NROTC Chances

T

Talktomegoose

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I’m concerned about my chances for an NROTC scholarship. I have a 3.8 GPA, I believe I can get an SAT of 1200-1300, I have a good amount of community service hours through my church, I’m the leader of my church youth group, and I have varsity football, track, and ice hockey. However I have not taken any AP or honors classes. I understand there is no way to tell for sure, but I was just wondering if my stats sound competitive. Thanks
 
Yes, your stats are competitive. But only Naval ROTC can tell you the 'final' verdict. Make sure you have a good plan "B" in place. Plus, continue seeking ways to 'lead.' Also, plan on joining the NROTC unit on campus when you arrive as a freshman (if you miss earning the scholarship). You will have a good chance of earning an 'on-campus' NROTC scholarship at the end of your freshman year, if you are a good midshipman and a good student, too. Good luck!
 
Academician said:
Yes, your stats are competitive. But only Naval ROTC can tell you the 'final' verdict. Make sure you have a good plan "B" in place. Plus, continue seeking ways to 'lead.' Also, plan on joining the NROTC unit on campus when you arrive as a freshman (if you miss earning the scholarship). You will have a good chance of earning an 'on-campus' NROTC scholarship at the end of your freshman year, if you are a good midshipman and a good student, too. Good luck!
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Thanks
 
Talktomegoose said:
I’m concerned about my chances for an NROTC scholarship. I have a 3.8 GPA, I believe I can get an SAT of 1200-1300, I have a good amount of community service hours through my church, I’m the leader of my church youth group, and I have varsity football, track, and ice hockey. However I have not taken any AP or honors classes. I understand there is no way to tell for sure, but I was just wondering if my stats sound competitive. Thanks
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It never hurts to try, I didn’t think I was going to get a scholarship this year but I ended up getting a marine NROTC one. My biggest advice is make sure you interview well, I think that’s one of the most important components and can make up for weak points in your package, I know it helped mine.
 
Who knows? My kid had 9 AP classes (all STEM), 7 varsity letters, 7th grade teacher at parish school of religion, 35 Math ACT, 4.4 GPA, max push ups, max plank, 5:40 mile, clubs, volunteering, coaching(wrestling and soccer)...
Didn't get a look. Hoping for a 3.5 or 3 year scholarship or, he's going to need to transfer back to in-state school. Perhaps his downfall was he applied mid-January and did not get boarded until the last board meeting. Submit your packet earlier rather than later.
 
NTJ84 said:
It never hurts to try, I didn’t think I was going to get a scholarship this year but I ended up getting a marine NROTC one. My biggest advice is make sure you interview well, I think that’s one of the most important components and can make up for weak points in your package, I know it helped mine.
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Do you have to reapply and change recommendations in order to switch to the marines?
 
I’m pretty sure you can switch it on the application portal but I don’t remember for sure. The marines asked me for my English teacher and another teacher (any subject, choose who knows you best) for recommendations. Also worth noting that the marines care less about academics/test scores and more about the interview and the PFT test. Leadership and physical fitness are what the marines look for, also worth noting they don’t care about your major (I’m a psych major for reference, no way was I gonna get a navy scholarship), so if you for sure don’t want to major in STEM, there’s that.
 
NTJ84 said:
It never hurts to try, I didn’t think I was going to get a scholarship this year but I ended up getting a marine NROTC one. My biggest advice is make sure you interview well, I think that’s one of the most important components and can make up for weak points in your package, I know it helped mine.
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Excellent point. My DS found out later that you should always try and interview with the Professor of Naval Science (PNS) at your desired unit. My kid did not know or do that. Interviewed with a Lt over the phone that was 800 miles away. Certainly didn't help his situation. His Blue and Gold Officer loved him and they still talk once or twice a week. Might have caught the Lt on a bad day as the interview was 7pm and didn't last long. This doesn't happen when you have the opportunity to meet in person. Later, he met with the cadre at his unit and they told him he would have been a shoe in if he had interviewed with them.
 
NTJ84 said:
I’m pretty sure you can switch it on the application portal but I don’t remember for sure. The marines asked me for my English teacher and another teacher (any subject, choose who knows you best) for recommendations. Also worth noting that the marines care less about academics/test scores and more about the interview and the PFT test. Leadership and physical fitness are what the marines look for, also worth noting they don’t care about your major (I’m a psych major for reference, no way was I gonna get a navy scholarship), so if you for sure don’t want to major in STEM, there’s that.
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Thanks so much
 
Necromancer said:
Excellent point. My DS found out later that you should always try and interview with the Professor of Naval Science (PNS) at your desired unit. My kid did not know or do that. Interviewed with a Lt over the phone that was 800 miles away. Certainly didn't help his situation. His Blue and Gold Officer loved him and they still talk once or twice a week. Might have caught the Lt on a bad day as the interview was 7pm and didn't last long. This doesn't happen when you have the opportunity to meet in person. Later, he met with the cadre at his unit and they told him he would have been a shoe in if he had interviewed with them.
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Yea, also get into contact with your desired unit, I met with my cadre in like late August when I toured my school. Worth noting for me marines you’ll most likely interview with your officers from your recruiting station, mine was with my RS XO (who I did most of my paperwork and correspondence with).
 
Necromancer said:
Excellent point. My DS found out later that you should always try and interview with the Professor of Naval Science (PNS) at your desired unit. My kid did not know or do that. Interviewed with a Lt over the phone that was 800 miles away. Certainly didn't help his situation. His Blue and Gold Officer loved him and they still talk once or twice a week. Might have caught the Lt on a bad day as the interview was 7pm and didn't last long. This doesn't happen when you have the opportunity to meet in person. Later, he met with the cadre at his unit and they told him he would have been a shoe in if he had interviewed with them.
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I haven’t heard that it’s always desirable to interview with your desired unit. It is definitely not necessary. I do think generally nowadays that interviewing in person is preferable to doing it virtually, and it’s perfectly fine if you don’t go to your top choice unit for the interview. I interviewed with the unit closest to where I lived back in the day and all went well.

You can show interest in the school/unit other ways by reaching out separately, even before you start/submit the application.
 
Necromancer said:
Who knows? My kid had 9 AP classes (all STEM), 7 varsity letters, 7th grade teacher at parish school of religion, 35 Math ACT, 4.4 GPA, max push ups, max plank, 5:40 mile, clubs, volunteering, coaching(wrestling and soccer)...
Didn't get a look. Hoping for a 3.5 or 3 year scholarship or, he's going to need to transfer back to in-state school. Perhaps his downfall was he applied mid-January and did not get boarded until the last board meeting. Submit your packet earlier rather than later.
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Will echo the applying early. This is the BEST way to "quickly" increase your odds (vs taking certain classes, working out more etc that longer to do).
 
As others have already pointed out, there is no way to gauge a guess. What you can do, is position yourself in the best way: submit your best application, as early as you can to get more looks. Practice interviewing so you nail that interview (in person is always a better way to make a positive first impression). And visiting your unit/s of interests is also a way to make a positive impression.

My add would be to really consider what branches interest you. And apply to ALL that you are even a slight consideration (they are similar applications, and not doesn’t take much to tailor one app to the other…). That increases the odds for scholarship!! And it’s easier to say ‘no thank you’ to an offer, than to not receive any offers and wish ‘you would have applied’ to other branches.

ROTC is a national competition from the get-go. They are competitive! Give it your best shot and see what happens.

Are you considering a SA at all? Each one has a prep offer that they have as an option for offering to a candidate they would like to appoint, but needs a little ‘something’ shored up (commonly academic related). ROTC doesn’t offer this path. Another benefit to applying to a SA is that your DODMERB is triggered earlier (VS ROTC being triggers after a scholarship is won…which is a whole other post lol).

BTW, both of my boys added a visit to the unit at the school they were touring as part of their college summer visits, where they met with the Captain that later did their interview. The benefit of this visit was that they learned information (ie Marine vs Navy side), got advice about applying, and made impressions on the unit with the people they met. All positives. So I’m a big advocate of visiting, if possible. Idk but both boys received first round scholarships.

Good luck to you on your application journey!!
 
Talktomegoose said:
I’m concerned about my chances for an NROTC scholarship. I have a 3.8 GPA, I believe I can get an SAT of 1200-1300, I have a good amount of community service hours through my church, I’m the leader of my church youth group, and I have varsity football, track, and ice hockey. However I have not taken any AP or honors classes. I understand there is no way to tell for sure, but I was just wondering if my stats sound competitive. Thanks
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You have a very good shot. Source: I've sat the boards and I am plugged into the applicant and scholarship numbers.

Stay healthy, don't get in trouble, and keep working on GPA and SAT study.
 
Lots of good info. Stay focused and stay positive. Keep grinding. Our son had good grades, good (not excellent) SAT, 2 sport varsity athlete and community service. Wanted Marines. Awarded 3-yr ROTC scholarship - did not take NROTC fitness test (hi ankle sprain football injury and couldn't do the 3 mile run). Declined ROTC scholarship last April (me to son - so you really want to be a Marine and pass up that ROTC scholarship??). Attended SMC this past year - corps of cadets, football, academics and lots of PT and PFT's. Just awarded the 3 year NROTC (Marines) scholarship. Off to NSI tomorrow. If it doesn't happen before college and you and your folks can make college happen then lock it in with your service choice ROTC program and grind on academics, fitness and leadership skills.
 
Worst case scenario you just walk-on into a program of your choice ... crush it in the classroom and be fully engaged in the program and you'll eventually get in going into you JR year. If you really want in, you'll get selected.
 
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