NROTC questions

<p>I am an incoming 2012 high school senior and am very interested in the NROTC 4 year scholarship. I have a 3.7389 weighted GPA and will be taking my SAT and ACT in the next month or so due to my needed accommodations. I have done highschool marching band for three years along with varsity debate for one, i am also in a community service program which reads to young children, i am a national english honor society member, and a pole vaulter for my school track team (My career ended when i broke my leg however), i am also a member of a christian youth group at my school, i usher at my church as well. My local recruiter also told me that i have my foot partially in the door due to me being black (he says the navy is looking for more minority officers) i have an uncle who is a retired capitan as well as two brothers currently serving. Due to my GPA however (along with me chosing a teir 3 degree) how good are my chances assuming i pull all of the right refrences and have a good interview? how high do my SAT/ACT scores need to be given my current GPA? And overall how good are my chances?</p>

<p>Tier 3 is an issue. 85% of all scholarships for NROTC have to go to Tier 1 & 2 majors. So you have to be at the top of the pile for Tier 3. </p>

<p>The Navy is looking for leadership. Are you the captain of clubs or sports teams? Student Government, etc?</p>

<p>Your app should be started NOW to have the best chance. Not having taken the SAT or ACT yet won’t help. Those should have been taken once during your Jr year in order to get the app in. You can’t complete the app until you have the results back. Aim for at least a 30 ACT.</p>

<p>Have you taken the toughest schedule possible at your school? Max # of AP classes and the highest level of math possible? This is very important in the application evaluation process. </p>

<p>What accommodations do you require? You not only have to get the scholarship but pass a very extensive physical as well. There are a long list of items that are automatic DQ for the scholarship - ADD, ADHD, breathing issues, allergies, etc. What is the status of your leg?</p>

<p>Even as a Tier 3 major you will have to take a full year of college Calculus and then a full year of Physics and get a C or better. Are you prepared to do this? Many Tier 3 majors have an issue with this material as you are typically in classes with Engineering students. </p>

<p>Finally, what is your goal? Do you want NROTC to become a Navy officer as your #1 goal or is it a way to pay for school? If it is the latter I urge you to reconsider. The vast majority of those who want the scholarship for the money drop out and then have no way to pay for school. My DS’s class started with 20+ and commissioned 4. Those 4 were the ones that wanted to be officers more than anything in the world. The Navy is very good about weeding others out. </p>

<p>References, church, and relatives serving will help a bit. The Navy is looking for diversity but I think the recruiter is overstating that impact. It won’t make a non-competitive app competitive. It might help in the case of a tie. </p>

<p>I’m happy to help, PM if you wish.</p>

<p>Why are you looking only at Tier 3. You probably have what it takes to get into Tier 2, and maybe Tier 1.</p>

<p>How did you do on the PSAT? Are you practicing for both the ACT and SAT? </p>

<p>You can’t take the SAT and ACT in the next month…they’re not offered until Fall. Sign up for the Sept ACT and the Oct SAT (those are the next ones). </p>

<p>I do believe that the Navy is looking for diversity amongst officers, so I do think being a male AA will help, but it won’t be a huge hook. </p>

<p>Is there a reason why you’re only considering the Navy? Is it because of family tradition?</p>

<p>If you want Navy, look into Auburn Univ…when comparing admission difficulty to NROTC, it’s admission difficulty is considered low.</p>

<p>Your test scores, grades, and your choice of major figure strongly in the selection process. You also have to pass the physical tests.</p>

<p>My S’s NROTC class started out w/ 28 and comissioned 10 or 12 (including Marines). Choosing a Tier 1 or 2 major would help your chances if you think you could handle it. What is your class rank? Have you taken AP Calc or Physics?
The Navy is in downsizing mode at present so you will need to do everything possible to present the best application possible.</p>

<p>Packmom, can one start out as a Tier 1 or 2 and switch to Tier 3 once in the program?</p>

<p>Wow, I did not know that the fall out rate was that high. My cousin’s son did survive his freshman year.</p>

<p>Tier 1, 2, and 3 does not mean college it is by major. Tier 3 is non- science or math (ex: poly sci). Tier 2 would be math and Tier 1 engineering. </p>

<p>If you declare a Tier 1 or Tier 2 major, get the scholarship and then change to a Tier 3 major you lose the scholarship. No loophole</p>

<p>Thanks Iron Maiden. I knew it meant major, but I did not know if one could change majors once one got to college if one found the major an issue.</p>

<p>If the OP can’t take the SAT and/or ACT until Fall that is a major problem as your app cannot go in until those scores are received. Then an officer interview hasti scheduled and completed. Only then is app considered. </p>

<p>In order to maximize chances the app needs to be Sept 1. The selection boards meet periodically after that. The strongest candidates are selected at each board then the remainder carry forward. So if you are late you are considered by fewer boards and your chances go down. Anyone wanting an NROTC schlorship really has to have received their SAT / ACT scores by the end of Jr year. </p>

<p>If you are fortunate enough to be selected the Navy awards the scholarship to one of the 5 schools you listed on your app. 1 of the top 3 has to be an in-state public. Obviously they all have to have NROTC. The admissions process to the school is totally separate. It is very possible to get a scholarship to a particular school but not be admitted. In that case you have to petition the Navy to award your scholarship to one of the other schools on your list. Not easily done. </p>

<p>Assuming you get the scholarship for a school and then ate admitted to that school you still have to pass the DODMERB medical exam. If you are DQd you lose the scholarship. </p>

<p>Last time I looked about 15% of qualified applicants get the scholarship. And 85% of those 15% have to go to Tier 1 and 2 majors.</p>

<p>When sons were filling out apps for ROTC scholie’s and the academies their SAT and ACT scores needed to be WITHOUT accomodations. If the scores were from sittings with accomodations they could not be used.</p>

<p>Tier 3 is poli sci, history, economics…tier 2 is math, sciences and tier 1 is engineering. Son was awarded Navy ROTC to MIT (admitted EA), he had designated that as 1 of his top 3 choices along with UNC as his state public.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

<p>Does it help with admissions at all to get one of the ROTC scholarships?</p>

<p>Totally separate processes. No linkage at all.</p>

<p>Wow. So if one gets the scholarship and doesn’t get into the college designated, what generally happens? Have you heard of cases of anyone not able to use the award? My cousin’s son wants to transfer schools and I know he has a two tiered transfer he has to do. One for college admissions and the other for the NROTC.</p>

<p>Like I said above:</p>

<p>It is very possible to get a scholarship to a particular school but not be admitted. In that case you have to petition the Navy to award your scholarship to one of the other schools on your list to which you were admitted.</p>

<p>If the Navy gave you the scholarship to am expensive school and you ask for it to be transferred to a less expensive school (in-state flagship) you have a shot. There has to be room in the unit to which you want to go. </p>

<p>Asking to go from a public to a private I would say might be close to impossible. Keep in mind the are many, many more qualified applicants than spots. There is no incentive for the Navy to accommodate anyone. They can just move to the next applicant</p>

<p>@OP - are you able to run a couple of miles on that leg? NROTC doesn’t actually conduct a fitness test for the scholarship, but you have to pass a fitness test when you get to school, in order to unlock the money. You also have to pass a medical exam/review in order to qualify for the scholarship.</p>

<p>Your record looks okay, but try to list some leadership positions on your application. Those are worth more than memberships.</p>

<p>Take the SAT and ACT as early as you can. The NROTC boards will consider the best one, so try both. You probably can’t get your application done in time for the first review board, but there will be others into the early spring, so don’t let that stop you. Good luck.</p>

<p>So each ROTC unit associated with a college has to accept the student in addition to his qualifying for an award and then he has to get into the college. Whew. That’s a tough path.</p>

<p>Not quite. When the Navy awards the scholarship to a particular school they make sure that unit has room. And then the student has to be actually admitted in the regular college app process. </p>

<p>If the student want to move their scholarship to another school on their list they have to ask the Navy for permission. The Navy will see of there is space in the unit at the school the student wants to attend. If not then the answer is no. If there is space then the Navy decides if they will allow the transfer. It is rare. </p>

<p>So the student really needs to put thought into the order of schools on their NROTC app. </p>

<p>It is a tough road. Most students don’t get the scholarship. For those that do some are dropped quickly for failing the physical. Many more drop just before Sophomore year when they have to sign their contract. More drop after that due to grades or fitness. Those that drop after they sign the contract have to either pay back all the scholarship money or enlist for a period of time. It is the Navy’s choice which not the student. </p>

<p>Prior to Senior year in college there is more fun when the Midshipmen test and fill out forms for Service Selection. You tell the Navy what you would like to do (aviation, SWO, subs). Based on your GPA, Navy test scores, evals, etc the Navy then tells you what you will do after commissioning. If you are chosen for Aviation there are more even more strenuous physicals. Fail those and you get re-assigned. You state your preferences but what actually happens is based on the needs of the Navy.</p>

<p>My cousin’s son was not accepted to the college for which he got his ROTC acceptance. He did get the scholarship, but had to find another school to use it since he was waitlisted at school of choice. He did get the scholarship transferred over to his second choice school without much problem, but then he was cleared from the wait listed school, but was told the chances were not good for him to be able the transfer his scholarship back.</p>

<p>He’s now completed his first year and is applying to transfer to that first choice college again and hopefully can transfer his scholarship as well, since he can’t go without it.</p>

<p>CPT, that is a bit of a different situation than an incoming Freshman trying to transfer their scholarship. I think your cousin’s son’s transfer depends on a few things:</p>

<p>1) His status within his current NROTC unit. What is his ranking within the Unit? The Midshipment know this number. If it is high then that helps.</p>

<p>2) Is the school to which he wants to transfer more expensive or less expensive than his current one. More expensive means it is very likely he won’t get the NROTC transfer.</p>

<p>3) Does the unit at the school to which he wants to transfer have room in the Unit?</p>

<p>Let us know what happens.</p>

<p>Sorry for replying so late, but anyways as far as tier 2 and 1 degrees are concerned i admit i would love to chose one of those however my math skills are as far as im concerned below average. i have scored above average in terms of the TAKS test which is the state exam for Texas, but i didn’t get commended also accounting for Texas’s low education rank i don’t consider math to be my strong suit. Science is the same story but not as bad. That being said i plan to major in either finance, business, or accounting (those are the type of numbers that i understand) im aware of the extra calculus class, and am pretty confident that i can push through it without too much of a problem. As far as the SAT/ACT testing dates im enrolled for next month due to college board and ACT revoking my first request for accommodations and after a second attempt at applying i was approved, my school is scheduled for next moth testing but its ONLY for students who require accommodations. on the note of testing i am also aware that you can submit up to 6 scores and they highest for each section will be chosen. That being said i have been told the ACT is easier for math whereas the SAT is easier for reading (reading poses no problem whatsoever regardless of the test, i just want to maximize my scores accordingly) my question is if i score higher on my ACT in math versus my SAT but vice versa for reading will NROTC accept two scores from two different test? As far as my rank im currently 125 out of a class of 600 but this is with three NG’s(no grade due to an error at the attendance office) on my transcript for first semester and one for second (when they get cleared ill probably jump to the 80’s or 90’s) my course load this year has been all AP classes except math (im dyslexic and it really just dosent stick sometimes) however next year i planned to drop AP English as a way to boost my GPA (instead of making an AP b i would go for a regular a) however would this reflect poorly on my application? Also im currently enrolled in community college as well, and should my community college GPA be higher than my high school is that worth mentioning? if so how do i mention it? Motive wise i want to join the navy for a number of reasons one of them is tradition, but also i believe that i have something to truly offer my country, and the navy can offer me some truly valuable lifetime experiences, memories, and friends. Along the lines of tradition going in through NROTC will make me the first person in my family ever to do so (ive already been pegged as “the smart one”) even without the scholarship i still plan to enter NROTC, and to honestly take out a mass of student loans, and hopefully get them forgiven when i get in the service (if not im fine with paying them off till i die)but in terms of paying off student loans and/or getting them forgiven how exactly would i go about that when i enter the service?</p>