My heart goes out to all of you.
AFROTC Mom, and DS never applied AROTC, but I have to ask am I correct, someone with lower stats can get in because the school is lower tier compared to the higher stats student?
In other words the kid who applies to Texas A & M as a safety with a 32 ACT and every AP, plus tons of ECs will not get a scholarship, but the candidate with a 27 and a weaker resume, but applies to a less prestigious school will?
If so, why do you believe it is last initial and not the last 4 SS or actually the school?
AFROTC as you know take a nationalistic approach, schools don't matter at all in the process.
You all know I have been here for yrs. I am curious how everyone is leaping to the last initial is how the results are being released.
Pima,
There has been a lot of discussion on school selections this year. I believe that my son may have even benefited from that possibility. Here is my best guess on the subject.
First I should give my son's stats for a comparison.
3.55 u/w GPA
24 ACT
NHS
Eagle Scout
3 years Varsity Track- Captain 1 year
3 years Varsity Crosscountry- Captain 1 year
Debate team
2 years Senator Youth and Government
1 year Juror- District Youth Court
1 year Head Juror- District Youth Court
1 year Judge- District Youth Court
1 year Sports Editor School Annual
1 year Editor in Cheif School Annual
2 years Senior Leader Youth Group
3 Mission Trips to build houses as a Youth Leader
High School Band
Marching Band Section Leader
Audition Band- Wind Ensemble
2 years Jazz Band
Part Time Job
247 AFPT
Advanced Scuba Diving Cert.
When he listed his schools he tried to keep in mind the average acceptance stats at each school. He received scholarships to the following:
University of Idaho
University of Montana
Washington State University
Oregon State University
University of West Florida.
OSU was probably the most competetive of the 5 schools, they have a very strong ROTC and a very high number of applicants each year.
He decided on the University of Idaho. for us this was an Out of State School.
I have an older son that is a MS3 at the University of Idaho. My younger son did his interview there and his AFPT test with them.
We met with the ROO just before the first board, he outlined the stats of those who had lested U of I as a school choice and they had marked as Yes. DS's stats were close to the top in GPA and shy of a couple points on ACT of the top. The one thing the PMS told him during his interview was that his Leadership stats were very good and would help make up for the ACT.
I think you are correct in your assumption regarding school selections. I truely believe if DS would have put only schools like Texas A&M ond others similar he would not have received the scholarship, that is just a guess. That of course does not account for the scholarship to Oregon State, where they had at least triple the applicants.
My son was told by the PMS he interviewed with as well as the others that they did not expect him to be selected the first round, they thought he would be a better candidate for the second or third round. They as well as uss were a little suprised that he received the scholarship offer on the first round.
I will add one thing which I have no idea at all whether it made a difference. As I said, my older son is currently a MS3, last year when my younger son interviewed, older son was a MS2, top of the OML and had just received the Superior Cadet Award. I have no idea if the fact that younger DS had a brother in the program made any difference, his PMS didn't know either, althoug he did mention it in his Interview sheet.
I am not sure how much the interview and comments from the PMS influence the decision, the ROO at the school told my son when we met him before the board that he had not seen an Interview with such high comments before and he should feel good about that, Not bragging at all here, we were just trying to figure out why he received a 1st round selection when most thought that would not happen.
I know I have seen others post here with similar stats that listed smaller in state universities that have not yet received an offer. We are still mystified at the selection process. Sometimes I think they just spin a wheel or throw a dart.
My only advise for future applicants would be;
Apply early and be ready for the first board
Interview at your first choice school
List schools that you are in the upper percentage of accepted students
Have a god resume of Leadership positions
Have at least one In State school on your list
While we are proud of our son and he is extremely grateful for the opportunity, we do think it is a shame that some applicants with stellar stats have not received scholarships because they had listed highly competetive schools. U of I had around 85 applicants list their school, OSU had over 280, and I can only imagine how many list schools like Texas A&M and Va Tech.
The Air Force seems to be the one application process that is fair when it comes to awarding scholarships based on applicant stats.
I wish everyone here who is still waiting for results the best of luck, you all have amazing kids that will go far in reaching their goals. The path may end up being different then planned but the result will be the same.
Good Luck everyone.
) on SMP. Read up, its not the worst thing that could happen to our kiddos
It does make sense for our DS. I have been trying my best explaining DS's choices to friends and family. I have had some less than positive responses.