What are "boards?" "Boarding" an app?

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DougBetsy

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Sorry. Newbie. :redface: I've seen these expressions in a few threads and don't fully understand them.

It sounds like a review committee. But, what is the connection to months? "September boards" "October boarding" etc.

Do all apps go before boards? Or just those that are competitive for scholarships?

Do boards actually read apps and make the decisions? Or do they simply approve the recommendations of a lower review?

What am I missing? Forgetting to ask? :redface:

Thanks.
 
Here is my understanding of the process.

All completed applications (App complete, SAT/ACT scores, Physical Fitness scores, PMS Interview results) are numerically scored and ordered high to low. I do not believe the scoring is done at boarding time but when they are received. It would not surprise me that the people scoring the applications are the same people who are are on the boards.

The monthly boards are committee workings where a group of folks from Cadet Command take the top X number of these completed applications, check with the schools on the list (to see if the candidate is likely to be admitted) if they haven't already done so at a previous board, and award scholarships to schools starting at the top of the applicants list (subject to open slots at schools - only a problem at some schools later in the year from what I am told). I believe the "date" of the board is when they are scheduled to release their results.

The boards meet monthly from September through April.

All applications not awarded a scholarship in a given month (below the score threshhold of the top X applications) are recycled forward to the next month to be re-evaluated along with any additional applications received during that time frame.
 
OK. So, let me see if I've got this straight.

Kid sends app to Cadet Command.
Kid submits test scores to Cadet Command.
PE teacher sends in Physical Fitness score Cadet Command.
PMS sends interview results to Cadet Command.

Then, when all the pieces are together at Cadet Command, somebody scores the package.
Once an app has its score, it goes to the month's Board.
The Board determines if the score is high enough for a scholarship.
If the score is high enough, the Board considers if the kid has chance at acceptance to the schools on his wish list.
If admission odds look good, Cadet Command offers the applicant a scholarship good at up to 5 schools.
Happy ending.

If the Board chooses not to issue a scholarship this month, the app can come back for reconsideration next month.

Is that right?

And, when an app is passed over for scholarship one month, how many subsequent "tries" is it allowed?
 
DougBetsy said:
OK. So, let me see if I've got this straight.

Kid sends app to Cadet Command.
Kid submits test scores to Cadet Command.
PE teacher sends in Physical Fitness score Cadet Command.
PMS sends interview results to Cadet Command.

Then, when all the pieces are together at Cadet Command, somebody scores the package.
Once an app has its score, it goes to the month's Board.
The Board determines if the score is high enough for a scholarship.
If the score is high enough, the Board considers if the kid has chance at acceptance to the schools on his wish list.
If admission odds look good, Cadet Command offers the applicant a scholarship good at up to 5 schools.
Happy ending.

If the Board chooses not to issue a scholarship this month, the app can come back for reconsideration next month.

Is that right?

And, when an app is passed over for scholarship one month, how many subsequent "tries" is it allowed?
Click to expand...

You've got it correct. **
You get "tries" every month until April or you withdraw the application.

I forgot one other piece of the completed application - the transcript from the HS.

** Your applicant still has to pass the DoDMERB physical or get waivers. New change this year - you get the physical only after you are awarded the scholarship. In the past, they used to give physicals to anyone who scored at a certain level on the initial app before other pieces came in. They decided it was too expensive to give physicals to that many applicants.
 
The Army, Navy and Air Force have boards as early as September--I think for 2009, the first Army board was September 23, 2008 or something link that. However the Marine Corps has a little different process--they have a PFT test of running, pull ups and sit ups, whiich is completed by command officers in your regional area on a certain date. The Marines have two boards-November and February. In the November board they choose who they want, usually about 5 from every region and then the February board picks the rest. There is one major difference with the Marines-they can be very selective because they give so few scholarships. The Marines do not "go down the list until the scholarships are used up." They choose the people they want and if the scholarships go unused, they do not make exceptions to their standards. The scholarships simply get left on the table.

Good luck-and get your application in early, no matter what service you want.
 
The Marines do not "go down the list until the scholarships are used up." They choose the people they want and if the scholarships go unused, they do not make exceptions to their standards. The scholarships simply get left on the table.
Click to expand...

Every candidate in every branch must meet standards. Please do not suggest otherwise as it could give false hope. The standards for each branch are different because each branch has a different mission. In fact the academic standards to qualify for a NROTC-MC scholarship are lower than a NROTC scholarship.
I seriously doubt the Marine Corps is leaving scholarships on the table in the face of Qualifed Candidates, especially in this time of MC expansion. There is a need for Officers in the MC.

Moving on - As far as the Army goes - If you complete your application by the deadline, you will be given full consideration for a Scholarship. Cadet Command will make that determination and it will be based upon being medically qualified, your pt test, your academic qualifications and your interview. Your application will remain open until the entire process is complete. The highest qualified applicants who have a completed application are selected first.
 
Thank you all.

Here's an interesting bit of info that came as a surprise...

We met with an Army ROTC ROO at a local college yesterday and I specifically asked when the boards are held. He said the first one is in February. I followed-up and asked, "Oh, really? For some reason I thought they begin as early as September." He shook his head and said, "No. Not as far as I know."

He admitted being new to the cadre, just assigned in April. So maybe he doesn't know the process inside-out yet. Or, maybe the process has changed?

What do you think?
 
DougBetsy said:
Thank you all.

Here's an interesting bit of info that came as a surprise...

We met with an Army ROTC ROO at a local college yesterday and I specifically asked when the boards are held. He said the first one is in February. I followed-up and asked, "Oh, really? For some reason I thought they begin as early as September." He shook his head and said, "No. Not as far as I know."

He admitted being new to the cadre, just assigned in April. So maybe he doesn't know the process inside-out yet. Or, maybe the process has changed?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

He is new and doesn't know the process inside and out. There is a lot of on-the-job learning.
 
I'm so confused!

My son was at our local recruiting office today trying to get all his NROTC paperwork turned in. They guys there weren't familiar with the process, so they called our area NROTC Scholarship Coordinator (who's actually in another state). My son spoke to him on the phone and mentioned that he was trying to get his paperwork complete so that it could be reviewed by the first board in September. The Coordinator told him "that's not how we do it in NROTC. The first board is in February." What makes this so confusing is that my son attended an event in June at his first choice university (a big State U) where he was told that the NROTC spots are highly competitive, and he MUST have everything turned in by the end of August to be seen by the September board, otherwise the spots will be snapped up. What's the true story???:confused:
 
Well, yikes! Took your advice and did some calling. Evidently just a little bit of our state is in our NROTC "area", so the coordinator is more familiar with the the universities in his (less competive?) state than ours. It turns out that the selection board has already met in August and will meet again in September. They are looking at candidates now for our big State U's very competitive NROTC program. Son's file will be reviewed for completeness and hopefully will be in place for the Sept. review. Everyone my son has talked to has been so helpful and willing to work with him. But with so many "layers" in this process, it really pays to be your own advocate to make sure all the many loose ends are tied up in a timely manner. :thumb:
 
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