For Those Applying for MO NROTC Scholarship

[ilyusa]

When I was first applying for the scholarship I would always search all over the internet for the stats of the people who got it and look for any tips.

Well, I luckily got the 2014 Marine Option Scholarship and for those who would like to compare themselves or would like to know, here are my stats and what I did:

Academics:
Freshmen-Junior Overall GPA:
Unweighted: 3.71
Weighted: 3.8
ACT: 30

Activities
2 years Swimming JV
2 years Cross Country JV/Varsity
2 years Naval Sea Cadets
100 hours community service(tutor, teacher aid)
1 year working as Lifeguard

PFT: 280
Pull Ups: 20
Crunches: 100
Run: 21:12

As you can see, you don't have to be the Varsity Captain of manly sports or the president of a hundred clubs (but they do help). I think the best thing you can do is just show that you have a lot of Determination to become a Marine Officer.

Little things like showing up to all the PFTs, being the first/being early to contact the officer, completing all your forms early, etc. I feel these things can definitely show that you have Determination and you take Initiative.

Other Tips:

-Don't be a government scholarship mooch. Pick a branch that you like and stick with it. Don't apply for every branch's ROTC scholarship and service academy. If you want to be a Marine Officer, stick with MO NROTC and/or Naval Academy.

-Know Marine Corps Values and Traits, if you include these in your essays and explain how you try to master them, it's very good stuff

-Leadership activities, even if you didn't do much, write/talk as much as you can about them and make connections from those activities to your duties as an Officer

Last Words:

I suggest asking the local recruiter if you can train with the poolees. You get a great exercise and you get to learn more about the Marines. Also, if you do well, you could probably ask the recruiter for a recommendation, which would help greatly.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
DEPing in will not help you that much. I didn't DEP in and I was fine.
Props to you if you DEP in anyways though. You're a true Marine.

 

[ilyusa]

Extra

Interviews:

-If you can incorporate an important trait or even a Marine Corps value that you feel that you have demonstrated throughout the years, it would help. I talked about determination in my interview and how I went from not being able to do any pull ups to how I came to do 20.

-Make sure you make eye contact, give firm hand shakes, and always say Sir or Ma'am.

-Smile and pretend to be confident even if you're sh*ting your pants. (This also goes for all times you meet the NROTC officer and the other applicants)

 

[USMCGrunt]

Congratulations ilyusa!

Thank you for taking the time to share your stats and experiences.

Be careful about offering tips and advice. You have a single data point not a trend line.
Your experiences are valid, of course, but as you note in the first post, there are many different "whole person" combinations that succeed and/or fail to get a scholarship. There will be candidates with higher gpa's; test scores, extracurriculars and pft's (and there will others with lower scores) Some will get the scholarship; others will not.

Your interview, essays, and application along with the stats you posted were unique to you and were certainly part of the "whole person" that the board selected.

 

[GrootGuy]

Congratulations, I was curious which district you are in and if this was for the first or second round of boards?

 

[ilyusa]

Hey GrootGuy, I am in the 12th district and this was from the first round of boards.

 

[NavyMama]

Academics:
Freshmen-Junior Overall GPA:
Unweighted: 3.71
Weighted: 3.8
ACT: 30

Activities
2 years Swimming JV
2 years Cross Country JV/Varsity
2 years Naval Sea Cadets
100 hours community service(tutor, teacher aid)
1 year working as Lifeguard

PFT: 280
Pull Ups: 20
Crunches: 100
Run: 21:12

-Don't be a government scholarship mooch. Pick a branch that you like and stick with it. Don't apply for every branch's ROTC scholarship and service academy. If you want to be a Marine Officer, stick with MO NROTC and/or Naval Academy.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
DEPing in will not help you that much. I didn't DEP in and I was fine.
Props to you if you DEP in anyways though. You're a true Marine.[/QUOTE]

Congrats and Ooh-rah!
But beware of the "tips" you are giving as everyone's mileage will vary. Soooo very much depends on the recruiters handling your packet. We had a horrible experience with incompetent personnel. They shredded his application 3 times and we had to submit all his paperwork 4 times! His recruiters pressured him to go into DEP and "prove" his commitment to being a Marine. They were very obnoxious about officers and Academy guys throughout the process.

My son's stats were better than yours and yet he didn't get the MCROTC and is at the Air Force Academy instead.

31 ACT, 4.5 weighted 3.98 unweighted GPA. His run was 19:40, max sit ups, 18 pull ups. He was the Cdr of a Nationally ranked NJROTC unit and drill team, 4 years of CAP with Billy Mitchell award. Varsity letter in baseball. There isn't a person who knows my son that didn't think he would go USMC. He had all the intangibles, but was destined to go down a different path.

That's why I STRONGLY disagree with your advice to only apply for MCROTC and USNA. Applicants and candidate should NEVER limit their options. There are just too many variables at play to put all your eggs in one basket, especially with the budget issues we are facing now. Apply for EVERYTHING! That isn't being a "mooch", it's being smart and giving yourself options.

Again, congratulations and best wishes!!!

 

[EDelahanty]

I too disagree with the admonition not to seek scholarship opportunities from multiple sources.

There was a story I read about a fellow from Kansas who wanted a free college education so badly he pestered his senator for an appointment to either USMA or USNA. He didn't have a strong preference, though it turned out he was too old for the Naval Academy. His name was Dwight Eisenhower, and he grew up to be the 13th president of Columbia University.

If ROTC scholarships had been available he probably would have applied for one of those too.

 

[kinnem]

I too disagree with the admonition not to seek scholarship opportunities from multiple sources.

There was a story I read about a fellow from Kansas who wanted a free college education so badly he pestered his senator for an appointment to either USMA or USNA. He didn't have a strong preference, though it turned out he was too old for the Naval Academy. His name was Dwight Eisenhower, and he grew up to be the 13th president of Columbia University.

If ROTC scholarships had been available he probably would have applied for one of those too.

LOL! Your wit is on rare display today!

 

[GrootGuy]

I'm not entirely sure what to believe about applying for multiple branches' scholarships. My recruiter told me the boards look at multiple check marks in those boxes as a sign that the candidate is strictly trying for the money and not to be an officer which reflects poorly. He said Marines should check NROTC and the Naval Academy if they wish and no others because that will show dedication. However, that could vary with officers on the board at the time.

 

[kinnem]

I'm not entirely sure what to believe about applying for multiple branches' scholarships. My recruiter told me the boards look at multiple check marks in those boxes as a sign that the candidate is strictly trying for the money and not to be an officer which reflects poorly. He said Marines should check NROTC and the Naval Academy if they wish and no others because that will show dedication. However, that could vary with officers on the board at the time.

Well, what the recruiter tells you makes sense on one level. However, from stories on this board regarding misinformation provided by recruiters, I would take it with a grain of salt. He is there to recruit folks for Marines and not other services... and in any case he will have a bias for the Marines (not entirely unjustified I might add ).

One could equally as well make a case that one just wants to serve their country and will accept a contract (scholarship) from whichever service is willing to grant them one. That one makes sense on some level as well. Then there are those who want to fly fixed wing aircraft, in which case Navy and Air Force make a great deal of sense. That makes sense on some level also.

How about instead you consider what it is YOU want to do and how you want to proceed rather than taking advice from someone, including me, who doesn't know you? I think you'll come up with the right answer that way. If you're gung-ho to be a Marine then follow the recruiters advice. If you want to serve but aren't particular about the area of service, then submit multiple applications.

My own son was dead set on being a Marine. It was his goal since at least freshman year in high-school. He also didn't want to go to USNA. So he only applied NROTC MO. He also didn't win a 4 year high school scholarship either. My son's taking that path doesn't mean it's the right path for you. Follow your own path. The universe moves on it's own. No need to get out and push.