How Many Essays are on the NROTC Scholarship Application?

[2025Cadet]

Hi, I was getting ready to submit my NROTC application tonight, when I panicked and started thinking that I had misunderstood the application. For the essay section, there is an essay at the top, which is numbered "1." This question is, " Discuss your reasons for wanting to become a Naval Officer. Specifically comment on leadership positions you've held, the challenges you have faced and the lessons you have learned. (Limit 2500 characters)." There are also other questions underneath that one, that aren't numbered, but still marked as required. These have the same character limit, but they seem more like short answer questions than essay questions. For example, I have no idea how I would answer this question with an entire essay. " Have you lived in a foreign country or experienced another culture during 7th through 12 grades? If so, provide the reason for living overseas or in another culture, the location and the dates of the experience. Remarks are limited to 2500 Characters" I'm just confused, because it's the same character limit as essay 1, but the actual size of the box to respond is much tinier. Also, the character limits in the Employment section for describing work experience and the one for volunteer experience is 5000 characters, which is even longer than the essay! I'm very confused. Does anyone know how many of these sections are actually essays, or if one is an essay and the rest are just short answer with absurdly large character limits? Thanks!

 

[jaglvr]

answer all the boxes. if you have not traveled overseas then just answer what it asks

 

[2025Cadet]

I have short (about 5 sentence long) answers for everything, but my answers are not essays. I'm confused on whether or not I need to elaborate more on my answers to some of the questions, like the foreign country one, and make them into essay length.

 

[CuriousMid1001]

If I remember correctly, the ones that seem like short answers should be. Part of good writing is doing so concisely - if you you can say it quickly, do so. It also goes into being a good naval officer: orders need to be to the pint. Don’t fluff.

The boards look at thousands of applications. That being said, if you have something to say, say it. Make sure it’s all formal and well written, but don’t fret over the length. Reply with other questions or specifics if you want.

 

[2025Cadet]

If I remember correctly, the ones that seem like short answers should be. Part of good writing is doing so concisely - if you you can say it quickly, do so. It also goes into being a good naval officer: orders need to be to the pint. Don’t fluff.

The boards look at thousands of applications. That being said, if you have something to say, say it. Make sure it’s all formal and well written, but don’t fret over the length. Reply with other questions or specifics if you want.

Thanks for the advice! I was just worried that I was going to be less likely to be successful, because I misunderstood and didn't write full essays.

 

[myDDnotme]

My DD spent a ton of time answering ALL of the questions thoroughly. Was definitely a challenge to get it all done and paint a picture of herself. Tough application! Toughest as far as essays go of the 3 branches. I don’t think she had any essays to do for AF as they rely heavily on interview. She did just receive the NROTC scholarship yesterday. She received an AROTC and AFROTC last month. If you need any advice let us know! She and I are both on this forum.

 

[WSham5329]

I am an Israeli American (Dual Citizen) who's father was in Israeli Military Intelligence and who's gone to Israel countless times and is very familiar with the country's language, culture and society. Should I address that in the "Have you lived in a foreign country..." essay? I am planning on writing about my experience with Israel and my time there, but is that overthinking the prompt?

 

[justdoit19]

Don’t over think it. An essay is a well organized piece of writing, opening and closing sentence, a “thesis” statement, proper paragraphs, etc. They want to also see, beyond the answer, that you are able to write an organized piece of work.

The remaining are answers to questions. If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘n/a’, then that’s the answer. If you have something applicable to answer, then that’s your answer (in a well written response to a question).

For example, my kids have grown up with either 2 or 3 long term (4 yr, graduating from high school) students from Asian countries over the years. While they haven’t visited a foreign country, they have had unique experiences/conversations/exposure to our students home towns. Which developed an understanding they wouldnt have had of those cultures...so both included that in the “foreign” section. Something to the effect “while I haven’t lived in a foreign country, I have....,” , writing a bit about how that impacted them.

So there are different ways to either answer or don’t answer a prompt. But don’t write just to write. Add only stuff that’s pertinent to the question asked.

Remeber: this is the only chance you get to paint a picture of who you are. Even in the Officer interview, those answers won’t be included word for word in your package that is reviewed. All the board has, is your paper in front of them. Make the application show who YOU are. Help them to “see” who you are. And what makes you unique.

Good luck!!

 

[Miami Redskin]

I am an Israeli American (Dual Citizen) who's father was in Israeli Military Intelligence and who's gone to Israel countless times and is very familiar with the country's language, culture and society. Should I address that in the "Have you lived in a foreign country..." essay? I am planning on writing about my experience with Israel and my time there, but is that overthinking the prompt?

Yes. Yes. And yes. Your experience offers all sorts of essay inroads into topics that would be question and NROTC relevant.