Start to Finish Application Timing

Newport122

Newport122

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Feb 20, 2022
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My daughter will be applying for the NROTC scholarship when it opens in April.

1. Realistically, how long does the entire application process take?
2. I was told we will be assigned a point of contact or someone to work with us through the application, when does this happen?
3. How much weight, if any, does being the child of a retired service member carry?

Thank you!
 
Newport122 said:
My daughter will be applying for the NROTC scholarship when it opens in April.

1. Realistically, how long does the entire application process take?
2. I was told we will be assigned a point of contact or someone to work with us through the application, when does this happen?
3. How much weight, if any, does being the child of a retired service member carry?

Thank you!
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I just pulled up excel doc/schedule my DS used. HE started at beginning of his Jr. year. Just awarded 4 year on 2nd board end of Jan. of SR. year He is AROTC. AROTC opens up portal June 1 before their SR. year. Some of this was modified along the way. But this was his plan of timelines.
Application OpenJune 1 Before Senior Year
Initiation DeadlineJanuary 10 of Senior Year
Document DeadlineFebruary 28 of Senior Year
AwardsOct/Jan/March
ACTTest Date
17-Apr-21
12-Jun-21
July 17, 2021*
SAT3/13/2021
5/8/2021
6/5/2021
8/28/2021
Gym Teacher for PE Test8/31
Create Account at Go Army.com
Start Application
15-Jul​
PE Practice
15-Jul​
Interview practice
16-Jul​
Essay/Personal Statement
17-Jul​
Keystone Sections 1-7June 14-June 18
Keystone Boys State Exam
9-Jul​
SAT 8/28study 8/1
Apply for Oct Board
18-Sep​
 
1. The application itself can be done within a week but there's supplemental items like teacher evaluations, officer interview, and AFA that will take a lot longer to get scheduled and completed. It depends on how fast your recommenders answer your emails, your transcripts get delivered to your recruiter, etc. When I applied senior year, it took me from April 1 to mid-October to have my application received by the selection/placement office. That was because I was waiting on taking an SAT since it was hard to get one during COVID. If I would have already had my SAT done I could have had everything in by September of Senior year. In my freshman year of college when I had to reapply for the 4-year I had it in by the beginning of January because I had to wait for first semester college grades.
2. On your application, you input information like where you live and what option you would like to apply for (Navy, Nurse, Marine). Based on that it will automatically assign you a scholarship coordinator. This person will reach out to you shortly after. For me they reached out in May right after I started the application.
3. The answer to this could be really subjective, but they do ask you some questions about it on the application so they definitely do take it into account.
 
skatetofate said:
1. The application itself can be done within a week but there's supplemental items like teacher evaluations, officer interview, and AFA that will take a lot longer to get scheduled and completed. It depends on how fast your recommenders answer your emails, your transcripts get delivered to your recruiter, etc. When I applied senior year, it took me from April 1 to mid-October to have my application received by the selection/placement office. That was because I was waiting on taking an SAT since it was hard to get one during COVID. If I would have already had my SAT done I could have had everything in by September of Senior year. In my freshman year of college when I had to reapply for the 4-year I had it in by the beginning of January because I had to wait for first semester college grades.
2. On your application, you input information like where you live and what option you would like to apply for (Navy, Nurse, Marine). Based on that it will automatically assign you a scholarship coordinator. This person will reach out to you shortly after. For me they reached out in May right after I started the application.
3. The answer to this could be really subjective, but they do ask you some questions about it on the application so they definitely do take it into account.
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Thank you - that’s good info. Another dumb question - who monitors the PT test?
 
1. For Marine NROTC, if you start in April it takes up to 1 year, not sure how much the Navy differs but I’m pretty sure it’s the same. Marine option NROTC and Navy option NROTC are both NROTC, most of what I tell you will be true to the Navy as well, but some small things may be true only for the Marines. And even though it may be a year start to finish, it won’t take a year of work, applicants only have to:
-Complete online application package (includes essays)
-Study for ASVAB/SAT/ACT
-Train for PFT
-Prepare for interview
-Collect two recommendations from a teacher/coach/etc

For the USMC, the first selection board was in November, the results came out in December. For the second board (for anyone who wasn’t selected in or didn’t apply to the first), it closes end of January and results come out around April 1st, this is why it may take a year start to finish if you start in April. You’ll have a lot of extra time you won’t need, I know someone who won the scholarship after starting his package two weeks before the deadline.

2. You will be given your point of contact once you begin your online application, who’ll give you further instruction.

3. I’m not to say, I wouldn’t be the most authoritative person on this one. But, I would imagine a tiny bit at the minimum (I’ll get to how to get to the maximum in a second). On interview day when you’re filling out paper work, there will be a section to write the names of any family members who served, as well their rank and branch. To maximize the worth of having a family service member, your daughter can talk about ‘how her father inspired her to serve’ or how she’s ‘wanted to be like her dad and serve since she was a little girl’ in her essays and interview. I talked about how my grandfathers and uncle being Marine vets has made me want to be a Marine since I was a young kid, I’m sure it definitely looked good. They want to see genuine interest in serving because many NROTC midshipman end up dropping out, talking about how serving has been your dream since childhood will show them you won’t quit.
 
for the PT test it can be a school official. My son's school had a teacher who had administered multiple tests over the years. The application packet has instructions on who can monitor for other options.
 
NROTC application open in April. My suggestion is to start it right away, and be sure to get the required evaluations from teachers and guidance counselors squared away before school breaks for the summer. It is much easier to communicate with these evaluators when they are at school than to try to follow-up over the summer.
 
Newport122 said:
Thank you - that’s good info. Another dumb question - who monitors the PT test?
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School official (coach, teacher, etc) usually does it. Due to COVID, your coordinator may allow a parent to monitor the test but as times have changed that is not likely. Your coordinator will have the best answer when the time comes.
 
Yes, start right away! My son requested his teacher evaluations and counselor info before the end of school his junior year. Beginning of school is busy and you want to have everything finished before the first board if possible. He was applying for both UNSA and NROTC.
 
Start right away, as others have recommended. But also be prepared to be persistent and clear in communicating your goal. My daughter had a difficult time sorting out who her point of contact should be, and then that changed several times so frequent communication has been essential to make sure all of the boxes were checked. She also spent much of the initial application explaining to recruiters why she wasn't prepared to enlist before receiving a decision from USNA and/or NROTC. Ultimately everything got done...so now we wait.
 
LissaB said:
Start right away, as others have recommended. But also be prepared to be persistent and clear in communicating your goal. My daughter had a difficult time sorting out who her point of contact should be, and then that changed several times so frequent communication has been essential to make sure all of the boxes were checked. She also spent much of the initial application explaining to recruiters why she wasn't prepared to enlist before receiving a decision from USNA and/or NROTC. Ultimately everything got done...so now we wait.
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I would be interested to know more particulars about your daughter's application and if she gets accepted. What is her first choice college? Best of luck!
 
Newport122 said:
I would be interested to know more particulars about your daughter's application and if she gets accepted. What is her first choice college? Best of luck!
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First choice is USNA. First NROTC choice is Notre Dame. She's a great kid, but frankly, aren't all of the candidates? We've had lots of discussions about how she can do everything right in this process and still get a no, which in and of itself is a valuable lesson for a high achieving young person but no less agonizing for parents to watch. She hasn't heard from Notre Dame yet but is in at her other four NROTC schools. We're hoping for some news soon-just like everyone else lol. Good luck to your daughter in the process!
 
Echoing what others have said, I seriously doubt that having a retired military parent carries much/any "weight," per se, but since it's likely part of what inspired her to apply, she'll be able to bring it up in the application and interview and hopefully use it to her advantage. Don't say you've wanted to serve since you were a kid if you haven't - my dad is a Navy retiree, I didn't even consider the military until I was 14 or so, and I got the scholarship just fine. If you have, great, but it won't hurt you if you haven't.
This application cycle, parents were still allowed to administer the fitness test due to COVID, but that might change next cycle. The coordinator will be able to tell you.

I'm in the same boat as LissaB's daughter as far as waiting for ND (already got the scholarship assigned there, so maybe that will help...). Shouldn't be more than a month now...
 
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