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 The Army ROTC Scholarship Step-By-Step Instructions and FAQs
for High School Students Considering North Georgia

You can apply for the scholarship as early 1 February of your junior year of high school and it is better to apply early.The deadline for applying for the Army ROTC Scholarship is 10 January for seniors.    Centralized national selection boards will begin meeting in early fall, and end in late spring to select recipients.  If you are not selected in the fall, you may be considered during a subsequent board.  

 
 
Note 1:  Throughout this web page, you will see reference to "Cadet Command".  Cadet Command is the Army headquarters that oversees all Army ROTC programs in the country.  High school students who want to be considered for Army ROTC Scholarships submit their scholarship applications to Cadet Command.
 
Note 2:  Your point of contact at North Georgia is Captain Sayle at 706 864-1884 or rpsayle@northgeorgia.edu

Steps

 
Step 1.  Determine your eligibility.  
 
Academics.  You must meet the academic requirements for admission to North Georgia College & State University.  Click here for admission standards and to determine your chances of being accepted for admission.  (Note that home school students from accredited and non-accredited programs may be considered.)
 
Medical.  You must be medically, physically and psychologically qualified to become an Army lieutenant.  If you have questions about medical fitness standards, refer to the list of information papers below.  You must also meet the Army's height and weight standards for "entry-level".  (Note:  no medical exam is required to apply for the scholarship. You will be required to take a medical exam after you are awarded the scholarship.  See Step 2 in the "If you were selected" section below.)
 
General.  You must be a US citizen; age 17 or older before the end of your first semester at North Georgia; no moral obligation or personal conviction which would prevent you from bearing arms or defending the US; satisfactorily explain any record of arrest and/or civil conviction; have a strong desire to serve as a Regular Army officer after graduating from college.
 
Step 2.  Apply for admission to North Georgia College & State University as a Cadet.  NOTE!  You cannot apply for admission until you complete your junior year of high school.  If you are applying for the ROTC scholarship in the spring semester of your junior year, you can go to Step 3 and skip this step until you complete your junior year.
 
Step 3.  Apply for the scholarship.  Fill out the on-line application.  Indicate North Georgia College & State University as one of your college choices on your application (FICE Code for North Georgia is 001585).  Note that your application will be submitted to Cadet Command and not North Georgia.
 
Step 4.  Receive a confirmation letter from Cadet Command.  North Georgia will not have access to your scholarship application until you have received your confirmation letter.  If you have completed the application process and have not received a confirmation letter from Cadet Command, call 800 750-7682, then select option 5, then option 2; or e-mail train2lead@usaac.army.mil. Your confirmation letter will contain instructions on what you need to do to complete your application,  and the name and contact info for the Cadet Command representative who is handling your scholarship application.
 
Step 5.  Immediately provide your high school transcripts through the end of your junior year and your SAT or ACT scores (if they are not indicated on your transcript) to the point of contact indicated in your confirmation letter.  Note that the transcripts do not need to be officially mailed from your high school to the point of contact.  You can fax your transcripts to Cadet Command at 757 788-5781. Please do not rely on The College Board or ACT Board to send your scores directly to Cadet Command as we have experienced problems in the past.  Note that home school students will also provide transcripts and Cadet Command will make a determination as to whether home school students are eligible for the scholarship.
 
Step 6.  Schedule an Army ROTC Scholarship interview.  We recommend that you schedule a personal visit and tour, and in-person interview at North Georgia.  To schedule the visit and interview, please call Captain Sayle at 706 864-1884 or e-mail rpsayle@northgeorgia.edu.  Interviews are normally conducted Mon at 1 PM; Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri at 0830 (8:30 AM) or 1300 (1 PM) PM.   Please allow three hours for your visit.  Wear clothing appropriate for a scholarship interview.  If you have already been to campus for a personal visit and tour with Cadet Admissions, National Leadership Challenge Weekend, Open House, or a Cadet Overnight Visit, and you absolutely can't do an in-person interview at North Georgia due to distance, then contact the nearest college or university that has an Army ROTC program to schedule an interview.  Your interview results will be recorded and made available to North Georgia and all other schools that you listed on your scholarship application.  Note that you're only required to do one interview with one school; however, we will not consider you for a scholarship unless you have formally visited our campus.
 
Step 7.  Complete the President's Challenge Fitness Test.   Ask any high school administrator to administer the test and fill out the score card.  We recommend a coach or JROTC instructor.  There are no passing or failing scores.  Just do the best you can.   If you are applying for a Service Academy such as West Point, you may use the same fitness test score card.  Submit the score card to your point of contact at Cadet Command. 
 
Step 8.  After completing steps 3-7, you should receive communication from Cadet Command that your file is complete and that it will be submitted to the selection board at Cadet Command for consideration.  Periodically check your e-mail, mail and your GO-ARMY account to ensure you are receiving communications from Cadet Command.  Make sure you follow the instructions that you receive in a timely manner.  If you have not received communication that your file is complete, call or e-mail your Cadet Command representative to check on the status of your application.  
 
Step 9.  Wait for the Cadet Command selection board results.  Cadet Command will hold several selection boards throughout the academic year.  The number and timing of the boards vary each year.  Cadet Command will notify applicants who are selected for the scholarship 30 days after each board.  If you were not selected, you will not receive any communication.  In this case, your file will be considered during the next selection board, and so on.  Applicants who are not selected after the final board will receive a non-select letter 30 days after the final board.
 

If you were selected for the scholarship 

 
Step 1.  You will receive an award letter from Cadet Command.  Make sure you follow the instructions in the letter immediately.  If you do not, you may lose your scholarship. 
 
Step 2.  After you accept the scholarship, Cadet Command will send you instructions to take the Department of Defense Medical Review Board medical exam.  These exams are given by Department of Defense-contracted doctors throughout the US.  You will schedule your appointment with the contracted doctor closest to your home.  We prefer that you complete your exam prior to enrolling at North Georgia.
 
Step 3.  Verify your admission to North Georgia and submit your room contract and deposit.
 
Step 4.  Begin or maintain a rigorous physical fitness program that focuses on cardiovascular endurance (distance running), upper body strength (push-ups), and core body strength (sit-ups).  
   

If you were not selected for the scholarship

You may compete for a "campus-based" Army ROTC 4 or 3 year scholarship.  The campus-based scholarship is awarded by the Professor of Military Science at North Georgia.  The scholarship can only be used at North Georgia.  You will compete for the scholarships along with all the other qualified applicants who were not selected by Cadet Command.  Award notifications are normally mailed not later than the end of June.  The number of campus-based scholarships available varies each year.  To be considered, you must have been accepted for admission to the university and submitted your room contract and deposit.  Your point of contact for campus-based scholarships is Captain Sayle at 706 864-1884 or rpsayle@northgeorgia.edu
 
If money to pay for college is an issue, fill out your "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) through our financial aid office.
 
You may also want to consider the Georgia Army National Guard Partnership Program or the Army Reserve program as a means to help pay most of your college bills and gain additional experience before becoming an Army lieutenant.  If you participate in either of these programs, you can still commission into the regular Army after you graduate North Georgia.  Note that you cannot be a soldier in the Guard or Reserve if you have an Army ROTC scholarship:  these are mutually exclusive programs.
 

To receive your scholarship benefits 

Up until you enroll at North Georgia, Cadet Command and Cadet Admissions has handled your scholarship process.  After you enroll, the Military Department at North Georgia will become your scholarship point of contact.
 
Step 1.  Pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and height and weight requirement (active duty standard is applied).  You must achieve a score of 60% in each event of the APFT and meet the Army's height and weight requirements to receive scholarship benefits.  We prefer that you arrive at North Georgia able to pass the APFT and height and weight standards.  If you are unable to do so, you will be given until the end of your first semester to pass.  If you fail, you will lose the scholarship and repay the benefits you received during your first semester. Correct form on the push-up and sit-up events on the APFT are necessary to pass the events, click the links to see the correct form for each exercise and to see tips on how to do your best. 
 
Step 2.  Receive results from your Department of Defense medical exam.  Immediately submit any waiver paperwork required.  
 
Step 3.  Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at North Georgia, remain in good academic standing, and remain in good standing in the Corps of Cadets.   
 
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Q:  What are my chances of getting the Army ROTC Scholarship? 

 
A:  It depends.  Army Cadet Command looks at three areas of performance in what they term Scholar/Athlete/Leader (SAL) criteria.  Scholar criteria is determined from you high school grades and SAT or ACT scores.  The higher your grades and scores are from the minimum, the better your chances.  Athlete criteria is determined by your participation in sports, your performance on the President's Challenge Fitness test, and whether or not you meet the Army's height and weight standards.  The better your physical and athletic ability, the better your chances.  Leader criteria is determined by your participation in extra-curricular activities both in and out of high school during your high school years.  Particular emphasis is placed on leadership positions you may have held on sports teams, volunteer activities, part-time work, clubs, scouting, church, etc.  The more extensive your record in these activities, the better your chances.  Cadet Command reviews your scholarship application for SAL criteria, and assigns you a "whole person score".  The Cadet Command selection board makes decisions based on whole person scores and interview results.  The profile for the  2011 academic year nation-wide recipients:
 
 
96% were in the top 50% of their classes in academic (74% were in the top 25%)
46% were class officers
77% earned varsity sports letters
53% were varsity team sports captains
28% were in JROTC
8% were club presidents
3.5 average GPA
1186 math + critical reading SAT
 
Each year, 300-400 high school seniors list North Georgia as one of their college choices on their Army ROTC scholarship applications.  Of these, about 1/2 list North Georgia as either their first or second choice.  You will compete for one of about 42 Army ROTC scholarships that are allocated annually by Cadet Command to North Georgia.  About 1/2 of these scholarships are 4-year scholarships, and the other half are 3-year scholarships.

Q:  How many scholarships are available nation-wide?

 
A:  For the academic year 2012-2013, 11,000 high school seniors applied for the scholarship. Of those, 5,000 completed their applications and became board-qualified. About two thousand of the 5,000 applicants were awarded a scholarship. Half of those were 4-year scholarships and half were 3-year scholarships. Nation-wide, forty-one million dollars were awarded to high school seniors. 
 


 Q:  What is the difference between a 4-year and a 3-year Army ROTC Scholarship? 

 
A:  Cadet Command awards both three year and four year scholarships through the centralized selection process.  The top candidates are selected for four year scholarships, others are awarded three-year ROTC scholarships, and others are not selected at all.  If you are awarded a 4-year scholarship, then your benefits will be paid your freshman year as long as you pass the Army fitness test, medical exam, and meet height and weight requirements.  If you are awarded a 3-year scholarship, your benefits will begin your sophomore year as long as you pass the Army fitness test, physical exam, remain in good academic standing, and meet the height and weight requirements. Final award of the 3-year scholarship is at the discretion of the Professor of Military Science at North Georgia.  

Q:  What is my service obligation?

A:  Any commission, whether it be an ensign in the Navy, or lieutenant in the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, Reserve or Guard, carries an 8-year service obligation.  If you receive an Army ROTC scholarship, then you ordinarily agree to serve in the Regular Army for at least 4 years after you graduate North Georgia.  The last 4 years of your service obligation may be served in the Guard, Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, or you may remain on active duty for the full 8 years or until retirement. It is also possible to commission directly into a Reserve component without commissioning active duty.