ROTC Non-Selects Hub

serapis

serapis

New Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2022
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6
Good Morning All,

I am starting this forum as a place for ROTC non-selects to declare perceived weaknesses in their application file so that future applicants may avoid similar mistakes. Feedback from ROTC Midshipman and Officers would also be appreciated.

For context, I was a 2/22 NROTC 4-year scholarship non-select. I have since applied for the Army ROTC scholarship. My stats are:
  • Academic: 36 ACT, 4.0 uw/4.23w GPA, 10 AP's (2 5’s, 4 4’s, 4 currently), National Honor Society Vice President
  • Physical: Varsity Swim Captain, Varsity Track participant, Naval Sea Cadet Corps Ribbon for Excellence in Physical Readiness Test, 2.5 years of work as swim coach/lifeguard
  • Military: Naval Sea Cadet Corps Petty Officer 1st Class, Naval Sea Cadet Corps Lead Petty Officer of division + Lead Petty Officer of recruit training honor company, West Point LOA w/Sen&Con Nominations

Perceived Strengths in NROTC Application:
  • Strong academic, physical and military pillars of character
  • Dedication to military career in Navy EOD corps (knowing what I want to do & unique choice)
  • Good interview & followup

Perceived weaknesses in application in NROTC Application:
  • Selecting 5 high-cost schools, with Yale (deferred) as #1
  • Having my mother sign off on Drug Statement, Debarment and Suspension, Statement of Understanding and Applicant Fitness Assessment (was recommended by NROTC Coordinator, but forbidden according to the document & portal)
  • Writing "does not apply" for "Live Abroad" and "Adversity" prompts
  • Did not ask my NROTC Coordinator if there were any perceivable weaknesses in my application before submitting
  • Submitted application on Nov 15, interview + sent to board on Dec 9th. According to my Coordinator, should've submitted earlier

I believe that if we build this forum up, we could paint a full picture for future applicants and re-applicants to learn from. Please feel free to contribute
 
I think it's mostly the colleges you selected. I have almost similar profile as you and I changed my college list to the one I was already admitted so I think that this will change my chances!
 
The cool thing about ROTC is that you don’t need a scholarship to complete the program and there are good odds of getting a scholarship in college. And stats for scholarship recipients are all over the place so I wouldn’t stress too much over them. Don’t let not getting a scholarship deter you from joining the program anyway, and know it doesn’t say anything of your suitability to be a military officer.

I and all my ROTC grad friends on AD agree that ROTC is the way to go 😊.
 
almondqqq said:
I think it's mostly the colleges you selected. I have almost similar profile as you and I changed my college list to the one I was already admitted so I think that this will change my chances!
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Just to put in my two cents, I selected colleges of similar if not greater expense. I was indeed granted a scholarship to 2 schools with similar costs to Yale. I also had 3 other schools of similar cost. I do not believe that school selection plays a large role in the scholarship process.
 
Having mom sign a form like that doesn’t sit well with me, so I imagine it didn’t sit well with the board.
 
serapis said:
Perceived weaknesses in application in NROTC Application:
  • Selecting 5 high-cost schools, with Yale (deferred) as #1
  • Having my mother sign off on Drug Statement, Debarment and Suspension, Statement of Understanding and Applicant Fitness Assessment (was recommended by NROTC Coordinator, but forbidden according to the document & portal)
  • Writing "does not apply" for "Live Abroad" and "Adversity" prompts
  • Did not ask my NROTC Coordinator if there were any perceivable weaknesses in my application before submitting
  • Submitted application on Nov 15, interview + sent to board on Dec 9th. According to my Coordinator, should've submitted earlier
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I think it is an excellent idea for people to share their perceptions of strengths and weaknesses. There are enough people here who have been selected and in a few cases, actually sit the selection boards. So this thread could prove in valuable. A couple points on your list of weaknesses.....

Choosing high value schools has no bearing on a board decision. It can cause you some heartburn because those institutions make acceptance choices slowly, but I have never heard a board member state...." This would be a great candidate if he had only chosen less expensive NROTC units. This is a non factor.

Next up is your coordinator telling you November 15 is late for package submission. Completely untrue! Packages submitted 2 weeks ago have been favorably reviewed and candidates selected.

A common misperception is that once a package is submitted, it keeps getting reviewed and reboarded. No, no no!!! It gets reviewed, scored, and racked and stacked. If not selected, it potentially gets put in a batch of alternates.

DO NOT send in a weak package early hoping to get a bunch of looks. Send the BEST package you can in as timely a fashion as you can.

Last one......and I will be polite here. Your parents have no bearing in submitting your package. Having mom sign your drug debarment shows you either didn't read or didn't heed the instructions on the form. The package is YOURS to submit. I can tell you from my personal opinion, THIS was a singular unforced error which likely drove a decision not to select you. I am taking your accomplishments as being true, and can say looking at those, you should have been very competitive.

I will go further and offer you would be a virtual guarantee for a 3 year side load. Again, not trying to be a grumpy old man, but you should know you have all the right things to be selected. Time to ask mom to let you be you! 🙂
 
Captain Meyers- I saw your post about the debarment form. I am concerned because my son's recruiter specifically said in an email that "At this time you can have a parent witness your three forms due to COVID-19". So my son asked me to do it and I did. I even asked to see the email prior to witnessing his signature. I hope that was correct at the time my son submitted his forms. His completed application was officially submitted in late January and his portal currently displays "No decision has been made yet". Thank for your input to the forums.
 
It might be worth holding on to that email. There is an application checklist with instructions and specifically notes not to have parents sign (actually says "family member").

If someone from NSTC has made a specific allowance for that. I can tell you that hasn't been shared with people who sit the board.

Admittedly, with COVID restrictions in certain states, creative work arounds developed. When I did an interview for an applicant two months ago, I noted his form was signed by his older brother, who ironically, was a Navy Legalman (go figure).

I told him to reprint and sign it while I observed via Zoom. Then I signed it and sent it back to him. Perhaps some boards don't notice......but they are charged with ensuring the instructions are properly followed. Time will tell I guess.
 
Thank you. He/I were aware of the checklist and what the form and website says. When the recruiter puts it in writing I thought it would have to be correct. I like to assume the recruiter knows what they are doing as the checklist specifically says not to submit an application without the recruiter reviewing it. Is there something my son should be doing at this time? His portal just recently changed (towards the end of February) to say that his processing was completed. We don't even know if he went to a board in February. I would hate to think all of his hard work completing his application was for nothing.
 
TPC12 said:
Thank you. He/I were aware of the checklist and what the form and website says. When the recruiter puts it in writing I thought it would have to be correct. I like to assume the recruiter knows what they are doing as the checklist specifically says not to submit an application without the recruiter reviewing it. Is there something my son should be doing at this time? His portal just recently changed (towards the end of February) to say that his processing was completed. We don't even know if he went to a board in February. I would hate to think all of his hard work completing his application was for nothing.
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Processing completed means NSTC has the package and is or was submitting it for the board to review.

There are 2 more boards I think and one for MSI candidates. By end of April all the results should be out.
 
@TPC12 Same situation for my DS, recruiter told him to have a parent sign the forms because of covid protocols. Also still waiting on any news 🤞
 
TPC12 said:
Thank you. He/I were aware of the checklist and what the form and website says. When the recruiter puts it in writing I thought it would have to be correct. I like to assume the recruiter knows what they are doing as the checklist specifically says not to submit an application without the recruiter reviewing it. Is there something my son should be doing at this time? His portal just recently changed (towards the end of February) to say that his processing was completed. We don't even know if he went to a board in February. I would hate to think all of his hard work completing his application was for nothing.
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We are in the exact same boat as you. My son just found the email that states that a parent or guardian can sign those forms for him. We would assume that the recruiter would have the best, most up to date information. We should be able to trust them to give us accurate information. 😑
 

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Brj7373 said:
We are in the exact same boat as you. My son just found the email that states that a parent or guardian can sign those forms for him. We would assume that the recruiter would have the best, most up to date information. We should be able to trust them to give us accurate information. 😑
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Not looking for the name of the person who sent that email, but was it from the recruiting office or was it from NSTC?
 
Our recruiter said to have a parent witness all forms due to Covid: also received an email from one of the colleges saying not everyone gets a 4 year. DS is also in for MSISR; should he contact someone to see if that was the reason for not being selected on a 4yr as we wouldnt want it to impact his MSISR also. Any ideas who to call to verify?
 
For my son it was sent by his "NROTC Coordinator". The person who reviewed and submitted his package and the only person he spoke with during the application process. The email I am referring to was not just sent to my son, but to others as well who were bcc'd.
 
TPC12 said:
For my son it was sent by his "NROTC Coordinator". The person who reviewed and submitted his package and the only person he spoke with during the application process. The email I am referring to was not just sent to my son, but to others as well who were bcc'd.
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I have a call in with the NSTC placement coordinator. I will pass on what I hear back but it will take a bit since they are prepping for a board.
 
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