AFROTC or NROTC

Yesterday I received a letter informing me that I have been selected for a Type 7 AFROTC Technical Scholarship. However I plan on double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Nursing, neither one being a technical major. I'm guessing I will not be able to activate this scholarship without changing my major which is not an option for me. I was also not selected for a NROTC scholarship.

So my question is do I have a better chance or being commissioned in Air Force, where I can compete for a ICSP and then a Field Training spot or Navy where I will compete for a side load scholarship and then if that fails advanced standing?

I am pretty sure biomedical engineering is a tech degree(although AFROTC may not have updated it because it is relatively new. speak to your cadre). However "pre-nursing" is not. unless you are already in the nursing school. IIRC.

Also, I wouldn't plan on double majoring in nursing and biomed eng. while doing ROTC.

Thanks for the reply,

Yes it would make sense that Biomedical would be a tech degree in AF as it is in navy, I will check with them.

As far as the double major goes The University of Rochester, where I am attending has no required courses and the Dual Degree in Nursing in a program allows you to achieve this easier.

AFROTC and NROTC will require you to serve AD,

Your question should be which branch you want to serve as an O1/O2?

You will serve at least 4 yrs. 24/7/365 days a yr.

Assume your chances are equal. If you want to serve, you will fight for it, regardless of the branch.

I would not worry about the scholarship...that is why loans exist. I would base my decision on which branch I am willing to live 24/7/365 days.

Minot AFB in ND ia not pretty. Nor is living on a ship for 6 months. You need to decide which is the better option for you when it is 4 yrs of your life.

College is 30 weeks out of a yr. 18 hrs a week in a classroom. 5 days a week for 4 yrs. Do you get my drift about 24 hrs, 7 days a week, 365 days a yr for 4 yrs?

Meliora said:

Yesterday I received a letter informing me that I have been selected for a Type 7 AFROTC Technical Scholarship. However I plan on double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Nursing, neither one being a technical major. I'm guessing I will not be able to activate this scholarship without changing my major which is not an option for me. I was also not selected for a NROTC scholarship.

So my question is do I have a better chance or being commissioned in Air Force, where I can compete for a ICSP and then a Field Training spot or Navy where I will compete for a side load scholarship and then if that fails advanced standing?

Click to expand...

Are you quite sure Biomedical Engineering isn't considered a Technical major? I was under the impression that any type of engineering discipline would be technical. You might want to double check that before you turn down the scholarship.

Most BME majors that come into my school start out also doing pre-med, which sounds similar to what you are considering, but the vast majority of them drop pre-med before the end of freshman year because of the rigor of the curriculum and the amount of extra classes they have to take. For example: you may have to take a diff Chem class for BME than the one you need for pre-med. This is something that's hard to stick with if you are a regular student.

Thanks for the help everyone

Pima, I understand the commitment fully and have made the decision to go with the branch that gives me the best fighting chance of commissioning, I would hate to go through two years in either branch and end up dis-enrolling.

As for the Biomedical Engineering as a Tech major this is the Tech major list of the AFROTC site

Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Architecture
Astronautical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear Physics
Operations Research
Physics

And Biomedical is not even listed as an approved major which is a little dis-concerning, they seem to approve every major existing except Biomedical, but I will ask, as far as I can see it is on par with the other technical majors. And will double majoring give me an advantage in ICSP.

Meliora,

I noticed that too, it's not on there at all which makes me think that it just hasn't been added yet, though I can't imagine that it would be classified as "other". Call up AFROTC HQ to talk to your scholarship technician tomorrow and get clarification. He doesn't know, he'll find out for you. Mine was very helpful last year. Or talk to the Cadre at the school you're thinking about attending, they're bound to have had a BME cadet at some time or another and could shed some light.

As far as Double Majoring giving you the leg up, sure, it could. But it wont help a whole lot if it keeps you from maintaining a reasonably high gpa or makes it so that you can't volunteer for anything extra at the Det.

But again, if you are majoring in BME, I don't think you'll need this plan B. It would be rediculous if they don't recognize it as a technical major as it's probably one of the most notoriously difficult Engineering majors under Chem, Nuclear, and Aeorspace.

I get that.

I did not mean to offend you.

I am just saying that there is more to this life than commissioning.

Why Not Minot?
Freezin is the reason.

You go where they send you.

AF has these jokes for many bases.

OH My GOD No, Alamogordo.

Del Rio = Hell Rio

It goes on and on.

The commissioning O1 is a high price to pay when you live this life based on chances as a 17/18 year old.

Just saying, think about life as a 26 yo.

Meliora said:

Thanks for the help everyone

Pima, I understand the commitment fully and have made the decision to go with the branch that gives me the best fighting chance of commissioning, I would hate to go through two years in either branch and end up dis-enrolling.

As for the Biomedical Engineering as a Tech major this is the Tech major list of the AFROTC site

Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Architecture
Astronautical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear Physics
Operations Research
Physics

And Biomedical is not even listed as an approved major which is a little dis-concerning, they seem to approve every major existing except Biomedical, but I will ask, as far as I can see it is on par with the other technical majors. And will double majoring give me an advantage in ICSP.

Click to expand...

Double check with AFROTC. However, if you told them you planned to major in Biomedical Engineering then they awarded the scholarship based on that, so I'm pretty sure you'll be OK. But double check. This is something you want to have certainty about. If, on the other hand, you changed your major plans since you submitted your application and didn't notify them, there could be a mis-match.

They probably just haven't updated the list. Last I checked they still had the old Sec. Def. As well a bunch of other outdated info.

Biomed Eng. is quite difficult ... not only do you need the Math and Physics, you also need Biology 1&2 including Micro Biology & Molecular Biology, and higher level Chemistry courses up to Organic 2 and Biochemistry.

On top of taking the standard Engineering courses such as Thermo/Statics/Circuits/Materials.

Its like a combination of Engineering, Chemisty, and Biology.

It wont be easy, but it can be done.

No double major will not give you an advantage IIRC.

The problem with "Pre-Med" is that it is different at every school. The term itself is so vague. That is why it is not a tech major. Pre-Med could mean a degree in Psychology with 2 semesters of Biology and Chemistry.

Non Ducor Duco said:

Are you quite sure Biomedical Engineering isn't considered a Technical major? I was under the impression that any type of engineering discipline would be technical. You might want to double check that before you turn down the scholarship.

Most BME majors that come into my school start out also doing pre-med, which sounds similar to what you are considering, but the vast majority of them drop pre-med before the end of freshman year because of the rigor of the curriculum and the amount of extra classes they have to take. For example: you may have to take a diff Chem class for BME than the one you need for pre-med. This is something that's hard to stick with if you are a regular student.

Click to expand...

College is hard, really hard for some, slightly easier for others, but hard for everyone. When you couple that with a big time sink like ROTC it becomes harder. Now add in a double major with two very difficult majors and you certainly aren't making things easy for yourself. GPA is a very big part of getting accepted for Field Training, so make sure you understand that when you choose your majors.

Although not on the list, an AFROTC Det my DS visited let him know that Astrophysics was an accepted technical major even though it wasn't on the list. Good luck with your decision!