AFROTC interview

USAF

5-Year Member
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Sep 15, 2010
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So, I had my interview today. I spoke with a Lt Col for 2 hours and 15 minutes about all sorts of things. We both asked each other lots of questions and I think that it went very well. He even helped me look into majors on the university's website to see what would fit me best. Along the way he was making subtle comments, like, when I was weighed, I was 183. He said to me "you better maintain that weight now," which I would interpret as "I want you in the program don't get medically disqualified." Very cool guy. We talked about how much we both love the band Rush somewhere along the way too which was pretty sweet.

Nevertheless, now I'm very anxious and was wondering what any one though about the whole ordeal. Do I have a good chance at a scholarship. My credentials on paper are very good.
 
I think when a LTC talks about Rush it is a subtle sign that you are not what they are looking for. Sorry.

Seriously, none of us know what your chances are...particularly since you didn't post any stats. I'd say it is a positive sign that the LTC spent as much time with you as he did. Combined with the fact that your credentials on paper are very good and you are applying early, hopefully you will be selected. What major did you and the LTC decide would suit you best at his school?
 
I think when a LTC talks about Rush it is a subtle sign that you are not what they are looking for. Sorry.

Seriously, none of us know what your chances are...particularly since you didn't post any stats. I'd say it is a positive sign that the LTC spent as much time with you as he did. Combined with the fact that your credentials on paper are very good and you are applying early, hopefully you will be selected. What major did you and the LTC decide would suit you best at his school?



In retrospect, I should explain how we got on the topic of Rush. He asked about what I like to do in my free time. One of the things that I said was I'm a musician, we got on the topic of what instrument, then what kind of music, and when I said Rush, he lit up. It was not on record for interview, more personal.
We discussed some scientific degrees (Chem, Biochem) and some engineering degrees (Civil, Elec).
Some stats for you to look over-
Lots of extracurricular, JROTC (with positions such as battalion S-4, platoon sergeant, etc), CAP dep commander, State Police Explorers, Natl Honor Society, two Cycling clubs, boy scouts pre high school. Lots of community service, have held 3 jobs, 1800 SAT, 3.45 GPA, Honors, AP, and College courses in High School. Some pretty big awards within JROTC and some for volunteer service.
 
Your ECs look good but I'm not sure whether your SAT/GPA is strong enough. What were your M/CR SAT scores? Any AP or Honors classes? Even with those answers it still comes down to the fact that none of us can really give you a credible opinion on your chances. The AFROTC scholarship boards evaluate a number of different areas and hopefully your strengths will off-set any perceived weakness you might have.
 
Is that 3.45 gpa w or uw? I do agree with aglages the SAT score is pretty low for an AFROTC scholarship, at least for the big scholarships. I don't know the actual stats for AFROTC scholarships, but over the course of yrs here the recipients that even got a Type 7, were in the mid 600's each for M/CR, so unless your writing was low just breaking 500 it might hurt you.

Many of the candidates break the 2000 marker on the SAT.

The weight issue might also be a subtle hint to work out. What were your PFA scores? That too will be added into the equation for your WCS.

The ALO interview is also important because they will write a rec which the board will review and assign points for. This also goes back to why the gpa and SAT is very important. He will be interviewing every AFROTC candidate and the AFA candidates. From there he will rack and stack the candidates. There is a huge difference from him saying one of my top choices and my Number 1 choice. Their view of your academic strength will be a part of this decision.

Remember, 99% of every AFA candidate will apply AFROTC as plan B. That is why the major recipients surpass the 2000 marker. You are not just going up against candidates who only want AFROTC, but also candidates that want AFA. The board does not know who is applying AFA and AFROTC or who is just apply AFROTC. They can't take the assumption that even if they assumed the candidate is applying to both that they will get into the AFA. To them this is about recruiting the best for AFROTC, nothing more and nothing less.

Now that being said, if your gpa is uw and you scored 650 on each M/CR you are sitting prettier.
 
Thank you for your insight. I know what you say is very true, that I am towards the mid to bottom range so the scholarship is simply an incentive, its not what is making or breaking college. I will go either way I just wanted to try my luck at getting some big money. Interesting the fact about the AFA. The GPA is weighted. My SAT's were 620 in CR, and, unfortunately, only a 510 in Math. As far as weight goes, I am under the AF maximum, just not a whole lot under. He wondered about what I do to work out (before we did height and weight) because we had got on that topic and I said I ran 15 miles a week and cycled. (I said that I actually lost 40lbs in order to be eligible.) Pt scores were respectable mid high 40s on push ups and high 50's in situps. Running was a little iffy at 12 minutes 1.5 miles. As far as I could tell the Lt Col seemed to really like me as a person. Still, I know that the chances are not exactly high and I shall be starting other scholarship applications within the week.
 
.. I know that the chances are not exactly high and I shall be starting other scholarship applications within the week.
While your chances might not be high, you do have decent stats so don't lose hope. Good luck! :thumb:
 
Remember, 99% of every AFA candidate will apply AFROTC as plan B.
Pima: Did you read the stats about how few USMA applicants apply to AROTC as a plan B? If the following numbers are to be believed it is IMHO extremely low.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=14623&page=5
OFFICER CORPS STRATEGY SERIES
ACCESSING TALENT:
THE FOUNDATION OF A U.S. ARMY OFFICER
CORPS STRATEGY
February 2010

PG 29
"A recent pilot program to cross market applicants
from West Point to ROTC shows significant promise.
Each year, West Point receives more than 10,000
applicants for some 1,300 open seats. Yet of the more
than 8,000 surplus applicants, historically fewer than
100 would end up participating in ROTC. Beginning in
2008, West Point and ROTC began a cross marketing
program that resulted in more than 400 of these surplus
West Point applicants accepting ROTC scholarships.
The program was based on several of the theoretical
principles outlined above. Before notifying a West Point
applicant that he or she did not receive admission, an
ROTC selection board reviewed the files and selected
roughly 1,000 of the applicants to receive an offer of
an ROTC scholarship. Rather than receiving a letter
of notification that an individual was not accepted to
West Point, he received a phone call from an officer
letting him know that while he did not get accepted
at West Point and although he had not applied for
an ROTC scholarship, the Army really valued his
application and was prepared to offer him a full ROTC
scholarship at any ROTC program in the country. In
essence, the Army reframed the opportunity to serve
in the Army, but through a different source. The results
are promising, as during the past 2 years, more than
400 of the 1,000 scholarship offers were accepted—and
none of these applicants had previously applied to
ROTC.
 
USAF,

Only something has occurred in the past 2 yrs. The gpa that the AFA is not weighted per se. They may re-weight your gpa to their method, but that is more reflective on how they weight the class curriculum.

You will find this true for every college out there. The reason this occurs is hs have different uw scales. For example, in NC an A could be on a 7 pt scale, an honors can be 5.0 and AP could be 6.0, whereas, in No VA it is a 10 pt scale, honors is a 4.5 and AP is 5.0. That makes a HUGE difference in your gpa.

They will also weight because that is how they weed out the kid who received all A's, but took Home Ec and Gym compared to the kid that got A's & B's, but took every honors and AP class they could fit in their schedule. In other words comparing apples to apples.

The LtC. was probably concerned because you had announced the 40lb weight loss, thus, as a college grad he knows the freshman 15 is not a cliche, but a stat. So he wanted to make sure you knew not to quit exercising since you will be weighed/taped at the det. every semester. Our DS is always taped, so don't freak out if they tape you. You can get taped for being on the too light side (our DS) and the too heavy side. Both sides can cause issues. He has been told multiple times if you lose more than 5 lbs you will get in trouble. It was their biggest concern for when he went to FT. He lost 3 lbs and now he is trying to gain it back so he won't be in trouble if he gs a stomach virus.

The Math SAT is going to hurt since the largest chunk of AF scholarships go to the Technical side. However, our DS is one of those kids who beat those odds and is majoring in Govt.

Good luck. Always remember there is 100% chance of not getting a scholarship if you don't apply! You were right to apply.

Ag,

That is very interesting re: the Army. I wonder why? I know when our DS went through the process several yrs ago. The ALO's candidate numbers doubled for AFROTC over AFA. It maybe that the ALO's stress to the AFA candidates to apply for the AFROTC while they apply for AFA. I don't know anyone who has applied only for the AFA.

I also know a similar story regarding AROTC. DS had his AFROTC scholarship in hand in Jan. None of his friends applied for ROTC. The week before we moved (in Aug), his friends came over one last time. One was wearing an ROTC shirt. When we questioned him about it, he announced that only a few days ago out of the blue he got a call and was offered an AROTC scholarship to his college even though he never applied to any ROTC program. He took them up on the offer. We all sat in shock that it was that easy to do 10 days before the start of school. That was back in 08.
 
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