I know there were threads on this topic. Just a few supplemental questions.
For cadets that want to go to graduate school, apart from the af internal
Programs like afit, can cadets apply any outside scholarships and
Go to any civilian colleges?
If not, can someone post the full list of schools/scholarships that cadets are allowed to apply?
Tx in advance.
I'll let people like Hornet give more exact details, but I'll give you a low level basic understanding. The first part of the equation is: "Will the Air Force ALLOW you to go straight to grad school after graduating the academy"? That is the #1 issue.
You have to realize that it's not a matter of you being allowed to apply to grad school. Anyone is allowed to pursue their masters/PhD if they want to. What's in question is whether the Air Force will allow you to do this directly out of the academy, AND FULL TIME with the Air Force paying you with grad school being your current job, or if you'll have to do it during night classes, distance learning, online, etc... around doing your Air Force job.
So, depending on your grades at the academy, recommendation of your department, etc... the academy will decide if it is in the Air force's best interest to apply to grad school and the associated scholarships.
If selected to apply, the academy will assist you will all the various grad school scholarships and opportunities available to your major. They'll assign you a mentor to help you with the application process. It is my understanding that you must receive a scholarship in order to attend grad school as a full time out of the academy assignment. In other words, you can't say: "I have the money to pay for it". The Air Force needs to make sure there are no possible strings attached and that you will be able to attend.
As for AFIT, that is primarily an engineering school. Yes, you can apply to other schools. Hornet is currently at RAND getting his PhD. My son was fortunate to also be accepted to RAND and after he graduates the academy next month will start at RAND. He, Hornet, as well as most other applicants also applied for scholarships like the Truman Scholarship. They also applied to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT,,,, with other scholarships like the Rhodes. But you aren't really limited to where you apply. A friend of ours, currently just promoted to Captain, went to Arizona State for grad school after the academy.
Anyway; I hope that explains most of what you're looking for. Basically; do well at the academy; apply for the Air Force to "Approve" grad school as your next assignment; then go through the process of applying for scholarships and admittance. Hornet can add actual details if you need. best of luck. mike...