Tips for PLC admissions?

[FutureMarine311]

Hello, a little background on myself.

I'm a high school senior who is going to attend a state school in one year and be a Marine pilot in 5-6 years.

What are the chances of getting into a PLC as a college freshman?

What kind of things is the admission board looking for?

Im asking this because my goal is to be a Marine officer, how I achieve my goal is second priority, if getting into PLC is highly selective etc. I would rather just take the NROTC and be assured a commision.

Im trying to gather as much information about both programs as possible.

Thank you.

 

[Mustang83]

Use the search function on the left. Type in PLC and you'll get all the info you need

 

[mjcIII]

I am also a PLC hopeful, however, I have chosen to go the 92 day wonder route. I will go to boot camp this summer and be back in time for college, due to the package I will turn in (college admission letter, grades, ect.). Now a 92 day reservist is not a regular reservist. If you were to go regular reserves you would go to boot camp, then to MOS, and finally to Combat training. By having all of this you become 100% deployable.
Now, a 92 day reservist signs up for a 92 day slot (they are scarce and fill up quickly) go through MEPS, and turn in a package to the NCO by March 31. You then graduate high school, then you spend your summer at Parris Island or in your case, San Diego (boot camp: 12 college credits). You will get back in time for college (they cut out maintenance week) and then go to college. You can now apply for PLC at this point. I have talked to an OSO and he has told me what to strengthen in a package for PLC. Your SAT(min:1000), ASVAB(min. 74), or ACT(min 24) scores can be submitted (pick highest throw the rest out). He'll look at your UGPA and then your recommendations. Now this is where going 92 reserve helps you out, you will already have great recommendations, because you have stepped up and proved your self worthy of being a marine. OSO's pick from their own first, then civilians, the good 'ole boys system. After this process if you don't get selected, you can re-apply every 6 months. As soon as you get accepted to PLC you can drop the reserves. Worst case scenario as a 92 day reservist is you if not selected (9 out of 10 are selected) then you go to MOS training (6 college credits) during your, i believe sophomore summer, go to survival training junior summer and then you are deployable your senior year. Keep in mind that this is worst case scenario. Anyway if you have any question about 92 day reservist-->PLC
you can Private message me and I'll give you my e-mail. Good luck

 

[FutureMarine311]

I talked to a recruiter and also from what I have read on these forums about reservist PLC, you certainly can get called up as a 90 day wonder.

Im sticking with the college route.

 

[mjcIII]

Well good luck, again if you have any questions or decide to go 92 day(if there are any slots left) than e-mail me. best of luck hope to meet you in the future.

 

[FutureMarine311]

Well good luck, again if you have any questions or decide to go 92 day(if there are any slots left) than e-mail me. best of luck hope to meet you in the future.

Same to you, semper fi.

 

[skidkid]

Both ROTC and PLC are competitve and for different reasons. Your chances of getting PLC as a Freshman are traditionally very good. I dont know exactly how they break out the Fresh /Soph slots (both go to PLC Juniors). Im guessing it has to do with commisioning numbers for each year.

As a Freshmen you are in many ways a leg up on the competition, most freshmen in college either arent sure that Marine OCS is for them, dont know how to contact an OSO (easier with the advent of the internet) or cant adjsut academically to college and thus dont have the grades. I was accepted as a freshman with a 2.8 GPA in history (not stellar but surprising better than many other freshmen.

The bottomline is that noone can tell you whether you will get in or not, apply, do your best and see what happens. If this is your goal be proactive, in your first month of college seek out both the ROTC unit and the Officer Selection Officer (he does the PLC stuff) and start the ball rolling. Best case you get an NROTC scholarship and college is paid for and you get the commision at the end, worst case you learn some things in ROTC and have active officers to write PLC letters of rec should you need them, either way you get where you want to be.

Good luck and search the site, there is a lot of really good info here from guys who have done all this a lot more recently than I have. If you have more questions ask.