PLC help

[mjcIII]

Hello I am a High school senior and have a question for all those who would be kind enough to offer their opinions.

For the past few months I have been heavily researching all aspects of the PLC program. I have been told by an OSO that I have an option of applying for a 92 day wonder slot, going to boot camp, skipping maintenance week at Parris Island, and getting back in time for college. After this is complete I can apply for PLC and getting a little bit of a heads up on the competition. This route has interested me due to my aspirations of becoming a Marine fighter pilot.

However, I met with an OSO today and after presenting my GPA (3.5), SAT score (1040 exclusive of the writing section), and ASVAB (78), he told me that as of now I am not competitive for PLC. Although I plan to retake the SAT in November and the ASVAB even sooner, I am concerned that if I don't go ahead and swear in after MEPS and secure a 92 day wonder slot (which are down to 2-3), I will miss the opportunity to become a little more competitive. I have a lot riding on my ASVAB and SAT scores. If I don't raise my SAT or ASVAB scores I run the risk of going to boot camp, being denied PLC, then sent to MOS, thus, becoming deployable.

Now my question:
Should I go ahead and go to MEPS, secure a 92 day slot, and leave it to chance that my SAT and ASVAB scores will raise? Or should I wait, go to college apply to PLC as a college freshman or sophomore, without going down to boot camp and taking the big step up of becoming a Marine?

Thanks to all those who reply!!!!!

 

[SuperStallionIP]

Go to college and apply as a freshman. Don't waste your time going to boot camp if your desired endstate is to be a pilot.

 

[Raptor2216]

Definately go to college. PLC is not difficult to get into during your early years of college. I spent way too much time worrying about every single thing when I was your age and I can tell you, I should not have stressed out half as much. Just get into a good school, enjoy your time in college and go though PLC.

 

[goosegagnon2]

It will depend on how competetive your district is. My stats weren't that great either. I think your college GPA will matter more than your high school GPA anyways. I had 1050 SAT, 3.2 college GPA, 84 ASVAB, and some extra curricular activites *including a night in jail and a $274 drinking ticket.* Also your demonstration of leadership in high school and college will have more of an impact than you think. Play any sports? Also alot of the Marines that goto my school just got out of boot this summer and didn't goto SOI, now their unit is deploying and their making them goto SOI until they're finished and then straight to Iraq. Something to think about.

 

[livefast]

Definitely go to college. Goosegagnon2 makes an excellent point. Your college education may be delayed by a couple of years because your ass is stuck in Iraq--something you may not have considered. Go to college, have fun, and make good grades. Also, change your ambition from wanting to be a "Marine fighter pilot" to being a Marine Officer. You will spend 10 weeks of OCS and 6 months in the dirt at TBS and even then you're not guaranteed an aviation slot. Develop a love for the Marine Corps first, and a love for aviation second. That's my advice, for what it's worth.

 

[Killer2]

Go to college, bust your ass making good grades, show some leadership (i.e. on/off campus groups, quality not quantity), and work on your PFT. If you go to an OSO with say 3.0, and a 285 PFT, maybe one or two groups, then you will still be very competative. Good Luck! This will also give you more time to decide exactly where/ what you want to do in the Marine Corps.

 

[michaels601]

college.

 

[flyerstud4]

College hands down.

 

[flyerstud4]

Killer2 your heading down to TBS in nov. As am i. I saw that you grad PLC Srs last august, me 2. What company/platoon were you in at Srs?

 

[Mustang83]

Lots of good advice. I enlisted first, though for different reasons than becoming more competative for PLC. If you want to become a Marine Officer, don't enlist and run the chance of being deployed, there is no such thing as a garantee in the Marines. You'll be plenty competative with good grades, sports and a good PFT score.

 

[Carno]

 

[Killer2]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Carno is so right

 

[TheOldMan]

Are you sure that you're talking to an OSO and not an enlisted recruiter? OSO's don't process applicants for enlistment. Back in my OSO days I always had enlisted recruiters trying to steer folks to enlist rather than reffering them to me for PLC. Get good grades your first semester in college, score high on the PFT and you'll be competitive for PLC. Also, retake the SAT to see if you can get your score up a little, but 1040 is not a show stopper.

 

[mjcIII]

I am almost positive it was the OSO for my district. I had to drive an hour just to meet up with him to get a few questions, answered and verified.
But since you were an OSO, I would like to get a 'second opinion'. When you submit a test score can you submit your SAT, ACT, or ASVAB; or must you submit all that you have taken?

 

[TheOldMan]

I am almost positive it was the OSO for my district. I had to drive an hour just to meet up with him to get a few questions, answered and verified.
But since you were an OSO, I would like to get a 'second opinion'. When you submit a test score can you submit your SAT, ACT, or ASVAB; or must you submit all that you have taken?

It's been quite some time since I was an OSO, so things may have changed. That said, when I was processing applicants for PLC (particulalry freshmen) I used whichever score was "best" based on my experience. As far as I know there is no requirement to submit all of your standardized test scores; pick the strongest one you've got and use that one. Unless the rest of your package is borderline, being a "92 day wonder" probably won't make a difference as to whether or not you are selected.