PMS Influence on Admission

timetocarrigan

5-Year Member
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May 12, 2012
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The PMS from my #1 AROTC school(UVA) contacted me, encouraging me to visit the campus and meet the cadets. I'm deciding whether or not to visit again, having seen the campus many times before. Just wondering if the PMS has any influence on admission status to the university.
Thanks!
 
Clarkson or Marist will probably have the best answers but the ROTC officers at the three schools I visited told me they can only "red light" a candidate if they beleive he is unlikely to gain admission to their school. They also said they had no ability to talk with CC and help a cadidate - If the UVA people have some special connection then maybe they can do something.

My only other thought is that if you have stats that are competitive for UVA you probably are in a very good position to get an AROTC scholarship.
 
The PMS from my #1 AROTC school(UVA) contacted me, encouraging me to visit the campus and meet the cadets. I'm deciding whether or not to visit again, having seen the campus many times before. Just wondering if the PMS has any influence on admission status to the university.
Thanks!

He may or may not have influence with UVA Admissions. He most certainly has some influence with awarding ROTC scholarships. If at all possible I would recommend your visiting the unit and meeting the cadets. There is far more to a college experience than the "pretty" campus that you've already seen several times. As an AROTC cadet much of your college experience will revolve around this unit, its cadre, its cadets, their performance and your relationships with them. I would want to know as much about them as possible to help me make a college decision as well as a decision about AROTC. I'm sure you would bring a different mind-set and focus to this visit to the campus than you may have done in the past. Besides, what better opportunity to let them get to know you!
 
It is very school dependent. I know at Clarkson, I visit admissions about once a week, personally know all the admissions counselors, and often call about a specific applicant to see what their status is, and make sure their file isn't buried in a pile. Of course Clarkson is a much smaller school than either of the schools on your list. Remember also that admissions and the scholarship process are completely separate processes, one can happen without the other.
 
I have personally had conversations with PMSs who DO have influence with admissions. I have also read here that some PMS don't interact with admission at all, or try to and are given the cold shoulder.

As a general rule, the very most prestigious Universities and Colleges don't look to the PMS/PNS for advice :) These schools also reject at least 80% of their applicants. Having said that, ROTC is at the very top of the President's list at both Harvard and Yale, having been recently re-introduced to those campuses in a highly politicized way. I think an ROTC candidate whose stats are otherwise comparable to the 93% of qualified but rejected applicants to Harvard or Yale would be given a HUGE hook in admissions by identifying him/herself as an ROTC Scholarship awardee....just waiting for H or Y to let them in! You wouldn't want to be the H or Y President taking a call from the Commander at Cadet Command, or a 3 or 4 Star General asking why they bothered to put ROTC back on campus if they are rejecting perfectly qualified ROTC scholarship winners.
 
Many PMSs will have considerable influence with admissions. If you have been waitlisted, they might be able to get you moved to the admitted list. They will not be able to help you if you do not meet the minimum standards for that school. Make sure you understand the requirements at the schools that you are applying for.
 
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