AROTC 3rd Board...Place to Wait
- Thread starter SnowMom
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I can only imagine. Definitely a learning point in there.
I was finally able to reach the University ROO and he patiently described the process to me, describing what happened and what my son could have done had he not been following the advice of the wrong person. A shame that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for my DS. What an expensive learning experience this is going to be for him.
Being accepted at USC was one of best days of his life... missing out on the opportunity to have his education paid for, one of the worst.
In any case, it was good to see many of you receive what you worked so hard to achieve.. congratulations and thank you all for helping me through this difficult process.
Being accepted at USC was one of best days of his life... missing out on the opportunity to have his education paid for, one of the worst.
In any case, it was good to see many of you receive what you worked so hard to achieve.. congratulations and thank you all for helping me through this difficult process.
nofodad
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Of course the ROO explained the campus based scholarship process as well...your DS can still compete for a scholarship...and commission as an officer.
Ohio2015Parent
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I am sorry someone mislead your son about the AROTC scholarship process, I hope now that you've spoken to the ROO at his school that he will pursue AROTC without a current scholarship. Do not let a rough start keep him from the true reward of contracting, commissioning and serving as an Army officer. There will be opportunities for other campus based scholarships, I'm sure the ROO mentioned these. Getting their education paid for is not the reason most cadets finish AROTC - at some point you either wanted with everything you've got - money or no money - or you leave the program.
It wasn't his achievements that he expected to help him succeed in ROTC is was his achievements that he expected to help him earn the opportunity to have his education paid for so that he could be both a successful engineer as well as an officer and leader. Although my son was blessed with exceptional intelligence and leadership skills, our family has suffered from the economic realities of the last few years, and we can no longer afford the (perceived) quality education that he was accepted for at USC. Having done everything that we were told by his SAI (a MSGT) and the USC AROO we presumed, and referencing the experience of past recipients, it came as a surprise that we was not chosen. Of course, many other gifted, talented, and deserving candidates also were not chosen... I understand that... but it doesn't make the reality any easier to accept.
My son has a BIG decision to make now, and we will support whatever he decides, but it is just a huge disappointment for everyone... I feel for everyone out there that is in the same boat.
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I am still confused a bit.
Did your son ever fill out the application for the scholarship, and did his portal ever say "Board Ready" or "Boarded"
Just trying to better understand what happened so others can avoid these issues.
Thank you for your concern and help, the problem has been resolved.
Congratulations again to everyone that received their scholarship offers to the schools of their choice. Well done.
In the interest of the forum, and also for all future scholarship applicants, I think Jcleppe would agree with me that what exactly happened that was wrong is crucial. (for someone who might experience the exact same situation later.)
If it was something that happened inside the portal, if it was a person not even informing you about the portal, or that someone guaranteed a scholarship that couldn't actually back it up. Either of those situations (from my understanding) are no fault of the applicant, and it would probably benefit a future applicant if you disclosed that.
Then again, we can't make you. Still, good luck on the route towards contracting. It just sucks when you think you have something in the bag, and you don't. I've been in that place more than I care to remember.
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Another thought, I was told by the ROO that I wouldn't get a national scholarship, and I did. The ROOs can only work off of speculation, so everything they say should be taken with a grain of salt. They are trying to do what is in their name. "Recruit." I'm not questioning the morals of any ROO, but the more people they bring in the better. They will say what they need to say to get you to their school. They are their to promote, and get as many scholarships as they can, so you have to appreciate where they come from. (Clarkson will probably disagree with me there.) I turned away from some schools because their ROOs weren't being honest with me, and that wasn't a place I wanted to be in for 4 years.
This is my experience frok the long application process. It's advice I would openly give to any future applicant. Double check everything a PMS tells you, and if you doubt what he says at all, throw a comment on here, and someone that knows more than you will be more than willing to point you in the right direction *Jcleppe*. Don't let the complicated process hold you back from what you have the potential to earn.
Onto Wayne, that's one of the reasons that we're curious, because when someone else hears a comment like what you said, now we will be equipped to deal with it.
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This is my experience frok the long application process. It's advice I would openly give to any future applicant. Double check everything a PMS tells you, and if you doubt what he says at all, throw a comment on here, and someone that knows more than you will be more than willing to point you in the right direction *Jcleppe*. Don't let the complicated process hold you back from what you have the potential to earn.
Onto Wayne, that's one of the reasons that we're curious, because when someone else hears a comment like what you said, now we will be equipped to deal with it.
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nofodad
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That was quick.
If "I" had looked for this board in the first place, it is unlikely we would have found ourselves in this position. So there is that.
My son was guided by his battalion SAI both into the JROTC and (unknowingly) into the Army rather than the USAFA (which was his original intention). I don't know how to advise this other than "get more opinions".
His AI, the former Drill Sergeant, advised to better his physical fitness score rather than send his application in for the first board... my opinion would be that it is better send in a lower score and improve it (?) on all 3 boards rather than wait and only get two opportunities to be selected.
Put in for the maximum schools allowed... you will likely be chosen for a school SOMEWHERE and you can transfer to the school you want later on. That advice is already here.
Everything else that has happened to us falls under "too bad for you"...
Our decision right now is to wait and see, nobody wants to be in a group that doesn't want them.
It doesn't matter who's fault it is. There are no "take backs" or "do overs". You get only one opportunity, so cross your fingers.
I meant it would benefit future applicant, so they don't end up in a similar place. The more the community knows, the more they can help.
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nofodad
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WAYNE- I think it's been said before in other posts on this forum that many MSIs that report are not national scholarship winners. In fact this year, none of the MSIs at my DS' battalion held scholarships, other year's its been a mix. In other words, if you can make it work through loans, merit aid etc. the advice has frequently been, choose a school, enroll in AROTC, get good grades, participate and score well on the APFT, your DS may be considered for a scholarship that can help pay for his education and allow him to commission as an Army officer. Just re-read your last post...your DS can still apply to USAFA after enrolling in college. I don't think it's unheard of to enroll in a community college (considering cost) take first year courses (calculus etc.) and reapply-pretty sure that's a thing.
Yes, you can take a year off to raise your test scores and take classes not offered at the USAFA, but you don't skip your freshman year, it's 4 years in any case. The thing is, if the psyche test they administer is correct, and you are honest when you take it, then statistically speaking, you are not going to be a successful Officer. Whether you think you will or not, the likelihood is that you will either drop from the program or fail the course. They create and use those tests for a reason... and if you don't think they know what they are doing, then why would you want to put your life at risk at their command?
nofodad
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Yeah, uhm, I didn't mean to imply that you skipped a year, or that he needed to raise his test scores. Just in your DS' case he's missed deadlines and that there's another way. As far as the psyche test? First I've heard of it. Best of luck.
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