Just a shout out to 2012

[Blackbird]

CC,

Why is your son applying for grad school scholarships? If he goes to grad school won't the Air Force being paying?

 

[Christcorp]

CC,

Why is your son applying for grad school scholarships? If he goes to grad school won't the Air Force being paying?

No. If he wants to go to grad school full time after graduation, he needs to get some scholarships. Unless of course you were independently wealthy. Now; if you attend grad school later; during active duty; e.g. night classes or correspondence; then I believe there is still "Tuition Assistance" by the air force. But with all the cutbacks, who knows. Was that the military would pay 75% of the tuition. (That was enlisted, not sure about officers). But to go to grad school full time, they aren't paying.

Caveat. If you apply and are accepted to AFIT. (Air Force Institute of Technology); you can go their for grad school. That is a military grad school and obviously you don't need scholarships for that. (Can't remember if my son applied there. I'm assuming he's applying for ALL options).

Anyway; Hornet and some others can explain it in better detail if you need. later.... mike....

 

[Blackbird]

Thanks Mike. For some reason when I heard about a number of USAFA grads attending grad school, I assumed that the Air Force was picking up the tab. ASSumed being the key phrase. However I do remember reading somewhere about med school being paid for Air Force physicians. Thanks.

 

[Christcorp]

Thanks Mike. For some reason when I heard about a number of USAFA grads attending grad school, I assumed that the Air Force was picking up the tab. ASSumed being the key phrase. However I do remember reading somewhere about med school being paid for Air Force physicians. Thanks.

Med school would actually be their AFSC. (Air Force Specialty Code = AKA Their Job). Therefore, the air force would obviously pay to train them. However; if a person went for their PHD in Political Science, they would be finding the money themselves. My son has actually been holding onto Med-School as a possible option, should pilot training not be available. I.e. If he doesn't get a waiver for his eyes. He had planned on a minor or double major, but instead took classes that would be required for med school such as Organic Chemistry, certain biology, anatomy, etc... He chose those classes to hold onto other options if needed. The much harder classes probably affected his GPA a little bit, but he believes it was worth it should he need that option.

 

[eagle36]

long story short, cadets must apply for scholarships to attend grad school.

That being said (long story medium, now, cause it's late), it can be paid for my the Air Force. Most grad school attendees directly out of USAFA fall into one of 3 categories (excluding med school, since that's entirely different). The first group is those who receive National Scholarships, such as the Rhodes, Marshall, or Draper Fellowship. When cadets are approved to apply and get accepted, the sponsoring organization picks up the tab, so that is not USAF covered. The next group is the GSP (Graduate Studies Program). This scholarship is sponsored by USAFA and sends graduates to AFIT or civilian schools (in certain years if AFIT doesn't have the program, like English or political science. *Note* It varies by year. 2010 was not allowed to attend Civilian schools, i heard 2011 was.) The purpose of this "scholarship" is to build a pipeline of future instructors. They get their degree, head into the field, and come back to USAFA to teach somewhere down the road. The final grouping are those who go for their AFSC. Several jobs desire that their people have graduate degrees, so the Air Force pays some to get their Masters-in-Residence.

For most grad school slots, your AFSC is still held for you. So if you're going to be a pilot, you can still get a national scholarship or the GSP, get a graduate degree in-residence right away and still go to pilot training.

So those are the three main groups as I understand it, four if you count med school. I'm in group 2 (GSP to AFIT) for another 7 months. Hornet earned the RAND scholarship and is there for another 2 years. I'm one of the folks who head to pilot training after, so it was a great opportunity for me.

I know this was kind of off-topic for this thread, so if you have further questions about it, please start a new thread, or send me a PM. Now time to go to bed since I have class in the morning

 

[hornetguy]

As a quick clarification to CC's post at the top of this page, you cannot go full time without a scholarship. Even if you want to pay for it, it must be by scholarship, and an AIR FORCE APPROVED scholarship. Can't get a Coca-cola grant, etc.

Main ones are:
RAND
Gates
Marshall
Rhodes
Truman
Holiday
Draper
Lincoln
Other MIT depts.
Harvard MPP (Kennedy School)
UofMaryland MPP
NSF
Another NSF type I can't remember the name of now.

 

[Christcorp]

thanks for the clarification hornet. I appreciate it. Makes it a lot more clear.

Question: Are some of the scholarships "School Neutral" or are they all tied to a particular school. A friend of ours, who's currently a missile jock here at FEW, graduated the academy in 2009. He went to grad school in Arizona. Was it most likely an Arizona specific grant? thanks. mike....

 

[Blackbird]

Thanks CC, Hornet, and Eagle. Great info. We are just taking DS out to California this weekend for NWP, but I enjoy absorbing as much info as possible since his goal is to be an Air Force physician.

 

[hornetguy]

thanks for the clarification hornet. I appreciate it. Makes it a lot more clear.

Question: Are some of the scholarships "School Neutral" or are they all tied to a particular school. A friend of ours, who's currently a missile jock here at FEW, graduated the academy in 2009. He went to grad school in Arizona. Was it most likely an Arizona specific grant? thanks. mike....

Some are non-specific. The Marshall, NSF, Truman and (the other science one I can't remember) are non-specific and you apply to the schools you want to use them for except the Marshall. Draper is for MIT or Rice. Lincoln is MIT only.

There is some other program I can't remember. A friend of mine went to UCCS and I don't know what program that was (MAYBE AFIT-Civilian programs)

Thanks CC, Hornet, and Eagle. Great info. We are just taking DS out to California this weekend for NWP, but I enjoy absorbing as much info as possible since his goal is to be an Air Force physician.

When the time comes and my memory hasn't failed, can certainly answer the medical application process.