NROTC Boards - Curious.

NavyFamilyTN

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Oct 21, 2019
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DS submitted application Sept/Oct to NROTC. Thought highly competitive applicant. Been reading these forums trying to educate ourselves on the process. Just curious. Are Nrotc candidates given a score after application submitted and then each time board meets they take the top scoring candidates at that time. Does bringing up your ACT after you submit package, change your score? Are there equal amount of offers from each board? For example one board in January equal to one board in March with the number of offers? Are a higher number of offers made on a March or an April board? It’s so hard not knowing what your future holds. My heart sunk after DS got the “not selected” email last week. Thank goodness, it was an error. Anyway, just curious on the process. Keeping hopes up.
 
First, almost all applicants are competitive. Many of these same kids have applied to USNA.

Applications are scored and at the end of the board the top candidates are selected. Yes, bringing up your ACT changes your score. The number of offers from each board are different and the numbers increase closer to the end of the cycle.

I understand how you feel having gone through it with my own son. Keep working backup plans and consider doing NROTC without the scholarship. There are additional opportunities to apply for a scholarship as a midshipman DS took this path. He enrolled in NROTC at his number 1 school and was awarded a scholarship in his sophomore year.

Even if you get a negative reply in April, as we did, there is plenty of time to execute plan B if it's in place
 
+1 on kinnem's suggestion to consider NROTC without a scholarship as a backup plan

Our son was very competitive, but also did not get the scholarship right out of HS. He attended a competitive university with NROTC and joined as a College Programer. He did well in the unit and in school and re-applied for NROTC scholarship and USNA and was selected for both. there are many many similar stories out there.

there are many paths to the same end goal, and perseverance certainly pays off

best of luck
 
Above I think nicely answer your questions. Just wanted to add some encouragement to hang in there. My DS applied last year in your same time frame and ultimately was fortunate to receive AFROTC/ AROTC/ NROTC scholarships- but did not hear from NROTC until April- honestly it was rough. Some other candidate decisions were sooner - both positive/ negative and yet many decisions seemed to come in April last year, fyi of those who had applied that we knew/ knew of. For Navy's offer decision, an email came with the news on the same day the portal was updated fyi. I described myself a bit like a petulant teenager waiting by the phone for a call after a first date for news last year -- I thought about it probably every waking hour - for months. It was tough but hang in there and as others said keep working your backup plans, other scholarship opportunities as backup. If you or your DS have more questions please post them - I think you'll find this group happy to try and help. Good luck.
 
After an application is received, and reviewed for completeness, the package is given a pre-board score based on SAT/ACT, HS GPA, HS math/science grades, extracurriculars, sports, etc. The package is then reviewed by a scholarship board (this is when the essays are read, Officer Interview notes are reviewed, teacher recommendations, etc.) and the board members score the package. Board score is added to pre-board score for a total. If the total score is above a designated cut line, scholarship is offered. If not, package moved to subsequent board. It is not re-scored, but the cut line moves from board to board. Commander Naval Service Training Command sets this line at the start of the board season and can/will make adjustments throughout the cycle.

@NavyFamilyTN - you asked about updated ACT scores. Yes, NROTC super scores so even if only one section went up from previous test, it will have an effect on your pre-board score. Valid test dates for this board season are Dec 2017 to Dec 2019. So if an improved score was achieved in Jan 2020, that's too late. But if your DS received an improved score in Nov 2019 after submitting in Sep/Oct 2019, you'd want to make sure the board received that updated result.

As @kinnem notes, the number of scholarships awarded at each board are not the same. And as both @kinnem and @A6E Dad suggest, strongly consider the College Program option if your DS does not receive a scholarship this season.
 
After an application is received, and reviewed for completeness, the package is given a pre-board score based on SAT/ACT, HS GPA, HS math/science grades, extracurriculars, sports, etc. The package is then reviewed by a scholarship board (this is when the essays are read, Officer Interview notes are reviewed, teacher recommendations, etc.) and the board members score the package. Board score is added to pre-board score for a total. If the total score is above a designated cut line, scholarship is offered. If not, package moved to subsequent board. It is not re-scored, but the cut line moves from board to board. Commander Naval Service Training Command sets this line at the start of the board season and can/will make adjustments throughout the cycle.

@NavyFamilyTN - you asked about updated ACT scores. Yes, NROTC super scores so even if only one section went up from previous test, it will have an effect on your pre-board score. Valid test dates for this board season are Dec 2017 to Dec 2019. So if an improved score was achieved in Jan 2020, that's too late. But if your DS received an improved score in Nov 2019 after submitting in Sep/Oct 2019, you'd want to make sure the board received that updated result.

As @kinnem notes, the number of scholarships awarded at each board are not the same. And as both @kinnem and @A6E Dad suggest, strongly consider the College Program option if your DS does not receive a scholarship this season.
@Go Dores! If your DS rocked his AP Calc midterm and first semester grades, would it be advantageous to have this tough math teacher resubmit his recommendation/assessment?
 
@Go Dores! If your DS rocked his AP Calc midterm and first semester grades, would it be advantageous to have this tough math teacher resubmit his recommendation/assessment?
My opinion is that the folks within NSTC would not consider this update as it affects the subjective side of the board score. You can imagine the can of worms this would open if they had to re-score packages based on updated LORs. The difference with the SAT/ACT update is that those scores are objective. A certain score = xx number of points on the pre-board score. Very easy to update.

With that said, you may wish to ask for a formal response. From the NROTC website (https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/contact.html):
If you have questions about or changes to your application or status after you have submitted your application, use the Application Adjustments email below:
Complete our Contact form
For Application Adjustments, please email: pnsc_nrotc_applications@navy.mil
 
After an application is received, and reviewed for completeness, the package is given a pre-board score based on SAT/ACT, HS GPA, HS math/science grades, extracurriculars, sports, etc. The package is then reviewed by a scholarship board (this is when the essays are read, Officer Interview notes are reviewed, teacher recommendations, etc.) and the board members score the package. Board score is added to pre-board score for a total. If the total score is above a designated cut line, scholarship is offered. If not, package moved to subsequent board. It is not re-scored, but the cut line moves from board to board. Commander Naval Service Training Command sets this line at the start of the board season and can/will make adjustments throughout the cycle.

@NavyFamilyTN - you asked about updated ACT scores. Yes, NROTC super scores so even if only one section went up from previous test, it will have an effect on your pre-board score. Valid test dates for this board season are Dec 2017 to Dec 2019. So if an improved score was achieved in Jan 2020, that's too late. But if your DS received an improved score in Nov 2019 after submitting in Sep/Oct 2019, you'd want to make sure the board received that updated result.

As @kinnem notes, the number of scholarships awarded at each board are not the same. And as both @kinnem and @A6E Dad suggest, strongly consider the College Program option if your DS does not receive a scholarship this season.
Great info! Thank you!
 
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