Strategy for When to Submit Application -NROTC Marine Option

NJROTC-CC

NJROTC-CC

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DS, a rising senior, has decided to apply for the NROTC-Marine Option scholarship. I know what the deadline is for the application. And the boards are November 2021 and February 2022.

My question is when would be the best time to submit the application? DS will be continuing to train for the PFT this summer, and he still wants to take the SAT in June and August. I am thinking that he should probably start the application in August and get it finished by end of September so as to be considered by the first board.
 
No reason he can't start the application now. If school is still in session he might be able to knock out the teacher evaluations now. He should at least get their personal email addresses for use in the summer. He can knock out essays and complete medical stuff in the interim. Don't forget he'll need to do an officer interview and PFT after submitting the application, so leave time for that.

Your timeline might work but I see no point to waiting to start the application. Good luck to your son. Nothing better than being a Marine Officer (said a Marine Officer Dad).
 
Just wondering if starting the application now would trigger a PFT before he finishes training (not that he is in bad shape now, but he needs to get his pull-up numbers better.). And, I guess if starts the application now and then he sends in more SAT scores later, they will look at the best score (I realize they don’t super score.). Just trying to see if any down side to starting application now!
 
NJROTC-CC said:
Just wondering if starting the application now would trigger a PFT before he finishes training (not that he is in bad shape now, but he needs to get his pull-up numbers better.). And, I guess if starts the application now and then he sends in more SAT scores later, they will look at the best score (I realize they don’t super score.). Just trying to see if any down side to starting application now!
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NROTC-MO is different from all of the other ROTC application processes. A few key points:
1. There are only 2 Boards - the application is reviewed on both boards if submitted prior to the 1st Board. Historically the Boards have met in Oct/Nov and March.
2. Once you submit the application, you have very little control over the scheduling/timing of the interview and PFT. DON'T SUBMIT THE APPLICATION UNTIL YOU ARE READY FOR THESE. It is also a good practice to have your DS communicate with his application coordinator and keep him/her apprised of his progress and any issues during the application process.

A suggestion on the PFT - My DS started working out in the summer with the local recruiting depot. Not only were the workouts good, he developed a strong relationship with the staff. It was the local RSS staff that conducted his PFT. The local staff at the RSS report up to the application coordinator, so I think it is good to be present and showing that extra initiative. As far as the actual PFT goes, Pull Ups is where you earn the money. There is a USMC PFT Calculator online, if you don't max or get close on the pullups, it is hard to get in the 280s-290s, which is where you want to be.

As @kinnem stated - no harm in starting the application now. Gives you plenty of time to polish up the essays. My DS submitted his in September and had his PFT and Interview later that month. The 1st NROTC-MO board has historically been very stingy. The majority of the scholarships were/are awarded on the 2nd Board. I don't have the final numbers, but I have heard there were between 210-220 NROTC MO scholarships awarded last year.

Is your DS planning on submitting AROTC or AFROTC?

Good luck.
 
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EEBTTF said:
NROTC-MO is different from all of the other ROTC application processes. A few key points:
1. There are only 2 Boards - the application is reviewed on both boards if submitted prior to the 1st Board.
2. Once you submit the application, you have very little control over the scheduling/timing of the interview and PFT. DON'T SUBMIT THE APPLICATION UNTIL YOU ARE READY FOR THESE.

As @kinnem stated - no harm in starting the application now. Just make sure your DS is ready for the PFT and Interview prior to him hitting the submit button. The 1st NROTC-MO board has historically been very stingy. The majority of the scholarships were/are awarded on the 2nd Board. I don't have the final numbers, but I have heard there were between 210-220 NROTC MO scholarships awarded last year.

Is your DS planning on submitting AROTC or AFROTC?

Good luck.
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Thanks for the response #EEBTTF. I will not let him “push the button” until he is ready to take the PFT. However, I am going to suggest that he be ready to push the button by August 15th.

He does not plan to apply to Army or Air Force. His Plan B is Navy or Marine ROTC as a college programmer. If for some reason he does not complete NROTC or MO, he will also consider enlisting in USCG after he gets his undergraduate degree. At least that is his current thinking.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
Thanks for the response #EEBTTF. I will not let him “push the button” until he is ready to take the PFT. However, I am going to suggest that he be ready to push the button by August 15th.

He does not plan to apply to Army or Air Force. His Plan B is Navy or Marine ROTC as a college programmer. If for some reason he does not complete NROTC or MO, he will consider enlisting in USCG after he gets his undergraduate degree.
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Just remember you cannot submit an application for both NROTC and NROTC-MO scholarships. Is your DS opposed to the Army? If not, he may want to submit an application for the AROTC scholarship. There are thousands of AROTC awards vs 200-250 on the MO. May be a good option if he is interested.

Good luck.
 
EEBTTF said:
Just remember you cannot submit an application for both NROTC and NROTC-MO scholarships. Is your DS opposed to the Army? If not, he may want to submit an application for the AROTC scholarship. There are thousands of AROTC awards vs 200-250 on the MO. May be a good option if he is interested.

Good luck
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We understand he cannot apply for both NROTC and NROTC-MO scholarships.

I don’t think he has any real interest in the Army. Not that he is opposed to it. I will let him decide
 
If paying for college isn't an issue and if he is set on pursuing a commission in the Marine Corps, the PLC program is a good way to go as well.
 
My son applied last year. Once you open/begin the application they will know and will follow/check to see how the application is progressing whether you realize it or not. My son started the application late April/ early May. The local recruiter's office contacted him within a couple of weeks wanting him to come in for a meeting, PFT, and start working out with the poolees. As per the application instructions, they want you (applicant) to meet with recruiter/local coordinator to look over your application before you hit the submit button. My son submitted the application in July. Unlike most applicants who do the interview and PFT the same day, in our area the PFT and the interview were not together His interview wasn't until late September. There were several opportunities to take the PFT and retake to improve your score. Both objective metrics (PFT,GPA, test scores, leadership, etc.) and subjective metrics (interview, essay, demographics, diversity, etc.) play a role and also how competitive the area you live in. Good luck to your son.
 
ChatterMom2 said:
My son applied last year. Once you open/begin the application they will know and will follow/check to see how the application is progressing whether you realize it or not. My son started the application late April/ early May. The local recruiter's office contacted him within a couple of weeks wanting him to come in for a meeting, PFT, and start working out with the poolees. As per the application instructions, they want you (applicant) to meet with recruiter/local coordinator to look over your application before you hit the submit button. My son submitted the application in July. Unlike most applicants who do the interview and PFT the same day, in our area the PFT and the interview were not together His interview wasn't until late September. There were several opportunities to take the PFT and retake to improve your score. Both objective metrics (PFT,GPA, test scores, leadership, etc.) and subjective metrics (interview, essay, demographics, diversity, etc.) play a role and also how competitive the area you live in. Good luck to your son.
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Thanks for your insight!!
 
I want to double-down on EEBTTF's advice. Encourage your son to submit an AROTC application as well. In the fall of '19 my son was focused on two things: becoming a Marine officer and getting his football team to state playoffs. I encouraged him to apply for Army as well. He wasn't hearing any of that. Unfortunately, it's tough to do any USMC PFT-specific training during football season, especially if you're a lineman. He wasn't even close.

He did apply for AROTC just before the deadline and got the full scholarship. It took some adjusting to get used to "Plan B", but he's all-in now.

As a long-ago Marine, I understand a kid's desire to accept the hardest challenge and earn the title, but keep two things in mind:
-a bird in the hand............
-Army and Marines are playing on the same team.
 
It really depends on how prepared your DS is. They basically look for the same thing as the other scholarships (GPA, SAT, extracurricular stuff, interview, and PFT score). I would say fitness has a much greater impact on whether an applicant is selected. If he’s strong in all areas, then he should shoot for completing his application prior to the first board.
 
One more point on the PFT and SAT/ACT scores - Don't stop training and taking the PFT after you take the official test unless you are satisfied with it. My DS's first PFT was in the 275 range. He continued to train and re-took it before the 1st Board met and scored a 295. Unlike the AROTC process, you get full application points for score improvements (PFT and standardized tests).
 
puzzled said:
If paying for college isn't an issue and if he is set on pursuing a commission in the Marine Corps, the PLC program is a good way to go as well.
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I would like to learn more about the PLC program. It sounds like there is a limited amount of tuition assistance available which could be helpful
 
You can also Google 'USMC Platoon Leaders Course'.

Usually folks attend PLC the summer of their rising junior and senior years (about 6 weeks per session). I suggest using it as a backup plan if a high school or college programmer scholarship doesn't materialize. That was my son's approach but fortunately he received a scholarship during his sophomore year.
 
Let me begin by saying I’m no expert but my DS just went through it! He submitted a completed application for the first board, but didn’t get selected. He then got a list of items to work on before the next board - and so he did. They also allowed him to submit an additional recommendation for the second board. He was awarded the NROTC-MO scholarship at the second board. He benefitted from the guidance and help he received from his XO between first and second board - so my vote would be to aim at completing to be considered during the first board. Your DS can improve PFT between first and second board as well as other items if needed. Good luck!!
 
I apologize if this has already been mentioned (I did not read all of the comments).

My DD started her application in early summer last year. She ended up getting contacted by the local unit in late Aug I believe to see if she would be able to complete the remaining item (I can't remember what it was - transcript, maybe?) to get submitted for the early board.

If that's possible for you, that basically gives you an additional chance and an extra look on your application. That's what she was told by her USMC contact anyway. It seems to be true, since she did not get an offer after the early boards but did end up getting one later. I suggest submitting early if you can, but as long as it doesn't mean that you have to rush through and not submit your best effort.
 
Cannot stress how important it is to have a good relationship with your recruiters (mine are great and I sometimes take that for granted). The applicant does the work but recruiters get some pretty important paperwork through to the board. I had a great relationship with my coordinator and my recruiters and was heavily involved with poolee activities (even though I was never in the DEP). On the other hand, a friend of mine from another state applied and didn't have good communication with his recruiters or XO (not sure if it was on him or if the recruiters didn't like him), but his paperwork was never processed and he never got to the board.
I ended up retaking my PFT between my first and second board like @EEBTTF 's DS, and did a couple of "practice PFTs" at my station before I took an actual one in July. Part of the recruiter's job is to get kids physically ready for bootcamp, and it worked really well for me (between my first and second board my score improved by 3 pull-ups, 20 crunches, and shaved off 4 minutes off my run). Getting involved with my station was a great decision, I've gotten better physically, gained some USMC knowledge, had opportunities to develop as a leader, network, and be around great people. Best of luck to your DS!
 
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