NROTC (Marine Option) - What needs to be improved?

MrMe

MrMe

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Dec 8, 2023
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Hello All,
I am an applicant to all three service academies and also threw in a last-minute application for the Marine Option NROTC scholarship. I have already gotten into the top school I listed for the 5 NROTC schools and received a scholarship covering half of my tuition for the next 4 years. Could someone knowledgeable in the ROTC scholarship process take a look at my data and tell me what I need to improve upon if so I can make the changes for the next cycle (if I do not receive a scholarship this cycle).

Academic: 3.9 GPA, 1320 SAT, All honors, AP, or dual credit courses.

Physical: 270/300 PFT (first time taken), Varsity crew team (rowing) 3 years (year-round), Varsity Swimming 2 years, Backpacking trips monthly that cover 20-45 miles in a weekend (6+years, every month).

Leadership: Founder and president of two school clubs, 4+ years of experience leading squads of 5-15 people on backpacking trips, 300+ hours of community service, 2+ years as a community service coordinator, various other leadership positions, invitation-only seminars, etc.

Very Respectfully,
~
 
Fellow last second NROTC! Did you do your officer interview already? If so, was it via zoom?
 
If you missed the national-level MO-NROTC scholarship as a HS senior, you can try for a "side load" scholarship. That means you will need the NROTC program at your school to assess you and advocate for you to get the scholarship. If you are not enrolled in NROTC at your school this seems pretty unattainable. You can go for PLC or regular OCS as alternative options without being in NROTC but these are not scholarships.

More importantly, the Marines want people who want to be Marines. That is the end of the story. So if you're not super excited about being a Marine, you probably need to look somewhere else. I encourage you to learn as much about the Marines as possible. This may motivate you to become a Marine. If you live on the East Coast, I recommend you visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. You will leave there knowing if you want to be a Marine or not.
 
Is the 3.9 weighted or unweighted? Captain of Rowing or Swimming?

1320 is on the weak side for service academies or ROTC, and is the only weakness in the stats you provided above.
 
I don't know how easy it is -- or isn't -- to transfer from Marine Option to Navy Option if you change your mind later. (And vice-versa, for that matter.)

But as the parent of a DD who's a USMC 2LT, I agree 100% with the comment above that you must want to be a Marine above all else. This by no means is meant to diminish the other branches -- all have vital missions and depend mightily on each other. No one is more important or better than the others.

But the Marine Corps, more than the others, seems to be a calling. And the Marines will want to know that it's a calling for you. So you'll want to be sure, especially when committing so early.
 
MidCakePa said:
I don't know how easy it is -- or isn't -- to transfer from Marine Option to Navy Option if you change your mind later. (And vice-versa, for that matter.)

But as the parent of a DD who's a USMC 2LT, I agree 100% with the comment above that you must want to be a Marine above all else. This by no means is meant to diminish the other branches -- all have vital missions and depend mightily on each other. No one is more important or better than the others.

But the Marine Corps, more than the others, seems to be a calling. And the Marines will want to know that it's a calling for you. So you'll want to be sure, especially when committing so early.
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Blue to Green (or Green to Blue) transfers aren’t too common but I’m sure it also depends on the year. I know of several mids from my unit that have tried several times in a row to go Blue to Green and were denied each time

I also know of a mid in my unit that did Blue to Green and then later Green to Blue, both were approved
 
3.9 Unweighted. Captain of Rowing Team.

Yes, I agree that 1320 is low. That was my first and only attempt. A few weeks after my score was released our house was flooded which caused a series of 3 moves over the next year and I never found time to do serious prep work.
 
Hey MO recipient here.

My first question would be did you make the cutoff? I'm assuming you did since you are asking. I belive the second MO board is in Febuary so it is fast approching. If you're still in the process, I have some advice from several mentors who made me successful.

Your stats as I see them, look great. 1370 SAT is phenomenal esspecially for a MO schoalrship where the cutoff is 1000. I had a buddy get into the Naval Academy a day ago with like a 1400 so I wouldn't sweat it. 270 PFT is also awesome, and that is a huge part of the ROTC app, at least for Marines, so good job there as well. The extra curriculars look fine, obviously I don't know much as their isnt much detail in the OP, however I would say President, Squad Leader etc will be fine. If you have an interview coming up make sure to nail that, it is one of the most crucial aspects of the whole process. Like someone said above, Marines will only pick someone who wants to be a Marine. They will see you have applied to three SA's so communicate to them that that is your ultimate goal in life and that nothing will stop you from achieving it. Research other ways of going about obtaining a comission should you not make the scholarship ie, side load, PLC, OCS, etc.

I will say however that the main issue that I can see your app facing is that you are fairly late to the game. You put in a last minute application so you app will go up against those who were rolled back from the previous board, so it's just increased competion. (Someone please correct me if that's no longer how it works).

One last note, and it's something I'd thought I'd mention as it pertains both to this thread, and things that I read in general on this forum as well as life in general (not that I'm really in any postion to give anybody life advice). You are already quite accomplished in these first years of your life. You've gotten into 5 schools, applied to 3 service acadmies and scored exceptionally on the hardest PT test (nobody come after me for that one, Ok?). I've found through my research on this site that most statements should be taken with a grain of salt. We are very fourtunate to have several ex instructors, active duty military and current cadets/midshipmen to help answer questions. Despite this, there are many people, like myself, who are merely sharing information they found helpful and know to be true. This is often applicants as well as concerned parents. This information is sometimes correct, sometimes not. It's important to remember none of us here can definitivley say if one will recive an ROTC scholarship or SA appointment. None of us know what metrics they use for any given year, or what they look for in an applicant. We can guess, and predict fairly accurately, however at the end of the day it comes down to the boards. I didn't think I had a chance in heck of getting the scholarship (1070 SAT yikes) and yet I did. It's important for you and me and frankly whoever is reading this to never let anybody tell you you aren't good enough or commited enough and more importantly, never self-select yourself out. Not to say anybody here would ever do that,I find it a very postive and informing place 99.9% of the time, it's just that sometimes I see things that could be a little discouraging, especially given the competative nature of this process.


God forbid the next Chesty Puller, Eisenhower, Nimitz, or Yeager is out there, thinking they don't have what it takes just because they or some one else told them they didn't that's all.


Best of luck with your applications,

--
 
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Your still in it this cycle. Until you get a notification that you were not selected, you have a chance. As far as next cycle, once you are in college, all of your high school work is pretty much wiped away. If you want a side load scholarship, join as a college programmer and do as well as you can academically, physically, and with the unit. Your stats should be good enough to get you into NROTC-MO as a CPer, but wether you get a scholarship or not will be decided how you perform your Freshman year.

Just wait until you get the not selected or selected notification. Then apply at the unit as a College Programmer once you have selected your college.

Good luck!!
 
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