NAVAL JUNIOR ROTC

PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MILITARY ACADEMIES AND
ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

FRESHMEN:

Plan your high school courses so that you are on a College Preparatory track that will provide the following (as a minimum) upon graduation. Strive to be in honors math and English courses:

ENGLISH:	4 years, including written composition

MATHEMATICS:	4 years, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, or math analysis

LABORATORY SCIENCE:	3 years, including biology, chemistry, & physics (4 years are better)
SOCIAL SCIENCES:	3 years, including history, economics, government, behavioral sciences
FOREIGN LANGUAGE:	Colleges require a minimum of 2 years.
COMPUTER SCIENCE:	Minimum 1 year
TYPING/KEYBOARDING:	At least a working skill/knowledge

JUNIOR ROTC:	As many years as you can work into your schedule

GRADES AND TESTS:

1.	Your GPA, test scores, and class standing are keys to getting considered for an academy. You start the first day of your freshman year influencing those numbers. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR GRADES. It is easier to maintain a high GPA throughout High School than it is to salvage a low GPA your senior year. 
2.	Find reading materials, computer programs, or school courses to start preparing you for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT college entrance tests. 
3.	Take the PSAT as soon as possible, then the SAT and ACT as many times as possible throughout your high school years until graduation. I recommend taking the ACT in February of your Junior year and retake it until you are accepted at the college/academy of your choice. 

4.	Minimum scores for Service Academies and Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarships. You will need at least a 27 in each area on the ACT for strong consideration. These are minimums and if you are on the low end of this scale, you will need some additional skills (sports, leadership, etc) to compensate. 
	SAT	ACT	
English	450	21-27	
Math	500	21-27	
Cumulative	1080	Cumulative  45	

5. Start thinking about where you would like to attend college. REMEMBER:

"GO AS FAR FROM HOME AS POSSIBLE WHERE SOMEONE ELSE PAYS FOR IT!"

SOPHOMORES:

Become involved in EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES where you can develop and demonstrate your leadership abilities. REMEMBER: Demonstration of leadership potential is the key, not the quantity of activities or clubs in which you participate. In other words, it is more important to be an office holder in one club than to be a member of three.

1.	Take a foreign language if you plan to take three years vice two years and communications skills. 

2.	Join Junior ROTC, the Drill Team, Band, or Civil Air Patrol 
3.	Try out for a varsity sport, be a team captain - I especially recommend cross-country 
4.	Run for student government or work on a committee 
5.	Participate in public service oriented clubs and activities (like Key Club); join the National Honor Society 
6.	Get a summer job 
7.	Start a physical conditioning program (Military Academies also request you know how to swim) 
8.	Don't just be a team or club member, hold a position and be a leader 
9.	If you need to work on verbal skills, drama or speech and debate are good options. Again, JROTC teaches you public speaking 
10.	Look into leadership “camps” that include trips to DC, etc. 

11. Start thinking about colleges/academies

JUNIORS:

Continue to strive for the best grades possible, ideally 3.65 or higher. The minimum GPA for ROTC college scholarship is 2.5 and top 25% of your class upon graduation. These standards are too low unless you are a 300 pound offensive lineman – you must be above these to be competitive. There is no minimum for the Naval Academy but should strive for the top 20% of your class and strong test scores – too low unless you have some super non-academic qualifications. Include Honors and Advanced Placement courses in your class schedule.
1.	Consult college directories in Counseling Center, Media Center or public libraries and gather information on colleges – especially those with ROTC programs. Many have an “umbrella” school for example; Seattle U cadets attend Navy ROTC at the University of Washington. 

2.	Request/receive application from each college. 
3.	Apply for Academy applications through your counselor or JROTC instructors. Requests for an application are accepted after February 1st your JUNIOR year-but you should ensure that your request is mailed in prior to the end of your JUNIOR year. If possible, ask for EARLY CONSIDERATION. Often the earlier boards are not as competitive. 
4.	Apply to all Academy Summer Seminar programs- these usually take place at the end of your junior year. Application must be completed by January 15th of your junior year and require a counselor's evaluation and an interview with a service academy Liaison Officer. 

5.	Open files at all academies and apply to all service ROTC programs. 
6.	Release your test scores to all ROTC programs and academies. 

Academy web addresses:
Air Force Academy-	www.usafa.af/mil
Naval Academy-	www.nadn.navy.mil
West Point-	www.usma.edu
Coast Guard Academy-	www.cga.edu

Merchant Marine Academy- www.usmma.edu

4.	Take the PSAT 

5.	Take all available tests (ASVAB, ACT, and SAT) for practice 
6.	Take the ACT in February of your JR Year. 

7.	Decide on 5-7 colleges/universities that you would like to attend. Consider your parents' alma maters but be sure that you apply to at least one in-state school where you know you will be accepted. 
8.	Get a copy of the requirements and events of each academy's physical aptitude evaluation. These usually consist of pull-ups, push ups, standing broad jump, basketball throw, and a shuttle run. These events can be mastered with practice. 
9.	Apply for early applications to as many colleges as possible, and do NOT worry about the application fee. 

10.	Attend Boys State or Girls State. 

SENIORS:

Immediately get letters of recommendation from your junior year teachers – they know you better than a senior teacher that has had you for only a month or so. Give a stamped, addressed envelope directly to the teacher. Other recommendation sources are: counselor, math and English teachers, church leaders, scout leaders, employers, sources of community service, and especially JROTC instructors.
1.	Send complete academy applications to each Senator/Congressman. 

2.	Make sure that all requirements are completed for each Senator/Congressman by mid September. 
3.	Request applications from all academies. 
4.	Verify that all information has been received. 
5.	Check with the academies and ROTC headquarters to ensure that your packages there are complete. 

6.	Request a physical from Department Of Defense Medical Evaluation Review Board. (800-841-2706). 
7.	Practice the Physical Aptitude Evaluation - get help from the JROTC instructor and local academy representatives for practice. LCDR (ret) Jordan or BMC (ret) Cain can administer the PAE. 
8.	Make sure that there are no conflicts with the congressional interviews. These are usually held on Saturday and can conflict with athletic events or scheduled tests. 
9.	Do not hesitate to ask for help from academy/university representatives, your counselor, or the JROTC instructors. 

10.	Request application materials from the Admissions Offices of the colleges to which you intend to apply. 
11.	Complete applications NEATLY and ACCURATELY according to directions given. Many applications request High School SAT/ACT CODE NUMBER. 
12.	Sign, date, and mail each application. Application deadlines are your responsibility. 
13.	Obtain a transcript release form from the Registrar or the Counselor. 
14.	Bring completed transcript release form with parent signature to your Counselor. You must allow at least 10 school days prior to deadlines for processing of transcript. 
15.	If not done at the time of testing, request the College Testing. Service(s) to send your latest ACT, SAT and/or SAT III test scores to the colleges of your choice. Additional Score Report Forms are sent with the Admissions Ticket. Even though your test scores may be on your transcript, many colleges require that the scores be sent directly from the Testing Service. 
16.	Have at least one unofficial and three official (sealed) copies of your transcript in your file in the ROTC office. 

SEPTEMBER

1.	Maintain or improve academic grades during your senior year. 
2.	Set up a calendar for your testing and for completing applications. Check all deadlines carefully. Review this calendar frequently. 
3.	Register for the October/November ACT/SAT. 
4.	Narrow your college choices and pick up or send for applications if you haven’t done so already. 
5.	Listen for announcements of college representative visits. 
6.	Set up visits and interviews at the colleges of your choice. 
7.	Pick up UNM applications for Regents and Presidential Scholarships from Counseling. 
8.	Make sure a resume is on file in the Counseling Center. 

PREPARE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL INTERVIEW (practice interviews, get uniform ready, etc)

OCTOBER

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR GRADES – THIS IS THE LAST SEMESTER OF GRADES THE ACADEMIES WILL SEE!!!
1.	Look for posting of semester class ranking. 
2.	Take October ACT if applicable. 
3.	Register for November/December ACT/SAT/SAT II. 
4.	Begin checking the scholarship bulletins in the Counseling Center. Make it a habit to check frequently; listen to daily announcements for scholarships and college representative visits. 
5.	Attend Los Alamos High School College/Career Fair, 
6.	Begin writing rough draft of personal essay, if applicable. 

SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW WITH EACH OF THE LOCAL ACADEMY RECOMMENDATIONS.

NOVEMBER

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR GRADES – THIS IS THE LAST SEMESTER OF GRADES THE ACADEMIES WILL SEE!!!
1.	Complete and submit financial aid forms, if applicable and continue searching for possible sources of financial aid. 

2.	Take the SAT I/SAT II, if applicable. 
3.	Continue visiting colleges and filing applications. 

PARTICIPATE IN CONGRESSIONAL INTERVIEWS IF APPLYING TO A SERVICE ACADEMY

DECEMBER

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR GRADES – THIS IS THE LAST SEMESTER OF GRADES THE ACADEMIES WILL SEE!!!
1.	Take or retake ACT’s, SAT’s, and other tests if applicable. Make sure your test scores are sent directly to the services from ACT/SAT to arrive not later than Dec 31. 
2.	Submit college applications which require counselor input by December 1 for those colleges with the January 1 deadline. 
3.	Register for the January SAT. 
4.	Pick up financial aid forms, if applicable. 
5.	Continue visiting colleges. 

JANUARY – MAY

1.	CONTINUE TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS UNTIL YOU ARE ACCEPTED AT YOUR HIGHEST CHOICE. 
2.	Immediately notify all the other colleges/academies of your decision so they may open a slot for another applicant. 

MAKE COPIES OF ALL PAPERWORK BEFORE IT IS SENT OFF.

FEDERAL EXPRESS ALL APPLICATIONS SO THEY CAN BE TRACKED.

REMEMBER – 1.   TEST UNTIL YOU ARE ACCEPTED AND

2.	WORK OUT UNTIL YOU GET ON THE PLANE!! 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CWO PATTON OR 1ST SGT. HILLIARD