Overview
If you're still in high school and interested in becoming an Army officer through ROTC, you're highly encouraged to apply for the four year national ROTC scholarship. High School students can start their College Army ROTC scholarship application during the summer between their Junior and Senior Year in High School. You can receive a full 4-year scholarship or a 3-year Advanced Designee scholarship, which means that your scholarship money will begin during your sophomore year.
Army ROTC scholarships cover full tuition and fees or room/board. In order to give the student the best chance of being selected for a scholarship, students are encouraged to have their packets complete before October 1st of the student’s senior year, because the application deadline is 10 January of your senior year. All updates are required to be postmarked by 28 February.
If you missed the deadline to apply for the national scholarship, all you have to do to start the program is sign up for MIS 101 your first fall semester of college. You can still earn a campus based scholarship once you're already in the program.
What to expect in the Application
Scholarships are based on merit and how well the student encompasses Cadet Command’s model of Scholar, Athlete, Leader. Scholarships are awarded by a Scholarship Board of Active Duty Army Officers. As part of the scholarship process students will be asked to submit ACT and/or SAT scores, a personal statement and their transcripts. Students will also be required to conduct a Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board Physical (DODMERB) and a Physical fitness Test (APFT).
To qualify for an ROTC scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
· Be a United States Citizen.
· Be no older than 31 at the time of commission.
· Possess a high school diploma, or equivalent.
· Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
· Be medically qualified through DODMERB.
· Be able to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test with a minimum score of 60 points in every event (50 points for high school applicants).
IMPORTANT!
In your scholarship application, you will be asked to list the schools you plan to attend in order of preference. Keep in mind that you will also need to apply for admission directly to each of the schools you decide to list. There is no direct connection between the scholarship application and the regular admissions process. Listing a school in your ROTC application does not constitute an application to the schools listed. DO NOT list schools you do not plan to or do not wish to attend.
Professor of Military Science (PMS) Interview
The final portion of the Army ROTC Application is the Professor of Military Science (PMS) Interview where the student is interviewed directly by an acting PMS or their representative. Remember, the PMS Interview should be the last thing that a student completes in the application process, so before you schedule an interview, make sure that you’ve completed your portion of the application.