what attributes are considered "valuable" hooks for ROTC in a prestigious college

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hi,</p>

<p>S1's application process is over, and onward with the second one. </p>

<p>S2 wants to join the ROTC program: he is a military enthusiast). As such, what little we learned (too late) about application and admission ins-&-outs concerning top 10 colleges/universities that S1 was applying to is not really portable. What I am learning is that getting into a good ROTC program with full scholarship (why not get the money if you joining military anyway) in a good university is a three horse race. The Army HQ has to approve the scholarship offer that is applicable to one of the three colleges you picked. The local ROTC program commander of the particular college has to accept you into their program. AND, the college you want which hosts the ROTC program should admit you. ALL THREE decisions are INDEPENDENTLY made by three different committees..... </p>

<p>So you can imagine how much head game goes into this!!! It's like playing chess games on three different boards with three different opponents all at the same time....Good thing that with S2, I am thinking ahead well in advance. </p>

<p>One thing that is promising is: If you start the ROTC application process early on (like right after the Spring semester of Junior year is over), you may already know whether you got the ROTC scholarship applicable for a college BEFORE you submit your application that THAT college. </p>

<p>Here I have a question for the college admission part. </p>

<p>I read a lot about "hooks" such as being URM, first generation, athletes, etc. Is being offered a full ROTC scholarship at that school a hook? Is mixed race heritage (Israel/Korea) a hook? Do these two combined with a legacy status (I am a Wharton MBA) form a good hook for U Penn?</p>

<p>From the ROTC scholarship selection committee's perspective, do they also have hooks? Does having one grandfather who was a general in the Korean army who served during the Korean War and having a father who is an ex Israeli air force pilot who fought during the Yom Kipur War a hook?</p>

<p>Both my husband and I were introduced into the American education system via a Ph.D. program. The college undergrad application process seems like a giant conspiracy. ANd, I feel totally out of my depth like a Valley Girl in the company of Nobel Laureates.</p>

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<p>There are no extraneous hooks for ROTC selection. The selection for an ROTC scholarship is based entirely upon the student’s SAT/class rank/academic records/activities/sports involvement/leadership roles/jobs held. Having relatives who served in foreign militaries would not carry any weight. </p>

<p>Being of mixed race heritage may possibly help with college admissions. I guess it depends on the college. I don’t think having been awarded an ROTC scholarship to a college will sway the admissions office. It’s a totally separate process. I am only familiar with the process through big state u’s so it may possibly be an edge with privates.<br>
My S started the NROTC app. process at the end of his jr. yr., had his interview in June, got all paperwork in by the end of Aug. and was notified of his NROTC scholarship in Oct. of his senior yr.</p>