<p>We are going to be visiting a few colleges this summer, and the NROTC officers have agreed to meet with my son while we are there. It will be hot and I was thinking it would be ok for my son to wear a nice collared shirt and neat shorts. Do you think he should dress more formally?
Thanks for any help; I've been enjoying reading this forum, and thrilled to read about the experiences of the NASS candidates and USNA candidates.</p>
<p>I think your plan sounds fine. Summer campus tours are hot and nobody would think less of him for wearing shorts. I don't think it will matter to the NROTC officers.</p>
<p>I'd recommend a pair of Dockers pants with a belt, a collard shirt, and some casual shoes (Docksiders, etc.).</p>
<p>Obviously, make sure they are clean and don't look like you just took them out of a Coke bottle.</p>
<p>Have a haircut. Take a shower. etc., etc...</p>
<p>You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Let the other yahoos come in shorts, t-shirts, and/or sneakers, with long hair, and chewing gum.</p>
<p>I agree. I wore a suit to my NROTC interview in the middle of summer, and the Chief giving the interview told me that it made a difference to him.</p>
<p>Yep. You'd be amazed at how much someone who NEEDS to make a decision on you will base their conclusion on how you look coming through that door.</p>
<p>For the record: If an applicant is going for an INTERVIEW, you wear a SUIT.</p>
<p>S. made his NROTC interview six weeks ago and asked the Chief what was the appropriate dress code. This Chief responded that business casual (khakis, polo)was fine as he was meeting him at school during the schoolday. He said it might be odd to see a kid at high school in a suit. The location can have a factor in the appropriate dress. These Chiefs are fleet sailors usually and can spot a phony a thousand yards off the bow. They typically appreciate a straight question and will give you a straight response. </p>
<p>my two cents.
hope it helps.
Mike</p>
<p>As always, if the folks who will be doing the evaluating tell you that something is OK, then you've got a green light.</p>
<p>One other note: Whatever footwear you wear, make sure it's COMFORTABLE. You'll be walking around a lot, and you have all of Plebe Summer to ruin your feet by breaking in shoes as you go. ;)</p>
<p>I may be wrong, but it does not sound like this is THE ROTC interview for the scholarship? Rather ROTC unit visits?</p>
<p>If the latter, a coat and tie in mid summer on tour would likely be overkill, imo. Ours wore coat, tie, white shirt to his interview ... was informed like others, good!</p>
<p>We visited 3 ROTC units and interviewed the officers there ... all were in summer, fall casual clothes. These men matter not re: the scholarship award or the assignment as I understand it. In fact, all said they'd be very happy to have him in their unit, 2 of which indicated they NEVER fill all their spaces due to university selectivity in admissions. And btw, all indicated they have NO influence in the admissions process, either. Your plan looks fine, imo.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. It is just college visits with appointments made with the ROTC units as well, not any formal interview for the scholarship. This is just to decide what schools to put at the top of his list on the ROTC application. It is great that all the ROTC units we contacted by email responded immediately and with welcoming words. We really thought that we would not get much of a response because we are visiting during the summer. Son is neat looking anyway, with crew cut since 1st grade. I think consensus is that for the meetings, shorts and a collared polo shirt should be ok. Let me know if there are any strong objections!</p>
<p>Yes, when S did the formal interview for his scholarship, he did wear dress clothes but for a campus visit, it is not necessary. Neat but not dressy is fine. Whistle Pig is right. The ROTC officers at the school have nothing to do with the scholarship and may well not be at the school anymore by time your S attends. My S's unit has lost two NROTC officers earlier than planned this year due to Middle East deployment</p>