Advice Needed

[Michael George]

I am a college junior that is set to graduate on December of 2017. I am studying Aeronautical Science and have a 3.95 GPA along with a commercial pilots license and working on becoming a certified flight instructor. My officer recruiter is pushing me to start my officer application now because it takes a long time and would be set to leave after graduation. However my college only does graduation ceremonies in May. Should I wait it out a bit and fully graduate or try to get into OCS as quickly as possible?

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

You put an earliest ship date on your application, but I'm not sure if there is a limit as to how far into the future you can put after the board meets. Right now the NRC won't accept applications unless you're <6 months out from graduation so I would be surprised if you could potentially have an earliest ship date almost one year after submitting your application (i.e. 6 months until you graduate and then another 6 months until you walk).

 

[wlawr005]

Typically, graduation ceremony does not equal diploma in hand. Just because you don't march across a stage doesn't mean they won't issue you a diploma that meets the requirements for commissioning.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

Typically, graduation ceremony does not equal diploma in hand. Just because you don't march across a stage doesn't mean they won't issue you a diploma that meets the requirements for commissioning.

Really? At my school they conferred degrees a few days before the actual graduation ceremony, and right after we walked we could pick up our diplomas. Maybe that is the exception to the rule though.

 

[wlawr005]

I'm guessing you also finished your requirements close to then as well? At least at my school, ROTC guys who finished in August or December had no problem commissioning immediately. No one ever had to wait until May if they finished earlier.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

I'm guessing you also finished your requirements close to then as well? At least at my school, ROTC guys who finished in August or December had no problem commissioning immediately. No one ever had to wait until May if they finished earlier.

Ah apologies, I missed the first "don't" in your post which changed the whole meaning. Glad to see that after a week outside of college my reading comprehension is still stellar.

 

[flynavy830]

I am a college junior that is set to graduate on December of 2017. I am studying Aeronautical Science and have a 3.95 GPA along with a commercial pilots license and working on becoming a certified flight instructor. My officer recruiter is pushing me to start my officer application now because it takes a long time and would be set to leave after graduation. However my college only does graduation ceremonies in May. Should I wait it out a bit and fully graduate or try to get into OCS as quickly as possible?

Sounds pretty close to what my situation was. I finished my degree in December, and requested my diploma. I then APPLIED for graduation, the next one being May. So I received my actual diploma in early January, and then walked in May.