Thoughts on DS Chance for AROTC

I would never look for that info because every year the pool changes.

Last year there could be schools with unfilled slots, and this year they could fill by btye 2nd board.

Additionally, chasing the scholarship could mean a cadet that hates the college.

Apply to schools you want to attend!
JMPO and $2.06 will get you a small coffee from Starbucks!
 
Pima said:
AROTC cares about college choices.

There are candidates with a 24 ACT that get a scholarship because of their school choices. There are candidates with a 31 that get the...At, this time we are unable...letter.

The school list matters!

This is why the results for AROTC are all over the place.
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Pima, I'm not so sure that this is so true anymore, as I believe the boards, since last year, have simply been awarding the scholarships, based on the order that the applicants put them on the application and if the college unit still had scholarship allocations left. I believe Clarkson could speak to that trend now. The only hitch in that is if the PMS believes the candidate has no shot in being accepted to the school, then they can say "do not offer a scholarship" to the applicants file before it goes to board.
 
ROTC information

Pima's earlier comments should be required reading for child/parent interested in ROTC.

Long chats with son about ROTC and service. Scholarship is more a loan you pay back for 8 years. He went 2xs to the Point, and decided not right for him, felt ROTC better fit (this was before 1850 SATs). He likes his first choice school, but it is expensive private satellite, and he is not a true STEM. He knows ROTC scholarship odds are tough (hard b/c seems to have all the other bells and whistles-Eagle, Boys State, NHS, 3.8, Varsity captain, 9 letters.) Probably did not max out his interview. Was his first college interview (probably not smart to do on our part.) But we are learning. Unless private schools give him aid he knows cannot go, fall back will be state schools, which we can probably swing financially. None host only satellites, most 1/2 hour away. Fall back C is go free to local community college, but ROTC not available at all. Could try again after first year, but if his major does not change, still an issue. All we have heard makes it seem coming in as junior will probably not be an option in 2 years, with all the other changes and cuts happening and comming.

Again, appreciate the forum and chance to "speak." Wife is a nervous wreck and no one around here to discuss these issues.
 
USMAROTCFamily said:
Pima, I'm not so sure that this is so true anymore, as I believe the boards, since last year, have simply been awarding the scholarships, based on the order that the applicants put them on the application and if the college unit still had scholarship allocations left. I believe Clarkson could speak to that trend now. The only hitch in that is if the PMS believes the candidate has no shot in being accepted to the school, then they can say "do not offer a scholarship" to the applicants file before it goes to board.
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This usually holds true for the first board, most if not all recipients receive one or more of their top 3 schools. The second and third boards tend to bounce around the list a bit more.

This is one of the places where school selection can matters, an applicant with what seem lower scores may still receive a scholarship from the first board if the schools they list are not the highly competitive schools when it comes to scholarships. My son was one of these cadets, 3.5 GPA and a 24 ACT, he received a scholarship the first board to 5 schools, most were not in that high competition range.
 
Jcleppe said:
This usually holds true for the first board, most if not all recipients receive one or more of their top 3 schools. The second and third boards tend to bounce around the list a bit more.

This is one of the places where school selection can matters, an applicant with what seem lower scores may still receive a scholarship from the first board if the schools they list are not the highly competitive schools when it comes to scholarships. My son was one of these cadets, 3.5 GPA and a 24 ACT, he received a scholarship the first board to 5 schools, most were not in that high competition range.
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That must have been prior to last year, though. As even by the 3rd board last year, when she was awarded her scholarship, it went according to her list, but skipped one. She called that unit and found out their allotments had been filled already. The other thing that changed last year, was they do not give more than 3 school choices anymore.
 
Pima I'm sorry if i Offended you, that was not my intention. I did not mean to generalize and you're right many parents on here do know how the process works. However, many do not as well. That's just my opinion and I don't think the original poster should be worried about her DS's scholarship status. And yes, I did have a different account before.
 
USMAROTCFamily said:
That must have been prior to last year, though. As even by the 3rd board last year, when she was awarded her scholarship, it went according to her list, but skipped one. She called that unit and found out their allotments had been filled already. The other thing that changed last year, was they do not give more than 3 school choices anymore.
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I think we're both saying the same thing, only you said it much better then I.

You are right in that CC tries to give the scholarships according to the order of preference the applicant lists the schools, and if a school has filled their slots they then just skip to the next one. I think this is why we see some awards given during the final board to an applicants 3rd, 4th, or lower choices. If a cadet lists say VMI, Citadel, and VT as their first 3 choices, they may not receive a scholarship on the first board due to the high degree of competition. My son listed University of Idaho as his first choice, not a highly competitive Battalion, he received his offer on the first board.

I think my son was in the last group that were awarded more then 3 schools back in 2010.

As I said, you stated this much better then I did.
 
cmccabe24 said:
That's just my opinion and I don't think the original poster should be worried about her DS's scholarship status.
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Not being worried is fine, but with all the cutbacks and changes at Cadet Command, It's best to understand there are no sure things or guarantees. The intent of many who have posted is to make sure everyone has a plan B, C and even further up the alphabet.

For every cadet that received a scholarship with stats similar to yours, there have been those that did not. Understanding this and making alternate plans ahead of time is always prudent.
 
Scholarship Chances

The interview is a key component to all of this and counts for more than any other part--both directly and indirectly. How did he do there?

Robert Kirkland, LTC (Ret)
"The Insider's Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and their Parents" (Amazon)
 
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