To apply or not...

[CA_hopeful]

I received an LOA from West Point about a week and a half ago. I am ecstatic about it! However, it has sort of disrupted my Plan B, C, D, etc. USMA has always been my top choice, but I also decided to apply to AROTC. My ROTC application is not yet complete. I still need an interview, my physical test, and to write my essays. Now that I have an LOA from USMA the only things that could keep me out are either not receiving a nomination or becoming medically disqualified. If I became too injured or sick for USMA I would also probably be disqualified from the ROTC program. The only thing keeping me from withdrawing my ROTC application is the knowledge that in my nomination interviews I might be asked if I am applying. I am planning on including a copy of my LOA with my nomination application packets, do you think it would reflect negatively on me to admit that I am not also applying to ROTC? I don't want the nomination committee to think I am overly confident that I will receive a nomination, but stopping the ROTC application process would relieve some of my stress as I am scrambling to sort out my backup plans and also manage my senior year. I'm sorry if this is a bit jumbled, but I just want some fresh advice.

 

[CA_hopeful]

Sorry, this should probably have gone in the ROTC forum.

 

[Capt MJ]

A good Pentagon saying: "What's the long pole in your tent?"

Presumably, that is becoming an Army officer. Worst case, and tempting Murphy's Law, you have USMA LOA but for whatever reason, can't go/don't get nom/appointment. If you also don't apply to AROTC, then you have made no forward progress, and would have to explain a year from now in various interviews, why you didn't invest the effort.

You can get it all done. Facing huge tasks, handling stress, focusing on long tent poles, exercising self-discipline in time management (did you just blow 2 hours on gaming or social media that did zip-de-nada for your Army officer goal), organizing your strategy and doing the tactical execution is what officers do - on a much larger scale and at much higher stress levels.

As is often said on these forums, eat the elephant a bite at a time. Break the work down. Have a written plan.

Take a moment to reflect and ensure your real goal is becoming an Army officer, and you just didn't get caught up in the competitive rush of service academy application. If the answer is, yes, I want to serve as an Army officer 4+ years from now, and at least 5 after that, you know what to do.

 

[tug_boat]

When you come to that bridge, then you can cross it. Until then continue with your Plan A getting into WP

Push Hard, Press Forward

 

[MemberLG]

Perhaps you should forget about West Point, when thinking about finishing your ROTC scholarship application is stressing you out. Got it, I am not in you shoes, but hard to be sympathetic to a kid that is telling me that not doing an interview, physical test, and essays are going to reduce stress. Until you have an appointment, you should have a backup plan and working on your back up plan. Nothing wrong with not applying for a ROTC scholarship if you or parents can cover the cost of you first year at a college if you don't end up at West Point.

 

[1mountaintop]

Strongly recommend you continue with ROTC. My DS did not find the application process that difficult. I believe he did not need a separate physical and the essays were similar. The real time taken was visiting with Senior Military Colleges and interviews but he gained a lot of valuable knowledge through that process. If for some reason you do not make first time to WP even with LOA, you have a better chance getting in later if you do well in your classes. I also believe having a 4 year ROTC in hand helps ease the stress of the WP application. Remember an LOA is not a guarantee.

 

[5Day]

IMHO, finish your ROTC application, it sounds like most of it is complete already. You may want to trim back the number of schools you are applying to. You should think if there are any reach schools that would best USMA and add them to your list.

 

[brovol]

You should for sure continue with ROTC application, for several reasons. Obviously, you do not yet even have one bird in hand. Lots can go wrong, and if you put all chips in one basket you may regret that in a huge way.

Second, you never know how your preferences might change, or circumstances. ROTC may become your first option. Open as many doors as you can now, then, if you are fortunate enough, make choices later.

My son applied to three academies and AROTC as well. It isn't much more difficult to do multiple applications than it is to do only one. He knew West Point was his first choice, but even after getting his appointment to WP he gave fair consideration to the other options, because he earned multiple appointments and the scholarship. It's a good situation to be in.