NROTC High School Scholarship Applicant - Is my application good enough to select a Tier 3 major and still be accepted?

JNolan04

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The advice I see most on these forums from current/past ROTC members is to select a major that you have a passion for, because selecting a technical major that you have no interest in just to fluff up your application will lead to burnout in college. I have no interest in studying any Tier 1 or 2 majors, as I want to study history or business/econ, and I was wondering if my application has a chance of being successful despite selecting a Tier 3 major. Also, Aviation is my desired field.

I am a National Merit Semifinalist, have a 4.21 Weighted GPA, 3.8 Unweighted GPA, and a 1500 non-superscored SAT (770 English, 730 Math). I am a 3-year varsity wrestling letterman and member of the National Honor Society. I have 15 volunteer hours in both 9th and 10th grade, and 164 in 11th grade, and I expect to have around 164 hours in 12th grade. I have been preparing for my interview by reading the advice posted on this forum and elsewhere. Is this enough to get me a scholarship with a Tier 3 major?

Thanks
 
Let’s keep this simple: Since you have no desire to pursue a T1 or T2 major, then you have no choice but to declare a T3 major. In which case, you’ve done all you can to control your destiny. There’s nothing else you can do at this point, so don’t worry about it.

And don’t worry about what any of us thinks, because none of us knows. Anyone who claims to know your chances is purely speculating. Some will say they had lesser credentials and got a scholarship. Some will say they had greater credentials and didn’t get a scholarship. Fact is, none of that tells you what you want to know.

Eyes in the boat. Focus on what you can control. Leave the rest to the selection board.
 

Some previous advice on this question.

One thing that jumps out at me Is how to max your chances getting one of the few tier 3 NROTC opportunities.
 

Some previous advice on this question.

One thing that jumps out at me Is how to max your chances getting one of the few tier 3 NROTC opportunities.
Thanks for recommending this; it gives some pretty interesting insights into my decision.
 
Thanks for recommending this; it gives some pretty interesting insights into my decision.
Thinking of the tier 3 foreign area studies—-language programs? These do seem like the options with the most chance of tier 3 success.

Good Luck I realize these are difficult decisions.
 
Thinking of the tier 3 foreign area studies—-language programs? These do seem like the options with the most chance of tier 3 success.

Good Luck I realize these are difficult decisions.
Would selecting a foreign area major to get into the LREC result in having a lower chance of getting a pilot slot, as the Navy would prefer someone with a foreign area major to go into intelligence?
 
Is it possible to apply for both Marine Option and standard Navy ROTC?
NO. It is one or the other. There are instances where someone started as Navy Option and requested to shift to Marine Option, but the Navy side has to agree AND the Marine side has to accept you. It isn't as easy as people think.

As to your other question about LREC and pilot possibilities, there is zero correlation. You get accepted into NROTC first, and then you get assessed. If your grades are good, PT scores are above average, and you have very good ASTB scores, then your aviation chances are good. I say this looking back over the past 2 years. But there is currently a backlog of student naval aviators, so that could change.

My advice for you is to consider what you really want to do and see if NROTC is right for you. Trying to find a magic formula to guarantee a service selection risks putting you in a degree plan you don't lile, and winding up with a service selection you don't like.
 
NO. It is one or the other. There are instances where someone started as Navy Option and requested to shift to Marine Option, but the Navy side has to agree AND the Marine side has to accept you. It isn't as easy as people think.

As to your other question about LREC and pilot possibilities, there is zero correlation. You get accepted into NROTC first, and then you get assessed. If your grades are good, PT scores are above average, and you have very good ASTB scores, then your aviation chances are good. I say this looking back over the past 2 years. But there is currently a backlog of student naval aviators, so that could change.

My advice for you is to consider what you really want to do and see if NROTC is right for you. Trying to find a magic formula to guarantee a service selection risks putting you in a degree plan you don't lile, and winding up with a service selection you don't like.
Sorry to post a reply to my own post, but this made me think. Technically, there is no impediment to a person applying to NROTC and Marine Option scholarship. They initially start in 2 different databases. BUT, they wind up in the same place, and I can almost guarantee the Marine side of the house will likely drop you if they see a Navy application pending. You would do better to apply to USNA and you can decide USN or USMC while you are there.
 
Is it possible to apply for both Marine Option and standard Navy ROTC?
No. You have to pick one and only one.

EDIT: Oops! Far be it from me to dispute the good @GWU PNS. I defer to him. I expect something changed with this year's application. You used to have to pick one.
 
Last edited:
No. You have to pick one and only one.

EDIT: Oops! Far be it from me to dispute the good @GWU PNS. I defer to him. I expect something changed with this year's application. You used to have to pick one.
You are correct. You still have to pick one and only one. But there are some Marine Options who route their packages later down the road through the ROO. It gets caught before it gets to the scholarship boards though. Sorry for the confusion.
 
To answer the basics of your question; as someone who was tier 3, knows many tier 3s who were awarded the 4yr out of HS, you seem competitive on paper. As anyone will tell you, competitive on paper is only one part of the pie. best of luck.
 
Marine Corps PLC is currently the "earliest" and for some the easiest road to an Aviation SNA/NFO Guarantee.
You can "contract" Aviation as a "Freshman" and major in ANYTHING. You just need to be a PT Stud and pass the ASTB-E prior to getting your guarantee. Start with your local OSO (Officer Selection Officer) at the local Recruiting District NOT the strip mall recruiting office.
 
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