Do Second Semester Senior Grades Matter for NROTC?

[johnny1530]

I'm applying for the NROTC Marine option scholarship and I got deferred from the first board in November so I'm reapplying for February. However, I haven't done great second semester of senior year (C+ in AP Calc, C+ in AP Bio, B- in AP English, and an A in Honors History). While the classes I got C+'s in were both AP's, I'm sure the board will not see that as a valid excuse. Anyways, do you think these poor grades will hurt me much in February? I have good grades in my other 6 semesters of high school. This semester is kind of the outlier so in the grand scheme of things will this significantly hurt my chances? Also, do I have the option to not send in my second semester grades in the first place?

 

[autokrat]

I don't think that the board will look at these grades if they aren't in the transcript you're sending in. I'm in the opposite boat: bad cum. GPA (2.92) with a upward trend, but this semester is going to boost it to a 3.0. The RSS I worked with said that they usually will only add in grades beyond the transcript if the applicant specifically requests it, so I think you'd be in the clear (If it doesn't show on your transcript).

Do you by any chance know when the regular board meets? My semester ends on the 28th, and I don't know how close I'd be cutting it.

 

[johnny1530]

I don't think that the board will look at these grades if they aren't in the transcript you're sending in. I'm in the opposite boat: bad cum. GPA (2.92) with a upward trend, but this semester is going to boost it to a 3.0. The RSS I worked with said that they usually will only add in grades beyond the transcript if the applicant specifically requests it, so I think you'd be in the clear (If it doesn't show on your transcript).

Do you by any chance know when the regular board meets? My semester ends on the 28th, and I don't know how close I'd be cutting it.

Pretty sure it meets sometime around the end of February-early March. Your application will be due on January 31st but after that you still have about 3 weeks to send stuff in including your grades. The last board closed the door for PFT's, ACT's, and GPA's etc. on October 21st. I'd assume that that means you'll be able to send stuff in until around February 20th-ish for this upcoming board but I'm not totally sure.

Good luck man

 

[beepybeetle]

They matter. You have to remain in the top quarter of your class for the scholarship to remain in your name. I don't know if that's the only academic criteria though. I think you only need grades up to the end of your junior year for the application. However, if NROTC is like college and they see that massive grade drop at the end of the year... I'm not sure what would happen but I doubt it will be good.