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Carlooo

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Aug 18, 2021
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Hello all, I've recently completed the final components of my Army ROTC Scholarship application and it is ready for the first board. I've read however on the forums that they will only review my application once and that it is very hard to get a scholarship off of the first board. Initially I had thought that even if I didn't win a scholarship on the first board, I'd still have a chance on the remaining two. Does anyone have any wisdom on if they actually only review the application once? Or will those not selected be automatically reconsidered on another board? Thanks! :D
 
If you submit for the first board they will review your scores and give you a final score. If they award say 400 scholarships on this board and your score puts you at 405 then you will not receive a scholarship and get deferred to the next board. January comes and the board scores all the new applications. Your score puts you on the list for a scholarship relative to all the scores for the new submissions. So your score does not change from the first board unless you submit higher test scores. I don't think that will make a huge difference unless you have significant improvement in your test score. They say it doesn't count as much because nobody is relooking at your file so those board-awarded points don't change if that makes sense. Unless you have over 1400 on your SAT it is unlikely that you will receive a scholarship on the first board so you might want to consider improving your PT scores or SAT scores if possible before the January deadline. So yes, you are looked at once and given a score, but you will automatically be deferred to the next board for consideration, and then the 3rd board if you don't receive one in January. There isn't anything you have to do. I'm just a parent who went through this last year, but I read everything on this site related to this topic and understand it better since having gone through it with my son.
 
Take some time and research the topic of AROTC 1st Board. The simple answer is that if you have room for improvement in your standardized test scores, Fitness Test, GPA....Don't submit on the first board. If you submit on the 1st board and improve those areas you only get incremental credit. Your application will only get viewed bv a human 1 time - after that you are simply a number in a pile of other numbers. Highest numbers get the scholarship.

look up posts by @MohawkArmyROTC and @clarksonarmy

What are your test scores, GPA and other metrics.
 
Carlooo said:
Hello all, I've recently completed the final components of my Army ROTC Scholarship application and it is ready for the first board. I've read however on the forums that they will only review my application once and that it is very hard to get a scholarship off of the first board. Initially I had thought that even if I didn't win a scholarship on the first board, I'd still have a chance on the remaining two. Does anyone have any wisdom on if they actually only review the application once? Or will those not selected be automatically reconsidered on another board? Thanks! :D
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@Carlooo - I just looked back at some of your previous posts. You mention that your SAT is/was a 1210. That is not going to make the cut on the 1st board - most likely won't cut it on the 2nd or 3rd. Definitely do not submit for the 1st board with a 1210.
 
EEBTTF said:
@Carlooo - I just looked back at some of your previous posts. You mention that your SAT is/was a 1210. That is not going to make the cut on the 1st board - most likely won't cut it on the 2nd or 3rd. Definitely do not submit for the 1st board with a 1210.
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So if a 1210 won't cut it on the second or third boards, what SAT score are they looking for AROTC Scholarship ?
 
Does the Army offer 3 and 2 year scholarships to high school graduates that didn't make the cut for a 4yr scholarship?
 
Bigtommygunsouth said:
So if a 1210 won't cut it on the second or third boards, what SAT score are they looking for AROTC Scholarship ?
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Some areas of your application are more important than others. Army ROTC ranks scholarship applicants out of 1400 points.
  • Selection Board Score – 25%
  • College Board Scores – 18%
  • Civilian Background Experience Form – 18%
  • Scholar, Athletics, and Leadership – 14%
  • Interview – 14%
  • Physical Fitness Test – 10%
You need to have a minimum of 1000 on the SAT to apply. Historical data shows that scores above 1295 SAT/ 29 ACT are the norm. The 1st Board will be 1400 average. Can you get a scholarship with a 1210? Maybe - look at the percentages above, there are a lot of important components. The CBEF is one of the most important parts that many candidates just breeze thru without putting a lot of thought into it. Once you finish and submit the CBEF it won't come back - its gone - no edits.

There is literally days worth of reading on this forum about the AROTC Boards and what it takes to get the golden ticket. Don't submit your application until you have maxed out your standardized test scores, PFT, and your essays are perfect.
 
PaigeMasto said:
Does the Army offer 3 and 2 year scholarships to high school graduates that didn't make the cut for a 4yr scholarship?
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Yes 4 & 3 YR- The 1st Board is all 4 Year. From there its a mix. Historically there are usually about 3000 scholarships awarded each year. 25-30% +/- of these typically are awarded towards four year scholarships. 70%ish +/- are usually Advanced Degree scholarships covering full tuition for last three years.
 
EEBTTF said:
Some areas of your application are more important than others. Army ROTC ranks scholarship applicants out of 1400 points.
  • Selection Board Score – 25%
  • College Board Scores – 18%
  • Civilian Background Experience Form – 18%
  • Scholar, Athletics, and Leadership – 14%
  • Interview – 14%
  • Physical Fitness Test – 10%
You need to have a minimum of 1000 on the SAT to apply. Historical data shows that scores above 1295 SAT/ 29 ACT are the norm. The 1st Board will be 1400 average. Can you get a scholarship with a 1210? Maybe - look at the percentages above, there are a lot of important components. The CBEF is one of the most important parts that many candidates just breeze thru without putting a lot of thought into it. Once you finish and submit the CBEF it won't come back - its gone - no edits.

There is literally days worth of reading on this forum about the AROTC Boards and what it takes to get the golden ticket. Don't submit your application until you have maxed out your standardized test scores, PFT, and your essays are perfect.
Click to expand...
Curious if your advice only applies to Army or applies across review boards? My daughter's package was just sent off by her recruiter so it can go before the first NROTC review board. GPA and class rank are not going to change much at this point and she got a 33 on her ACT. I have read on this site that it is a bad idea to go to the first board but we didn't think her package would change by waiting.
 
EEBTTF said:
That is not going to make the cut on the 1st board - most likely won't cut it on the 2nd or 3rd. Definitely do not submit for the 1st board with a 1210.
Click to expand...
EEBTTF - I don't fully agree that a 1210... "most likely won't cut it on the 2nd or 3rd"... Board.

AROTC places students at schools with SAT averages less than 1210 every year. It's a review of the whole package. Is the student disadvantaged? Diversity candidate? Does the student have a life story that would add value to the Army as an officer? The SAT is one metric. I do agree higher scores are better but 1000 is the minimum to apply. I haven't looked for the numbers that get a scholarship by SAT ranges with retention/success factors as an officer included... I'm sure though that RAND has done a longitudinal study on it.

Edit: Totally agree that those that skip the CBEF... it just looks like an insignificant survey (my opinion)... hurt themselves even with great test scores.
 
I agree that a 1210, coupled with a very strong package can result in a scholarship. A 1210 is below the average for winners over the past few years. I think we both agree that if possible, try and get the score up a bit so you are not on the bottom of the avg.
 
MMM3 said:
Curious if your advice only applies to Army or applies across review boards? My daughter's package was just sent off by her recruiter so it can go before the first NROTC review board. GPA and class rank are not going to change much at this point and she got a 33 on her ACT. I have read on this site that it is a bad idea to go to the first board but we didn't think her package would change by waiting.
Click to expand...
This analysis was for AROTC
 
Carlooo said:
Hello all, I've recently completed the final components of my Army ROTC Scholarship application and it is ready for the first board. I've read however on the forums that they will only review my application once and that it is very hard to get a scholarship off of the first board. Initially I had thought that even if I didn't win a scholarship on the first board, I'd still have a chance on the remaining two. Does anyone have any wisdom on if they actually only review the application once? Or will those not selected be automatically reconsidered on another board? Thanks! :D
Click to expand...
You’ve gotten a lot of good advice here. I just want to encourage you to keep at it get together the best application you can. My son applied on the second-January board last year. His SAT was a 1210. He received his 3 year on the March board. Even though his SAT was not at the top, He had a very strong application in all the areas and was fortunate to be selected. You never know, so just keep working toward your goal.
 
EEBTTF said:
Take some time and research the topic of AROTC 1st Board. The simple answer is that if you have room for improvement in your standardized test scores, Fitness Test, GPA....Don't submit on the first board. If you submit on the 1st board and improve those areas you only get incremental credit. Your application will only get viewed bv a human 1 time - after that you are simply a number in a pile of other numbers. Highest numbers get the scholarship.

look up posts by @MohawkArmyROTC and @clarksonarmy

What are your test scores, GPA and other metrics.
Click to expand...
For reference, my GPA is a 3.93 unweighted and I maxed all the events on the PFA
 
PaigeMasto said:
Does the Army offer 3 and 2 year scholarships to high school graduates that didn't make the cut for a 4yr scholarship?
Click to expand...
My son received a 3-yr national scholarship. His SAT score was the weakest part of his profile in my opinion (not knowing how the interview went). Good GPA and a lot of solid leadership experience. His SAT was 1260. The 1st board is all 4-yr scholarships and the others will be both 4-yr and 3-yr. There haven't been 2-yr through the national scholarship that I'm aware of. Those are campus-based.
 
AROTC Parent said:
EEBTTF - I don't fully agree that a 1210... "most likely won't cut it on the 2nd or 3rd"... Board.

AROTC places students at schools with SAT averages less than 1210 every year. It's a review of the whole package. Is the student disadvantaged? Diversity candidate? Does the student have a life story that would add value to the Army as an officer? The SAT is one metric. I do agree higher scores are better but 1000 is the minimum to apply. I haven't looked for the numbers that get a scholarship by SAT ranges with retention/success factors as an officer included... I'm sure though that RAND has done a longitudinal study on it.

Edit: Totally agree that those that skip the CBEF... it just looks like an insignificant survey (my opinion)... hurt themselves even with great test scores.
Click to expand...
It was shared with us that the average SAT for a 4-year last year was 1410 and the average for a 3-yr was 1370. Those are averages so I'd assume that those with lower SAT scores (like my son) had otherwise strong and interesting resumes like you suggest.
 
Cmac154 said:
It was shared with us that the average SAT for a 4-year last year was 1410 and the average for a 3-yr was 1370. Those are averages so I'd assume that those with lower SAT scores (like my son) had otherwise strong and interesting resumes like you suggest.
Click to expand...
Was the shared info of 1410 average SAT for an AROTC 4-year last year for a specific school or the first board only? ... that is likely true... but for the national average of all boards for AROTC 4 year HS scholarships to be 1410 I would like to see a source document.
 
MMM3 said:
Curious if your advice only applies to Army or applies across review boards? My daughter's package was just sent off by her recruiter so it can go before the first NROTC review board. GPA and class rank are not going to change much at this point and she got a 33 on her ACT. I have read on this site that it is a bad idea to go to the first board but we didn't think her package would change by waiting.
Click to expand...
If there is no way that the packet will be any stronger at a later point than it is now, there is no reason NOT to submit in time for the first board. I encouraged both of my kids to submit their best applications, as soon as possible, for both the NROTC and AROTC boards.
 
AROTC Parent said:
Was the shared info of 1410 average SAT for an AROTC 4-year last year for a specific school or the first board only? ... that is likely true... but for the national average of all boards for AROTC 4 year HS scholarships to be 1410 I would like to see a source document.
Click to expand...
I don’t have a document but this is what we were told at the AROTC program when we dropped off in August. I’m pretty sure it was overall.
 
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