AROTC Interview Question

T

TNElvis

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Jun 20, 2017
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My DS has completed all the requirements for his AROTC application with the exception of his interview. The application gave a list of the closest schools to contact but said you could have this completed at any available detachment. Is there any advantage in choosing a school on his list as opposed to a close school. He feels he would be wasting the officers time interviewing at a school not on his list. He has visited most of the detachments on his list his Jr. year so another trip would be just to complete the interview. Thanks
 
In my opinion as a dad, it is BEST to interview at a school that is on your list for the following reasons:
  • The PMS and the ROO get to know you as a person.
  • The cadre can possibly put in a good word with admissions for you (this is NOT a guarantee), if you impress them.
  • Even though you have visited the schools and battalions, a second look in-person can help you prioritize your short list.
That said, an interview with a local battalion can be more efficient and cost-effective than traveling cross country. Not everyone can afford the time or money to hop on a plane to conduct the interview.

An alternative is to arrange a Skype interview with one of the listed schools.
 
Given the choice, recommend you do in person with an off-list battalion than via Skype with an on-list battalion. There’s just no substitute for a firm handshake, eye-to-eye contact and face-to-face conversation. And yes, those things really matter in decisions such as this — they could even help overcome a yellow flag on your application. Having done far more than my share of video-conferencing, I can assure you that everyone comes off better in person.
 
When my daughter tried to schedule with one of the school's on her list, which was a 9 hour drive, they recommended she simply do one close to her. She had visited there already, so I do not know if that was a factor, but she ended up interviewing at the school nearest to us, it was the in state option on her list, but her last choice. Just a side note, she ended up choosing the school she interviewed at, but that is a longer story!
 
If you live in South Carolina I 100% recommend to do your PMS interview at The Citadel. That's where I did mine, I wasn't a huge fan of the school but Mr. Joshua Nelson, the PMS and ROO, is a stand up guy and he definitely made the interview comfortable.
 
DS did his interview with the ROO from his #1 school, which is also 30 minutes from home. I think knowing him personally really helped later on down the road. His scholarship was upgraded from 3 to 4 years based on this ROO's recommendation. Not sure if that would have happened if he interviewed somewhere else and their was no personal connection.
 
Just want to mention, while I do think it is wise to interview at a college on your list if possible, that these folks are professionals and really have no tie to the college. They are very capable of conducting an interview while knowing you do not plan to attend the college where they are assigned. They represent the Army, not the college.
 
Kinnem, I agree. And to be clear it is the PMS, usually a LTC that the PMS interview is with, it the ROO. Having a relationship with the ROO (recruiting operations officer) is a different issue. The ROO is a civilian employee and tend to be at schools longer, the PMS is typically there for 3 years, so all cadets will have more than one PMS during the 4 years with AROTC, the ROO tends to be the same. They will also set up the interview many times, however, a applicant can and should have a relationship with the ROO at every school on their list, not just where they interview. Even if they cannot visit due to location, I recommend at least sending an email and placing a phone call to ask questions about their school and program , and expressing interest in the school, and therefore having a valuable resource throughout the process. This is something that my daughter was able to accomplish at 3 of the 4 schools on her list and it was beyond valuable, and it was the ROO’s that answered her questions and guided her through the application process. When she did receive a scholarship, she already knew then when they called her to congratulate her, even the ROO from the school she did not get on her list called and still advised her. It was the same ROO that said to interview wherever it is most convenient.

We made our daughter do this because going through the college recruiting process for soccer for her sisters, we had learned the value of connection and relationships at each school, and it worked out well.
 
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