When to start application

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blueplate99

USNA 21
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
88
Hi,
I am currently a junior in high school. When would be a good time to start the application process? I have heard starting it junior year is ideal, but that is pretty vague seeing as there are 8 months during the school year. Any help would be great! I will apply for Army and Navy 4-year scholarships
Thank you!
 
It would be wise to start training for the PFT, as you want enough time to fit training in with regular athletics. Go on the ROTC website for each branch and familiarize yourself with the process, prepare for SAT/ACT testing, start to think about who you want to use as your high school recommenders. You can also make a visit to the local recruiting office, as they can give you more information about the process. Starting to prepare for and taking the SAT/ACT junior year is very important, as it may be beneficial to take it several times. You not only need to meet the ROTC standards, but also those of your top colleges, as you would need to be independently accepted to the college itself.
 
FYI: do NOT visit the local recruiting office to learn more about the Army ROTC scholarship process. Their goal is to enlist soldiers, not provide info about scholarships. If you have a college near you with an ROTC dept., you could speak to the Recruiting and Operations officer (ROO) there, but it's a little early for that. There's plenty of info online, and on this forum, for you to research on your own at this point.
 
In regards to when you can start the formal application process as a junior, last year the Navy online application opened around mid to late April and the Army application opened in early June.
 
Let your school Guidance know, start ACT/SAT testing. Take both, start early. Speak with the teachers who will be writing your LOR's have them write them now, since they are done with current Seniors. Read all about the application process and do as much prep work as you can prior to the application opening up. You can Private conversation me with NROTC questions.
 
Start the application process as soon as possible, however, I believe you can only get re boarded once so if I were you I would wait and submit it for the second board, because the 2nd and 3rd board give out the most scholarships. Just a strategy thought, take it with a grain of salt.

On a side note, branch loyalty is big so make sure you are committed to whatever one you get, in my opinion the Army is the best because, well, we are....
Go Army. Beat Navy.
 
AROTC-NRH said:
Start the application process as soon as possible, however, I believe you can only get re boarded once so if I were you I would wait and submit it for the second board, because the 2nd and 3rd board give out the most scholarships. Just a strategy thought, take it with a grain of salt.

On a side note, branch loyalty is big so make sure you are committed to whatever one you get, in my opinion the Army is the best because, well, we are....
Go Army. Beat Navy.
Click to expand...

You're ROTC scholarship application does not get "re-boarded." Applications are boarded once, receive a board score, and that part of the application can not be changed.
 
If you are currently a junior, you will be able to start the physical application for NROTC in April and AROTC in June. However, you can begin by preparing for many aspects that will improve your application. As MAblue said, start training for your PFT ASAP!!! Also, Boys/Girls State is seen very highly by cadet command. If you are serious about getting a scholarship I would recommend finding a way to go (often your school or local American legion post will sponsor students.). If you would like to PM me with any questions about the application feel free.
 
In March of my son's junior year we visited the campus of his #1 school and had a lengthy discussion with the PMS and ROO there. Ahead of time, I arranged for DS to shadow a 4-year scholarship cadet for the day in classes, around campus, and in the dining hall. DS also participated in early morning PT with the cadets. After this visit, the PMS became a huge advocate for my son. We visited campus and the Battalion again in July between his junior and senior year, and then back to campus for his PMS interview in September. This school is 1,000 miles away from us. It was quite a commitment, but it paid off with a 4-year scholarship AROTC awarded first round. This PMS recommended training for the 2/2/2 PFT so that you can get top marks on the actual 1/1/1 that is turned in with the app. He also suggested that DS turn in a certified outcome on the 2/2/2 as an indicator that DS can already meet the requirements for contracting. So from our one experience, I would say that getting to know the folks where you want to go to school, and letting them get to know you, is huge. In short, your app shouldn't be news to the schools you list. Hopefully they'll want you as much as you want them.
 
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