College Decision - AFROTC

Eagle15

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Jan 5, 2016
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DS has been accepted to a number of great schools that offer AFROTC. While we await a decision from USAFA, we are preparing for his Plan B. Looking for some advice to assist us with choosing school with best AFROTC options (i.e., scholarship availability, small school vs. lg. school, state vs. private school, crosstown AFROTC vs. On-Campus AFROTC, etc.). DS was not eligible for scholarship for his upcoming freshman year, but would apply again this fall. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
You'll hear this many times and will also see it on similar past threads but the right school is the one that's right for him. Where will he thrive? Big fish in a small pond or small fish in a big pond? On campus is always preferable as far as I'm concerned but it can work as a cross-town if there are other reasons for the non-host college. Which one would you/he rather pay for if he doesn't win a scholarship?

You'll certainly see older threads which talk about pluses and minuses of cross-town colleges.

I'm not sure how "in-school" AFROTC scholarships work but I'm confident Pima or someone will jump on that.
 
We're taking that all into consideration - money, of course, will be a factor in choosing. We are headed to "Admitted Student Days" through April to give him a second feel for the schools before we decide. Also plan to make a stop at the AFROTC Detachments for each. I've heard in past that AF gives more money to the State schools and wasn't sure if that holds any weight.
 
Regarding ICSP (in college scholarships) I'm pretty sure schools do not matter. It's a national board.. now I don't know what your DS is considering or got accepted into but I chose a less prestigious university by far. Like I downgraded so much in terms of academics BUT I was able to retain a high GPA at my current school and quite frankly I am more happy. I agree with kinnem.

Btw, just stats for ICSP:

Tech: 3.5GPA, 29ACT, 95PFA
Non-tech: 3.8GPA, 28ACT, 96PFA

Those are the averages.
 
Regarding ICSP (in college scholarships) I'm pretty sure schools do not matter. It's a national board.. now I don't know what your DS is considering or got accepted into but I chose a less prestigious university by far. Like I downgraded so much in terms of academics BUT I was able to retain a high GPA at my current school and quite frankly I am more happy. I agree with kinnem.

Btw, just stats for ICSP:

Tech: 3.5GPA, 29ACT, 95PFA
Non-tech: 3.8GPA, 28ACT, 96PFA

Those are the averages.
The schools all differ in size and prestige, but all have very strong engineering programs. The stats above -- are you referring to scholarship requirements and what is tech vs. non-tech?
 
As a crosstown student who has made it to his AS300 year I would say go through the classic cost-benefit process. I personally wouldn't weigh ROTC into the decision too much unless the crosstown university is 10+ miles away and commuting would be a problem. Pick the school with the best program and a cost that works with your family because everything else will fall in place (friends, rotc, etc.) The important thing at the end of the day is that he/she gets the degree and a good GPA when it is all said and done.

My crosstown bias is that it's nice to be able to hang out with non rotc friends and be able to step away from the rotc life.
 
Tech is a STEM major like engineering. Non-tech would be majors like business, govt, etc. Understand if he gets an ICSP as a tech major, but after his freshmen year decides to switch to a non-tech major, he will need HQ AFROTC to approve it to retain the scholarship. Chances are very slim that they will retain the scholarship.
Additionally, AF scholarships are considered a 2+2 scholarship. If they are not selected in their sophomore year for Summer Field Training (SFT aka EA) HQ AFROTC can also decide to disenroll them from the program, thus, loss of the scholarship.
Finally, the ICSP board is not a definite. There is a limited pot of money. There have been years here that they cancelled the ICSP because so many actually contracted from the HSSP board the year before.

If money is a factor than really think long and hard about your decision on whether or not he should attend that college. College is stressful enough as an engineering major, but when you add in AFROTC, Xtown, making new friends and the financial fears (debt/need of scholarship), it can become overwhelming for any kid their freshmen year.

When you visit the detachment, call 1st to ask for him to meet some 300/400 cadets that are in his intended major. Plan to meet them somewhere else on campus, do not attend this meeting. If you want the most you should do is go in, introduce yourself and than leave. Cadets are respectful and it would be more like a dog and pony show because you are there than him talking peer (age) to peer.
 
Tech is a STEM major like engineering. Non-tech would be majors like business, govt, etc. Understand if he gets an ICSP as a tech major, but after his freshmen year decides to switch to a non-tech major, he will need HQ AFROTC to approve it to retain the scholarship. Chances are very slim that they will retain the scholarship.
Additionally, AF scholarships are considered a 2+2 scholarship. If they are not selected in their sophomore year for Summer Field Training (SFT aka EA) HQ AFROTC can also decide to disenroll them from the program, thus, loss of the scholarship.
Finally, the ICSP board is not a definite. There is a limited pot of money. There have been years here that they cancelled the ICSP because so many actually contracted from the HSSP board the year before.

If money is a factor than really think long and hard about your decision on whether or not he should attend that college. College is stressful enough as an engineering major, but when you add in AFROTC, Xtown, making new friends and the financial fears (debt/need of scholarship), it can become overwhelming for any kid their freshmen year.

When you visit the detachment, call 1st to ask for him to meet some 300/400 cadets that are in his intended major. Plan to meet them somewhere else on campus, do not attend this meeting. If you want the most you should do is go in, introduce yourself and than leave. Cadets are respectful and it would be more like a dog and pony show because you are there than him talking peer (age) to peer.
Thank you Pima. DS will be freshman in September and would apply for scholarship this fall for his last 3 years. We will definately be choosing an affordable school as we know scholarships are not a given. I will take your advice on the detachment cadet one-on-one with DS - great idea. Thanks again.
 
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