Senior in High School

[Star64]

Hello everyone,

I started school a few weeks ago and I am now a senior. Time flies!

I feel pretty good about my high school career. I've managed a 3.7 GPA, I've been the leader of multiple clubs and tested well on my SAT (1250- although I will be taking it again in October with more studying under my belt.)

All that said, I still have a full year of high school to accomplish a few more things before I graduate. The big things for me are playing on a sports team, more leadership experience, and volunteering.

I've started to accomplish some of these as I became C/O for my company in JROTC this year and captain of the drone team. I've also been trying out for the Raider team throughout this week and it has gone extremely well. I trained super hard for the PFA this summer (running in 100-degree Texas heat is not fun.) and gained a lot of stamina and strength which has helped tremendously. I have a real shot for the varsity team this year and I will do everything I can to make it. As for volunteering, I've been mentoring with my youth church leader and helping with sound and lights during service. I'm also taking a community service course this year where we help out around the school and receive community service hours.

I intend to do a bit more this year but in general, it'll be a busy year. The only that is troubling me is that I feel that all these things I'm doing are too little, too late. Does it benefit my application in significant ways if I do these things now? I still intend to do them because I find all these activities enjoyable but I don't want to think that I'm doing myself a huge favor application-wise.

I think a pitfall of senior year is coasting and becoming lazy with school/extracurriculars due to senior burnout. How can I help myself stay consistent and hardworking throughout this "easier" year?

Thank you!
- Star

 

[MidCakePa]

Does it benefit my application in significant ways if I do these things now? I still intend to do them because I find all these activities enjoyable but I don't want to think that I'm doing myself a huge favor application-wise.

You capture the issue well here. All these activities and accomplishments will probably have limited impact on your ROTC application, depending on when you submit. (The general advise here is to submit the best application you can, as early as you can.) However, taking the long view, all these things can help make you be a better college student and ROTC cadet, e.g. more leadership experience, more physical fitness. Instead of being simply resume filler, they have great intrinsic value. Nothing wrong with that at all.

In fact, you should generally do things because you find them personally fulfilling, not because they're a way to check off the box in pursuit of some other goal. You'll get more out of the experience, and you'll give more back in return. So you seem to be looking at things with a very healthy eye on both the short term and the long term. Good on you!

 

[Capt MJ]

Addressing your last - you are in complete control of how you think, choose and act. You do not become lazy. You choose to be lazy. If you believe there is such a thing as “senior burnout” or “senioritis,” then you choose to allow yourself to exhibit the symptoms. Determine that these things are not you, and choose not to act or think in ways that support them. This is where adult thinking and breaking away from peer pressure, thinking independently, using critical thinking skills, exercising self-determination and your own agency over your life, start to take root. Recognize this and celebrate your freedom to choose your path.

Articulate your goal and vision. If you are a visual person, create a vision board. Brainstorm some affirmations about who you want to be and do - and not be and do. Break it down into steps and interim goals. Design a path to take you to your goal, even if you have some in the “how.” Think of strategies to get out of situation and away from people that you know will divert you from your path. Take a picture of it and keep it in your phone as an anchor. You’ll make some missteps. You’re human.

Others will comment knowledgeably on your activities. Press hard to the end. A nice balance of leadership, academics and athletics is never a bad strategy. Choose quality over quantity.

You can combine leadership and service by creating and leading a community service project that involves strategic planning, communications, outreach, volunteer recruitment, execution, problem-solving, recognition for your team, follow-up, wrap-up, etc. One example would be partnering with a local gym that has one of those used athletic shoes collection boxes, which go to a charity which re-purposes them. You create a plan, get buy-in from the school, recruit your team, get the word out - you figure it how to do it. Win-win all around.

 

[Mom_SZ]

Hello everyone,

I started school a few weeks ago and I am now a senior. Time flies!

I feel pretty good about my high school career. I've managed a 3.7 GPA, I've been the leader of multiple clubs and tested well on my SAT (1250- although I will be taking it again in October with more studying under my belt.)

All that said, I still have a full year of high school to accomplish a few more things before I graduate. The big things for me are playing on a sports team, more leadership experience, and volunteering.

I've started to accomplish some of these as I became C/O for my company in JROTC this year and captain of the drone team. I've also been trying out for the Raider team throughout this week and it has gone extremely well. I trained super hard for the PFA this summer (running in 100-degree Texas heat is not fun.) and gained a lot of stamina and strength which has helped tremendously. I have a real shot for the varsity team this year and I will do everything I can to make it. As for volunteering, I've been mentoring with my youth church leader and helping with sound and lights during service. I'm also taking a community service course this year where we help out around the school and receive community service hours.

I intend to do a bit more this year but in general, it'll be a busy year. The only that is troubling me is that I feel that all these things I'm doing are too little, too late. Does it benefit my application in significant ways if I do these things now? I still intend to do them because I find all these activities enjoyable but I don't want to think that I'm doing myself a huge favor application-wise.

I think a pitfall of senior year is coasting and becoming lazy with school/extracurriculars due to senior burnout. How can I help myself stay consistent and hardworking throughout this "easier" year?

Thank you!
- Star

Parent of a 3-c Mid (university sophomore NROTC) here. Your post makes it seem that you are a high-school senior but haven't yet started your ROTC application... if that's the case, you probably should get moving on it.

My daughter began NROTC application in spring of high-school junior year, communicated with the assigned NTAG Coordinator, had her officer interview during summer before senior year began, then had all letters, transcript, test scores etc. submitted by the beginning of her senior year.
She applied to her most-wanted university as Early Decision, got accepted (with enough scholarship funds that she could attend as College Programmer if necessary). In March of senior year she was notified she was awarded NROTC scholarship.
There are a limited number of decision-making Boards from fall 2024 to early spring 2025.

 

[BJD16]

Leadership positions are often senior year, after being part of the club/team for the first three years of high school. Not playing a sport the first three years of high school doesn't look great, but can possibly be offset with excellent physical assessment and club leadership. I wouldn't count Raider as a sport, but more of an advanced JROTC activity that has a physical component.

No sport, lack of leadership, and a 1250 put you behind most applicants, but JROTC certainly helps. Get the SAT up, workout a lot, and submit for a later board when your senior year activities are finalized.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

OK, here's the big picture when it comes to ROTC (I am most familiar with Army). There are three main areas of focus: SCHOLARSHIP. ATHLETICS. LEADERSHIP.

Your scholarship numbers are very solid but not world class.

By your own admission, your athletics are a weak point and your leadership experiences are OK but probably nothing that will bowl anyone over.

The way I see it, there are some applicants who are just the absolute cream of the crop. They are the kids we all envy -- the ones with 4.0 GPAs while also being class president, football team captain and homecoming king. You are not competing against those people. They are in a class by themselves, and they can be assured of their scholarship offers.

You ARE competing against everyone else, and in my opinion, most of the "best of the rest" have pretty strong applications across the board, with one area of weakness. For example, you might have awesome academics and athletics but perhaps a bit weak in leadership. Or, maybe you have great leadership and athletics but your academics are a bit weak. At this point in your high school career, as you already noted, your time to address any major shortcomings is minimal. What I would do is work as hard as you can to improve your SAT. I'd also take the ACT a couple times. My son did considerably better on the ACT vs. the SAT.

Also push yourself to max out the PFA, add whatever additional leadership activities you can and then do some serious prep so you can ace the interview. Along the way, as you finalize your packet, ask yourself, what is my top asset? Do all you can to accentuate what you feel are your most positive and strongest qualities, acknowledging that there are other areas where you simply will not shine as brightly. That's OK. Remember, you aren't competing with the top 1%.

Also, with your stats/activities, I would strongly advise AGAINST going to the October board for AROTC. The students who receive offers from the October board (only 4-year offers are made in October) will be from among those top 1% I mentioned. You will serve yourself far better by taking an extra several months and improving your scores and polishing your resume and essays prior to the January or March boards.

 

[BearDog567]

I wouldn't count Raider as a sport, but more of an advanced JROTC activity that has a physical component.

Not necessarily. I was told by my USMA regional commander that they view Raider as a varsity level sport. I was also awarded a Varsity Letter for my participation in/ captainship of my JROTCs' Raider team.

Whether it deserves to be given that esteem is in the eye of the beholder. Just letting OP know that they might be able to get that credit.

 

[BJD16]

Not necessarily. I was told by my USMA regional commander that they view Raider as a varsity level sport. I was also awarded a Varsity Letter for my participation in/ captainship of my JROTCs' Raider team.

Whether it deserves to be given that esteem is in the eye of the beholder. Just letting OP know that they might be able to get that credit.

Good to know. I am involved with Sea Cadets, but have no knowledge of JROTC.

 

[Ihavenoidea]

You ARE competing against everyone else, and in my opinion, most of the "best of the rest" have pretty strong applications across the board, with one area of weakness. For example, you might have awesome academics and athletics but perhaps a bit weak in leadership. Or, maybe you have great leadership and athletics but your academics are a bit weak. At this point in your high school career, as you already noted, your time to address any major shortcomings is minimal. What I would do is work as hard as you can to improve your SAT. I'd also take the ACT a couple times. My son did considerably better on the ACT vs. the SAT.

Also push yourself to max out the PFA, add whatever additional leadership activities you can and then do some serious prep so you can ace the interview. Along the way, as you finalize your packet, ask yourself, what is my top asset? Do all you can to accentuate what you feel are your most positive and strongest qualities, acknowledging that there are other areas where you simply will not shine as brightly. That's OK. Remember, you aren't competing with the top 1%.

Also, with your stats/activities, I would strongly advise AGAINST going to the October board for AROTC. The students who receive offers from the October board (only 4-year offers are made in October) will be from among those top 1% I mentioned. You will serve yourself far better by taking an extra several months and improving your scores and polishing your resume and essays prior to the January or March boards.

This is great advice for the OP or others looking to get a ROTC from some branch. Worry about what you can control. Maximize those controllable stats to get the best bang for your buck. If you are deficient in one of the big three (academics, physical, leadership) than make sure you are getting the most out of them. As said before, short of sports. Then max out the PFT. GPA not the highest, then try to get the SAT/ACT as high as possible. Leadership is the hardest to maximize in a short time frame, but do what you can do.

And always.....It is better to turn in your best application just before the deadline then get a marginal application in first.

 

[USA Retired Dad]

Should my son wait until 2nd board for a real shot at a 4 year??

Maxed PT
JROTC 2 years (multiple leader positions and recommendation from the LTC that runs it)
2 sport V Athlete (Swim and Baseball)
3.97 GPA unweighted
4% Class Rank (Auto Admit to UT Austin and TAMU- College Station)
1290 SAT (this is the weak part so he may re-take 1 last time)

Status of Package is awaiting Interview and Essays.

 

[Ihavenoidea]

Should my son wait until 2nd board for a real shot at a 4 year??

Maxed PT
JROTC 2 years (multiple leader positions and recommendation from the LTC that runs it)
2 sport V Athlete (Swim and Baseball)
3.97 GPA unweighted
4% Class Rank (Auto Admit to UT Austin and TAMU- College Station)
1290 SAT (this is the weak part so he may re-take 1 last time)

Status of Package is awaiting Interview and Essays.

If he can improve his application, then I recommend waiting until then. If it is not going to get any better, then go for it. SAT is something that can be improved with some short term effort. So good bang for buck. A online SAT study course or class a month before retaking it can really improve a school. Just taking it again will likely improve it some.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

Should my son wait until 2nd board for a real shot at a 4 year??

Maxed PT
JROTC 2 years (multiple leader positions and recommendation from the LTC that runs it)
2 sport V Athlete (Swim and Baseball)
3.97 GPA unweighted
4% Class Rank (Auto Admit to UT Austin and TAMU- College Station)
1290 SAT (this is the weak part so he may re-take 1 last time)

Status of Package is awaiting Interview and Essays.

I would personally recommend getting to that 1350 SAT range if you can and try the ACT if you haven't already.

With those stats you are a great candidate but I'd wait for the January board. Remember only a small percentage of all scholarship offers are made in the October board and there are plenty of 4-year awards remaining in January and even March.

Good luck!