I just read that AROTC will have three boards that meet in ref to scholrships this year. Would someone please explain what happens when these boards meet? If anyone has any insight about what the boards do ie. sit down at a table and start reading the applicants packages, how many folks are at the table, do they really evaluate the whole person or is it a sat/act score pecking order and thats it, what is the usual or average number of apps reviewed and awarded, how long does it take to be notified, and when would a person know for sure that an offer is or is'nt comming? etc,etc...please tell...inquiring minds want to know.
AROTC Scholarship Boards Question
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Pima
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I am sure Clarkson and Marist will eventually chime in, for specifics, but here is what I know.
They have many, many tables, regarding how many sit at each table I wouldn't know, but I have always been told it is an odd number, like 3 or 5.
Piles are handed to each table. The board consists of high ranking officers. Each officer will rate/score the packet by each officer separately, and the score is given an avg, now if there is a huge differentiation in points, it is re-visited. I don't know what the differentiation is, I have been told by AF people that it is 10%. It is sim. to the way the written portion of the SAT works. Sometimes the reason for the differentiation is really the fault of favoritism...i.e. know the school, know the kid, came from the same hometown, etc. I also have been told that if this occurs, the packet is than handed to another table and they re-score the applicant.
Everything is looked at, because each portion of the required items has a certain percentage assigned to them. That is why it called WCS. For example, Par is X %, EC's x%, Recs X %, and within those groups there are even more % breakdowns, where SAT gets X, GPA gets X, PFA gets X, etc.
The 1st board will always have the most candidates because of that lag time. It would be unusual for them to get through every single packet during one board. For the 1st board it is common for candidates to be re-boarded for a couple of reasons.
1. Setting the base line for schools
2. They don't want to hand out the entire pot of money to the 1st board and have nothing left for the last. Or give a scholarship to someone when from a larger statistical pool they may not have made the cut.
~~~Again, because the amount they have in line makes it impossible to get through all of them.
Remember this is a queue system, First In, First Up. The earlier you submitted the sooner you will be boarded. Just because you submitted the Friday before the deadline date does not equate to you being reviewed at that board. You will be in the pile and are eligible to be reviewed, but they do not and will not guarantee that you will be. They are firm on the dates. The people who are on the board actually have other jobs, so they are only there for those dates. They also only work a duty day, they do not start at 8 a.m. and go to midnight. That is why there is no guarantee. It is not uncommon for someone to submit in late Aug. and not hear from the 1st board.
It is usually a few weeks until you hear because it has to go up the chain and back down the chain before it is released. Trust me this site will let you know when the results are out. It will light up like a Xmas tree. There will be one person who finds out, and everyone else will start looking for their results.
The informal release of results occur in various ways, sometimes it is their contact, sometimes, a MALO, sometimes in an email, sometimes by a phone call. The official release is always the same...snail mail letter! Yes, you can trust them for the informal one.
I am sure Clarkson or Marist can answer this, but for AFROTC when they release the list, they release the names of every candidate awarded from that board. Hence, if it is like that Clarkson would be able to see kids that were awarded to Marist, even if they didn't apply to Clarkson.
They have many, many tables, regarding how many sit at each table I wouldn't know, but I have always been told it is an odd number, like 3 or 5.
Piles are handed to each table. The board consists of high ranking officers. Each officer will rate/score the packet by each officer separately, and the score is given an avg, now if there is a huge differentiation in points, it is re-visited. I don't know what the differentiation is, I have been told by AF people that it is 10%. It is sim. to the way the written portion of the SAT works. Sometimes the reason for the differentiation is really the fault of favoritism...i.e. know the school, know the kid, came from the same hometown, etc. I also have been told that if this occurs, the packet is than handed to another table and they re-score the applicant.
Everything is looked at, because each portion of the required items has a certain percentage assigned to them. That is why it called WCS. For example, Par is X %, EC's x%, Recs X %, and within those groups there are even more % breakdowns, where SAT gets X, GPA gets X, PFA gets X, etc.
The 1st board will always have the most candidates because of that lag time. It would be unusual for them to get through every single packet during one board. For the 1st board it is common for candidates to be re-boarded for a couple of reasons.
1. Setting the base line for schools
2. They don't want to hand out the entire pot of money to the 1st board and have nothing left for the last. Or give a scholarship to someone when from a larger statistical pool they may not have made the cut.
~~~Again, because the amount they have in line makes it impossible to get through all of them.
Remember this is a queue system, First In, First Up. The earlier you submitted the sooner you will be boarded. Just because you submitted the Friday before the deadline date does not equate to you being reviewed at that board. You will be in the pile and are eligible to be reviewed, but they do not and will not guarantee that you will be. They are firm on the dates. The people who are on the board actually have other jobs, so they are only there for those dates. They also only work a duty day, they do not start at 8 a.m. and go to midnight. That is why there is no guarantee. It is not uncommon for someone to submit in late Aug. and not hear from the 1st board.
It is usually a few weeks until you hear because it has to go up the chain and back down the chain before it is released. Trust me this site will let you know when the results are out. It will light up like a Xmas tree. There will be one person who finds out, and everyone else will start looking for their results.
The informal release of results occur in various ways, sometimes it is their contact, sometimes, a MALO, sometimes in an email, sometimes by a phone call. The official release is always the same...snail mail letter! Yes, you can trust them for the informal one.
I am sure Clarkson or Marist can answer this, but for AFROTC when they release the list, they release the names of every candidate awarded from that board. Hence, if it is like that Clarkson would be able to see kids that were awarded to Marist, even if they didn't apply to Clarkson.
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Yup, they look at the files, give it a score, and those scores are added to the other measurables to compile an OML score. Then Cadet Command uses the overall score to determine who gets the offers. Your OML score will include the board members scores, the score from your interview, and a number derived from your transcripts, test scores, and the information that was provided on your application (extracurriculars).
Not sure where Pima got her take on the board process, but I want to hope that in this day and age we don't print out the file and plop it on a table anymore. I'm going to hope that the boards have a computer, and look at the digital files of all the applicants (which is why I advocate scan and email whenever possible). Additionally, my understanding is that if you get your file complete on time you will be seen by the board. You will only be scored by one board, and your score will remain the same through subsequent boards if you don't get an offer, and there is nothing that will significantly change your score.
Not sure what the average number is, because it changes from year to year. I would tell you that in the last 8 year my guess is 10K apply each year, more or less, and there are usually anywhere between 3-5 boards. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for the results to be posted, and you usually don't get contacted if you don't get an offer, unless you have a good ROO helping you. You'll start getting calls if you get an offer about a week before your supposed to, because some ROOs aren't good a following directions. Hope that helps, and keep inquiring!
Not sure where Pima got her take on the board process, but I want to hope that in this day and age we don't print out the file and plop it on a table anymore. I'm going to hope that the boards have a computer, and look at the digital files of all the applicants (which is why I advocate scan and email whenever possible). Additionally, my understanding is that if you get your file complete on time you will be seen by the board. You will only be scored by one board, and your score will remain the same through subsequent boards if you don't get an offer, and there is nothing that will significantly change your score.
Not sure what the average number is, because it changes from year to year. I would tell you that in the last 8 year my guess is 10K apply each year, more or less, and there are usually anywhere between 3-5 boards. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for the results to be posted, and you usually don't get contacted if you don't get an offer, unless you have a good ROO helping you. You'll start getting calls if you get an offer about a week before your supposed to, because some ROOs aren't good a following directions. Hope that helps, and keep inquiring!
I'm not sure AROTC works on the queue system as PIMA mentioned. It is my understanding that if you have your application complete by the cutoff date you will be seen by the first available board. My son had his application completed a mere 4 days before the cutoff for the first board, he was waiting for his new ACT scores, he received his scholarship from that first board. I believe Clarkson mentioned the same thing.
All you can really do at this point is be patient, keep your fingers crossed and pray a lot. Still over a month away until the first board meets, and probably no results until early to mid-November. Spend the time enjoying life with DS/DD, believe me the time goes by fast. Seems like it wasn't too long ago that DS's application was completed in late October 2010, went before the January 2011 review board, and finally got word about the scholarship in late April. That was when he started to put Plan B into action. Called the ROO at his #1 school to talk about a few things, and the conversation started with "Congratulations, I have some great news for you!"
Which reminds me, if you haven't already started, get things rolling to put together Plan B, C, etc. Better to have them and not need them than not have them and get things going too late.
Which reminds me, if you haven't already started, get things rolling to put together Plan B, C, etc. Better to have them and not need them than not have them and get things going too late.
Ohio2015Parent
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I strong support the plans B-Z idea that MNDad brings up. No matter how long the wait, in the end, your DS will make a decision about which school he will attend and possibly which branch to accept(if doing multiple, DS was only an AROTC applicant). Visit schools(every last one on the list) and talk to every ROO/PMS you can while you are there.
DS went thru plans A-Z rapid fire - lucky for him even without being offered AROTC scholarship - he had some amazing opportunities to pick from. Had I let him use 16 year old logic, he would have left all the eggs in one basket, he learned a new respect for old mom and the you must have backups idea
I hope he keeps this lesson close to his heart when following his military path.
In the end we cannot change what will or won't be offered to them, make sure he has control of the few things he can always control - his reactions, attitude and effort.
Buy some bottles of liquid that get you thru, or I do believe one Dad used Girl Scout cookies to settle his nerves(great for the scouts, 'cause he went thru some cookes
). Settle in for the long wait - we'll all hang out with you until it ends(when it all really begins
).
DS went thru plans A-Z rapid fire - lucky for him even without being offered AROTC scholarship - he had some amazing opportunities to pick from. Had I let him use 16 year old logic, he would have left all the eggs in one basket, he learned a new respect for old mom and the you must have backups idea
I hope he keeps this lesson close to his heart when following his military path.In the end we cannot change what will or won't be offered to them, make sure he has control of the few things he can always control - his reactions, attitude and effort.
Buy some bottles of liquid that get you thru, or I do believe one Dad used Girl Scout cookies to settle his nerves(great for the scouts, 'cause he went thru some cookes
). Settle in for the long wait - we'll all hang out with you until it ends(when it all really begins).
Pima
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In the end of the day, here is what you need to realize.
1. You submitted the packet and NOBODY ON THIS BOARD SITS ON THE BOARD!
~~~Nobody, Period, Dot, end of subject!
2. Clarkson, it was a visual regarding the process...yes, it is computers.
3. Jcleppe, your child may have received their answer, but look at the Jan/Mar board. I tilt to the don't wrap your panties in a wad. Give people like Clarkson and Marist the opportunity to contact you.
~~~ In other words, as hard as it is to read, you can call, email, etc., but the fact is as often as you do that, the result won't change.
As much as it is a happy day to receive the info for yourself, it is also a happy day for them too --- that is why they call! They love seeing the new generation!
Calling to receive an answer does nothing, except to hear there is no answer.
We respect the military due to their honesty. Accept that fact.
Yes, I appear to be harsh, but you need to ask yourself do you want to be coddled? If you do want that, I will do it! This yr will be interesting because we have 9% unemployment, Dow below what it was 07/08, foreclosures at the all time high, Public colleges for OOS surpassing Private. That is on top of the DOD budget.
IMPO, the best we can do for posters and candidates is tell them this:
You have 0% chance if you don't apply
You should have a Plan B if Plan A is scholarship!
1. You submitted the packet and NOBODY ON THIS BOARD SITS ON THE BOARD!
~~~Nobody, Period, Dot, end of subject!
2. Clarkson, it was a visual regarding the process...yes, it is computers.
3. Jcleppe, your child may have received their answer, but look at the Jan/Mar board. I tilt to the don't wrap your panties in a wad. Give people like Clarkson and Marist the opportunity to contact you.
~~~ In other words, as hard as it is to read, you can call, email, etc., but the fact is as often as you do that, the result won't change.
As much as it is a happy day to receive the info for yourself, it is also a happy day for them too --- that is why they call! They love seeing the new generation!
Calling to receive an answer does nothing, except to hear there is no answer.
We respect the military due to their honesty. Accept that fact.
Yes, I appear to be harsh, but you need to ask yourself do you want to be coddled? If you do want that, I will do it! This yr will be interesting because we have 9% unemployment, Dow below what it was 07/08, foreclosures at the all time high, Public colleges for OOS surpassing Private. That is on top of the DOD budget.
IMPO, the best we can do for posters and candidates is tell them this:
You have 0% chance if you don't apply
You should have a Plan B if Plan A is scholarship!
DS went thru plans A-Z rapid fire - lucky for him even without being offered AROTC scholarship - he had some amazing opportunities to pick from. Had I let him use 16 year old logic, he would have left all the eggs in one basket, he learned a new respect for old mom and the you must have backups idea
.
Somtimes not "winning" can be a blessing in diguise. If your DS learned the value of plan B's itwill be a very valuable lesson. Without someone pushing most 16-17 year olds would have all of their eggs in one basket and when that works you never learn the value of developing alternatives and it will eventually cost you.
I believe that Army reviews all applicants that meet the deadline and AF reviews as many as they can get to that met the deadline.
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And a plan C if plan A is Academy!
I think I missed the point.