Hi-
I've done a search and didn't find quite what I was looking for, so please be patient with me if this is something that comes up often.
DS is a junior, and will be applying for NROTC, AFROTC, AROTC, and USNA. I've seen in a number of threads that it is best to get his application in as soon as possible for the ROTC programs to maximize the number of selection boards he will be considered at. He already had a decent amount of the NROTC application completed. My question is this- is there a point where it is too early? If he gets his ACT scores, esaays. LORs in within the next couple of months does it help in any way? He is juggling a heavy class load, SAT subject tests, and AP prep- so resource management and prioritization is important for the next few months.
If I recall correctly, the AROTC scholarship open in June after my DD's junior year. I don't think there were LORs required for it either, so that's good in terms of less requirements.
I completely agree with
@kinnem. The best package possible is better than early in my opinion.
My DD's goal was to have her app in time for the 1st AROTC board. The deadline to get all the requirements in was early- probably 1 Oct.
Develop a relationship with the ROO at one of the top choices of your DS early on. That ROO can answer a lot of your questions. If that ROO is at a school nearby or one that you will visit in the late summer/early fall, then maybe the required PMS interview that be arranged also.
So that brings us to the PMS interview. I recommended to my DD to get this one knocked out ASAP.
A couple points here...
1) Almost all PMS are out of the net during the summer because they are at Ft. Knox running Advanced Camp. So for expectation purposes, do not expect the PMS to be available during the summer to interview. Advanced Camp ends in late July/early Aug, so some will take leave prior to the start of the academic year. If you ask for an interview in Sept (for that Oct board), then you may or may not be high priority. The PMS are busy getting their new MS1 started off on the right foot.
I think your DS will have to be persistent (not to the annoying level though) and flexible for interviews. I would suspect the prime time for interviews is August- if you want to be considered for the 1st board.
My DD was fortunate. She was able to get her PMS interview in early July. For some reason, he wasn't tasked to support Advanced Camp last summer. The PMS didn't fill out the interview form until late August though, so she was red with that requirement for a while.
2) If i recall on this forum, some parents/applicants said the PMS wouldn't interview unless a majority (or at least the PFA) of the application was done. This requirement is AROTC unit specific. As I mentioned above, the ROO will be able to tell you what will be needed to interview with his PMS. A couple AROTC units offered to conduct the PFA for my DD the same day of the interview. I guess my point is the PFA seems to be a key requirement to get an interview knocked out. Again, if you read the application requirements, there is no mention of a PFA to be done prior to an interview. However, some units will require it anyway. My DD knocked it out a couple weeks after she got back from USMA SLE, so she had it completed prior to her PMS interview in July.
The ROO who was helping her (remember I mentioned developing a good working relationship with a ROO who can guide you through the process) said her stats were "1st board stats." I was fairly confident she'd get at least a 3-year award somewhere along the line.