school transcript, their status will
change to Interviewee (see Selection Status tab of your application).

This will enable them to continue the application process to prepare their packet for
the March Selection Board.

They must still complete the rest of the application, the Physical Fitness Assessment,
and PMS Interview in order to be boarded and considered for scholarship selection.

All “test flexible” applicants will be boarded together during the 15-19 March 2021 board
window. Notification of selected applicants will be made with the normal March board.

Students boarded through the “test flexible” process and not selected through the
centralized process are still eligible to be awarded one of the brigade’s 3AD scholarship
allocations. No test score waiver will be required for 3AD winners

Thank you for this information. My DS has been in touch with the PMS for the school he plans to attend and has been told he has a good chance of a campus based scholarship.

 

[ghostwritergirl]

If no test score was submitted you were given a 998 (SAT Score). @ghostwritergirl - where are you getting the 18% number from?

When I was helping my DD research the scoring breakdown, it was the percentage we came across on several articles...the test score component was approximately 18% of the overall score.

 

[franknd]

When I was helping my DD research the scoring breakdown, it was the percentage we came across on several articles...the test score component was approximately 18% of the overall score.

It is the number that LTC (Ret.) Kirkland advertises:

Army ROTC ranks applicants on a 1400 point scale using the following weights:

Area of Consideration	Points
College Board Scores	250
Scholar, Athletics and Leadership	200
Interview	200
Selection Board Score	350
Civilian Background Experience Form (CBEF)	250
Physical Fitness Test	150
Total Points	1400

What are My Chances of Getting or Winning an ROTC Scholarship?

This post will talk about each ROTC Scholarship program and the most important elements to consider in order to determine your chances of success.

rotcconsulting.com

 

[PlanAhead]

Son got the email this afternoon. Upgraded from 3 year to 4 year!

DS got the same email last week. I had heard this could happen, but that it was uncommon. What a major blessing!

 

[ThunderLizard]

DS got a 3-year scholarship. Is any kind of online acceptance/confirmation [He doesn't find anything in his portal] necessary, or is paperwork eventually going to arrive via snail mail? He hasn't received an email confirmation either.

 

[EEBTTF]

DS got a 3-year scholarship. Is any kind of online acceptance/confirmation [He doesn't find anything in his portal] necessary, or is paperwork eventually going to arrive via snail mail? He hasn't received an email confirmation either.

All of the required forms and instructions should be in the portal. Check the uploaded forms for his winner letter. All of the other instructions are under the Additional Information tab.

 

[clarksonarmy]

DS got a 3-year scholarship. Is any kind of online acceptance/confirmation [He doesn't find anything in his portal] necessary, or is paperwork eventually going to arrive via snail mail? He hasn't received an email confirmation either.

Check the additional information tab on the application website and look for the "Accepting Scholarship and Transfer Requests" link. It will tell you that you can print out the uploaded offer letter, chose a school, sign, and upload to your app for the quickest response. If you want to request a transfer same deal, but you will upload a couple other documents. Best way to respond to Cadet Command during this process is to scan and upload.

 

[Razrbck]

All three are direct admit nursing programs. Georgetown is saying they will be back on campus next year, but it’s unclear whether that means a return to anything resembling normal in terms of how classes meet or just allowing more kids to actually live on campus. My daughter does not want to go virtual, so that is a definite concern. Villanova and TCU are both in person this year so assuming it will be at least as good if not better next year. It’s just difficult to get a good feel for the culture of a school virtually and with travel restrictions at the kids current schools we have been limited on the ability to see much.

My son loves TCU and everything it has to offer. Pretty conservative (good thing) for a University. Really likes the AROTC unit.

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

If that's the case, it really sucks that there were kids who were penalized through no fault of their own. What a bummer.

I would say they held the standard. 10s of 100,000s figured out how to take the test.