AFROTC Scholarship?

B7qg6x5m

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
39
Hi all!
A few months ago, I posted on these forums asking for opinions on my AFROTC scholarship (HSSP) chances (http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=26606). Well, a lot has changed since then (mainly medical stuff) and I'd like to ask again.
I understand that no one knows my chances, and that I must apply to have any chance at all, but I don't have much information or knowledge on past applicants.

My stats:
GPA: 3.57 (unweighted), 4.08 (weighted)
ACT: 33 ( 33R, 33E, 33M, 32S)
SAT: 1390 (700CR, 690M) (1400 super scored) should I report this?
College credit: Wil graduate with ~20 (2 AP's, 2 Dual Enrollment, ~13 honors)
Major: Non technical (finance/international business)

Extracurriculars:
Baseball (9th, 10th) shoulder surgery prevented play junior year, and I may have to have another surgery
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) (10th, 11th, 12th)
Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) (11th, 12th)
Volunteering: ~100 hours of miscellaneous work
Spanish Honor Society
Will be inducted to National Honor Society

Awards:
FBLA: 2011: 1st place at districts (E-Business), 2nd place at districts (Sports Management), 7th place at State (E-business)
DECA: 2012: 3rd place at invitational (Financial Services Team Decision Making), 1st place at districts (Financial Services Team Decision Making), 4th place at State (Financial Services Team Decision Making), 4th place at State (International Business Plan), International Competitor (International Business Plan)
Baseball: 2011 Summer: State tournament most valuable hitter
Junior Year: Academic Varsity Letter

Leadership:
Vice President of DECA
Team leader in organization of fundraisers, raising $1500<

Work Experience:
Summer 2012: Social Media Marketing and Search Engine Optimization for international manufacturing automation company (~8 hrs/week)
Summer 2012: Financial Analysis, Metrics and Reporting for international consumer services franchising company (~16 hrs/week)
School Year 2012: Continuing financial analysis position, now as a "part time job" instead of an "internship".

High School of Business:
Not sure if this is relevant to the AF, but my school is one of about 40 in the country that offers the High School of Business. What it is is that students take certain classes throughout their high school years, and they graduate with a separate diploma from the "High School of Business". There is talk about making this diploma worth 12 credits at our state colleges, because the classes are equivalent to those of a first year business student in college. I will graduate with this diploma, and I did not factor these credits into the previous ~20

Medical Issues:
Well, as you may remember, I had a lot of issues when I posted before. I had shoulder surgery in February, preventing me from playing baseball Junior year. There was a surgery complication, and the Dr. thought I may have to have another surgery this winter to fix it. It looks as though that is no longer the case and that the complication is benign and wont cause issues:biggrin:
Also, I have had ongoing hip issues but have been referred to a specialist and things are looking really good.
Previously, I had thought I needed a PFA waiver. However, since my shoulder has been healing so well (and I can deal with some hip pain), I decided to just go ahead and perform the test.

PFA:
Pushups: 43
Situps:55
Run: 10:30
Waist: <32.5
An online calculator pins this at a ~94.

So what do you guys think? Sorry for the long-winded post, and thanks in advance!
 
GPA: 3.57 (unweighted), 4.08 (weighted)
ACT: 33 ( 33R, 33E, 33M, 32S)
SAT: 1390 (700CR, 690M) (1400 super scored) should I report this?
College credit: Wil graduate with ~20 (2 AP's, 2 Dual Enrollment, ~13 honors)
Major: Non technical (finance/international business)

It seems your unweighted GPA should be a little better since you`re going for a non-tech major. Better to have a better GPA when going for the non-tech majors. But scores are good! :thumb: Maybe I`m wrong, but that`s just my 2 cents worth. And with your med problems, that might make you a little less of an "undesirable" candidate than those who are medically perfect".
 
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Ok, thanks for the reply! My GPA is on a heavy upward trend. Broken deown by semester, my GPA has been: 3.57, 3.83, 4.0, 4.14, 4.43, 4.5. So hopefully they will see that!
 
My stats:
GPA: 3.57 (unweighted), 4.08 (weighted)
ACT: 33 ( 33R, 33E, 33M, 32S)
SAT: 1390 (700CR, 690M) (1400 super scored) should I report this?
College credit: Wil graduate with ~20 (2 AP's, 2 Dual Enrollment, ~13 honors)
Major: Non technical (finance/international business)

The AFROTC does not Super Score, it is the score of the best sitting.

Medical Issues:
Well, as you may remember, I had a lot of issues when I posted before. I had shoulder surgery in February, preventing me from playing baseball Junior year. There was a surgery complication, and the Dr. thought I may have to have another surgery this winter to fix it. It looks as though that is no longer the case and that the complication is benign and wont cause issues
Also, I have had ongoing hip issues but have been referred to a specialist and things are looking really good.
Previously, I had thought I needed a PFA waiver. However, since my shoulder has been healing so well (and I can deal with some hip pain), I decided to just go ahead and perform the test.

You may be able to get through the shoulder issue as long as you can be cleared for unrestricted military training. The issue you may have is with your hip, since you stated it was an ongoing issue, this is what causes the most problems, it is seen as a recurring condition.

Best of luck to you and have a plan B in place.
 
Ok. The shoulder is 100% healed, just not 100% strength yet (should be very soon!). So I think that will be fine.
I am seeing a hip specialist soon and hopefully he will have some ideas. I am fairly confident that it will be resolved by fall.
 
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OP: You have great stats. Kudos. But, with all due respect, and speaking as a future taxpayer (I plan to be a 1 percent type :shake:). I think you are a permanent disability case waiting to happen. From, my experience, kids with your stats seem grow on trees. Why should the government take a chance with your surgical history? Now, I don't want to be a troll, so good luck. I'm sure the military can't wait to give you our money :thumb:
 
I agree with the others regarding your medical issues. I would start getting your records in order in case you get a remedial or a DQ.

As far as your cgpa, they will re-weight it to their system. They do this because there is no national system. Your APs may be on a 10 pt scale with a gpa weight of 5.0 while someone elses maybe on a 7 pt scale and a 4.5 weight.

Your SAT/ACT scores are very strong.

Your PFA is on the low side, you always want to be in the high 90's, because once in AFROTC that score will be used for your OML, and selection for SFT and AFSC boards. Every point counts.
 
OP: You have great stats. Kudos. But, with all due respect, and speaking as a future taxpayer (I plan to be a 1 percent type :shake:). I think you are a permanent disability case waiting to happen. From, my experience, kids with your stats seem grow on trees. Why should the government take a chance with your surgical history? Now, I don't want to be a troll, so good luck. I'm sure the military can't wait to give you our money :thumb:

Nobody here can determine what if any long term effects the OP's medical issues would cause. It is entirely possible that the issues can be resolved and the OP will be found medically qualified. There are several current cadets that have had surgery or broken bones that were found to be qualified, without knowing his exact condition there is no way to really know how it will turn out. All the OP can do is go through the process.

From your other posts it looks like your a new freshman this year, not sure what experience you have that would lead you to believe that applicants with these stats grow on trees.

You might want to back up a few steps, your not one of the 1% yet and your vast amount of taxes aren't going to pay for these applicants just yet. The OP came here asking a legitimate question and looking for advice, not sarcasm, it will serve you better if you tone it down a bit.
 
Jcleppe,

I left that comment alone for one pure reason.

You will never be the top 1% as a military member unless you win the lottery!

The military does not pay enough. When Bullet was an O1 I couldn't wait until he was an O2 because than we would have money to breathe. When he was an O2 I couldn't wait for his flight pay increases because than we would have money to breathe. Than it was O4, than O5, than retirement.

Don't get me wrong we were able to own nice homes, newish cars, and if I wanted to work it was gravy. However, we were never the top 1%, and we started investing when we were 24, every month and @ 1/3 of his salary before taxes.

Things get in the way, like a deposit for a home. VA loan is great the 1st time, but they charge funding fees where as traditional lenders don't. Braces cost alot, and the military only picks up X amt, imagine 2 or 3 kids in braces at any given time. Kids cost alot! Moves typically put you in the hole especially if you have pets. Kennels cost 50-100 bucks a day and the military does not reimburse you that cost. You could be in Q's for a month. They also you cut you off from TLA within 10 days. After that you are BAH and the Q's are again more expensive than you can imagine.

Unless you plan never to get married, or your spouse can get a career wherever you move, i.e. Minot, ND or Fairbanks, AK at the same salary, and you aren't going to have children, than don't expect to be in the top 1%. Expect to be the avg military member, payday is never soon enough!
 
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He didn't say when he planned on reaching that 1% mark. It very well may be post service but he has dreams/goals of doing well.
 
OP: You have great stats. Kudos. But, with all due respect, and speaking as a future taxpayer (I plan to be a 1 percent type :shake:). I think you are a permanent disability case waiting to happen. From, my experience, kids with your stats seem grow on trees. Why should the government take a chance with your surgical history? Now, I don't want to be a troll, so good luck. I'm sure the military can't wait to give you our money :thumb:

I ripped/tore every ligament in my shoulder diving while playing baseball in high school and was granted a waiver from DoDMERB with extreme trepidation from army docs. I proceeded to do 4.5 years of ROTC and will commission in December as an army officer. My PT scores are always 280+ and I am pretty sure I can out bench press or power clean anyone in my battalion and rival some guys on the football team (Think my shoulder healed?). Was I a waste of money?

Point is, don't judge peoples stats or physical ailments blindly. Good luck OP I hope you can overcome your injury like I did.

Pima- I couldn't leave the comment alone as my shoulder situation was all too similar to this kid's situation.
 
Point is, don't judge peoples stats or physical ailments blindly. Good luck OP I hope you can overcome your injury like I did.
point well made. However I must point out that in 2007, just as ROTC scholarships were handed out like candy to college freshmen and sophomores strolling into the ROTC office, in 2007 DODMERB Waivers were also handed out like candy. Now that scholarships are hard to come by, so are waivers. I 2nd your sentiment ... good luck OP.
 
Aglahad,

My remarks were not about the OPs physical ability, it was about Mech's being the top 1% income earners when he is in the military.

The OP could get waivers for both his shoulder and his hip. I never ever said he couldn't, or he should stop trying. I only said that his hip is a long term condition and be prepared to defend why they should let you in with a pre-existing condition.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

Xposted with dunninla, and I agree with them. Waivers are becoming rarer with each yr. A surgery is one thing, a chronic orthopedic issue with a hip over yrs seeing a specialist is a whole different ball of wax.

Again, not saying he shouldn't go for it, just saying be prepared for at least a remedial if it is to the extent that they are seeing an orthopedist as a recurring patient.
 
Aglahad,

My remarks were not about the OPs physical ability, it was about Mech's being the top 1% income earners when he is in the military.

The OP could get waivers for both his shoulder and his hip. I never ever said he couldn't, or he should stop trying. I only said that his hip is a long term condition and be prepared to defend why they should let you in with a pre-existing condition.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

Xposted with dunninla, and I agree with them. Waivers are becoming rarer with each yr. A surgery is one thing, a chronic orthopedic issue with a hip over yrs seeing a specialist is a whole different ball of wax.

Again, not saying he shouldn't go for it, just saying be prepared for at least a remedial if it is to the extent that they are seeing an orthopedist as a recurring patient.

Oh my comment wasn't directed at you it was just showing that I had to reply to Mech's judgement of the OP. I completely agree with your waiver (waivers were indeed easier back then) and 1% comment. My point is that I didn't let my injury define me and there hasn't been any training I couldn't complete because of it.
 
I think that your position is invaluable advice...don't let it define you. Don't take unnecessary risks, but also don't let become a crutch.
 
Thank you all for your comments thus far. More are always appreciated.
Do you think, barring a medical DQ, that I have a legitimate shot at a scholarship? I would be fine with a Type 7
 
I think you're good to go. Especially, if you technical major. I can tell to this: I didn't get a Type 7. I graduated with 3.4 cumGPA, 1280 SAT, I started college with 20 semester units worth of AP units including Calculus. I had 8 sport letters, made conference first team in softball, this list went on like yours. It all came down to grades.

Rejection matters not, though. I went to JC this summer and slammed dunked chemistry and speech. That gave me 26 units. I'm now at a maritime academy, doing the major I want and I can afford it. I'm taking 18 semester units and I'm looking at a better than 3.5 this semester. The way I see it, my stock price is on the rise and I'm on the move. I write this, not to brag, but to encourage you to focus on plan B, C, like Pima would say.

I think you will get your scholarship, medicals aside. So, apply, play your hand, and make realistic plans. Then execute with all you have and don't look back.
 
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Mech,

The OP wants to go non-tech, not tech.

OP the thing with non-tech is out of all of the scholarships offered only @15% go to non-tech. The largest bulk will be Type 7, and that is still @25% of the Type 7's.

The break down from yrs passed go as follows.
Type 1 5% of all scholarships, and only 5% of that 5% go non-tech
Type 2 15-20% of all scholarships, and again the same %
Type 7 75-80% of all scholarship and 25% go to non tech.

The amount of scholarships awarded from the original eligible candidate pool is about 20%.

This is why people say have your plan B in place while you move forward with the scholarship.

Additionally one thing to always remember is AFROTC is unique compared to the sister services. Even if you are on scholarship, you still need to be selected for SFT. If not selected you can be dis-enrolled from AFROTC. If the only way you can afford to attend that college think about how you will pay for it.

I say this because you have an ongoing hip issues, if it deteriorates to the point you can't pass PFT they might dis-enroll you, or if it so low they might not select you for SFT. That means the scholarship could disappear. It is hard enough to end your career before it starts, harder if you don't know how to pay for a college you love.
 
Alright, I hate to bring up an old thread, but I thought I would give an update and see if some more opinions are available.
The hip specialist was very helpful, it turns out that I had a torn labrum in the hip as well. No other doctor was able to find it, but I underwent an arthroscopic procedure and it was identified and fixed. The labrum was not detached, so only a debridement was in order (a much easier surgery to recover from). The doc said it was a pretty big tear, but it's all fixed now.
With that said, he says it'll be 6 months until I am completely 100%. I have also been working on the shoulder and it is getting much stronger.
My work experience has improved. I have been promoted to "Senior Data Acquisitions Manager" at the financial analysis position.
I have been inducted into National Honor Society.
So, with these evolvements (and the knowledge that the hip condition is now fixed), what do you guys think of my chances?
 
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