Social Circles as Critera for SA Appointment or ROTC Scholarship Award

[JohnMcLane]

DS's social circle has been astronomically successful in getting appointments and scholarships. Others are heading to ivories. I've been pleased with every interaction with his fellow students, teammates, coaches, counselors, and teachers. Yet he has described his school as a "hellhole".

So why are some successful and others are dregs?

I will offer that based on my observations, associating with high performing, ethically straight peers is at least as important as any other factor in a kid's success. We all know this but I've noticed it never gets mentioned as a best practice on this forum when asking how to make a candidate competitive but it should come before "practice your ACT, get good grades and take tough classes, be a varsity captain, etc. Why? Because much of the latter will follow with the former. Success attracts success and they push and help each other. They are all more marketable andbetter people from knowing each other. My kid is TERRIBLE at math but he was good friends with the kid headed to MIT who tutored him. From one of my kid's varsity sports team, there are 8 kids who are currently attending or have appointments to service academies. I can't even begin to count the number of ROTC scholarships. From one single team.

Picking excellent peers should be a critical task for all candidates and parents should watch this closely, even going so far as to socially engineer to get the right mix

Also, I think the benefits of finding a good mentor doesn't get enough emphasis.

My 2 cents after seeing outcomes for DS's graduating class this year.

 

[SnootyHen]

Seems fair. My son is in the same classes with the vast majority of the top of the class. Maybe one or 2 here and there have varied but the majority of these kids are in AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Chem, etc. this year and have been in classes together for 4 years. And what's cool is a lot of them are on XC together and have been for 4 years. It says something to me that all these high achievers stick together but it's a chicken egg question. Are they together because they are smart or are they smart because they pushed each other? And because they are athletes AND scholars, they are not smoking or doing anything else to screw up their chances. They stay on each other and it's nice because I've never had to with this one. My other two...not so much!

 

[JohnMcLane]

Seems fair. My son is in the same classes with the vast majority of the top of the class. Maybe one or 2 here and there have varied but the majority of these kids are in AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Chem, etc. this year and have been in classes together for 4 years. And what's cool is a lot of them are on XC together and have been for 4 years. It says something to me that all these high achievers stick together but it's a chicken egg question. Are they together because they are smart or are they smart because they pushed each other? And because they are athletes AND scholars, they are not smoking or doing anything else to screw up their chances. They stay on each other and it's nice because I've never had to with this one. My other two...not so much!

I think the chicken or egg question (while interesting) is not as important as thst they all motivate and drive each other to greater success than they achieve without each other.

 

[cb7893]

DS's social circle has been astronomically successful in getting appointments and scholarships. Others are heading to ivories. I've been pleased with every interaction with his fellow students, teammates, coaches, counselors, and teachers. Yet he has described his school as a "hellhole".

So why are some successful and others are dregs?

I will offer that based on my observations, associating with high performing, ethically straight peers is at least as important as any other factor in a kid's success. We all know this but I've noticed it never gets mentioned as a best practice on this forum when asking how to make a candidate competitive but it should come before "practice your ACT, get good grades and take tough classes, be a varsity captain, etc. Why? Because much of the latter will follow with the former. Success attracts success and they push and help each other. They are all more marketable andbetter people from knowing each other. My kid is TERRIBLE at math but he was good friends with the kid headed to MIT who tutored him. From one of my kid's varsity sports team, there are 8 kids who are currently attending or have appointments to service academies. I can't even begin to count the number of ROTC scholarships. From one single team.

Picking excellent peers should be a critical task for all candidates and parents should watch this closely, even going so far as to socially engineer to get the right mix

Also, I think the benefits of finding a good mentor doesn't get enough emphasis.

My 2 cents after seeing outcomes for DS's graduating class this year.

Another way of putting it is, "Hitch your wagon to a strong team of horses, but always be ready to get out and help push."

The importance of a good mentor or role model will be very important as your DS approaches commissioning. I always advised mine to look at and seek advice from people 2-3 and 5-7 years older doing what he imagines himself doing or hopes to be doing. I still do it to this day as he is approaching a logical conclusion to his military service or a full on commitment to 20+ years.

Best of luck to your DS going forward!

 

[JohnMcLane]

Another way of putting it is, "Hitch your wagon to a strong team of horses, but always be ready to get out and help push."

The importance of a good mentor or role model will be very important as your DS approaches commissioning. I always advised mine to look at and seek advice from people 2-3 and 5-7 years older doing what he imagines himself doing or hopes to be doing. I still do it to this day as he is approaching a logical conclusion to his military service or a full on commitment to 20+ years.

Best of luck to your DS going forward!

Your quote is perfect!

As far as "getting out and pushing" I teach my kids to do this as basic leadership development. Not just for his compadres, but to help others who aren't there yet, usually younger kids. I'm exaggerating a bit but my kid is kind of one of the Jake Ryans (Sixteen Candles reference) at his school. He is good at elevating those who aren't in the cool club and makes an effort to do so. I was shocked (in an ecstatic way) that this Thursday one of his projects got a 3yr AROTC scholarship. The kid was geeky, awkward, and disadvantaged as can be with a home life that was hell. But he has so much heart. That kid earned it but I like to think my "cool" DS's targeted encouragement to him helped motivate him. DS was informed he's getting two local scholarships by default because he is the only one that applied. DS has informed this kid he should apply for these two scholarships. If this kid does apply for the scholarship DS will withdraw his application. This kid needs it way more than we do.