tiffw,
tiffw said:
His first priority is trying to become a pilot, so the engineering thing may (or may not) be nothing more than a challenge in getting to what his real end goal is.
Reality check time right now.
Currently EE is classified as a critically manned field.
~~From a scholarship and SFT selection point he has better chances.
~~ From a rated selection perspective he WILL NOT go to UPT or UNT. Reason why is they need EE's, and the AF gave him that scholarship not to be a pilot, but for his college degree as an EE.
It may change 5 yrs. from now, but beware if he was to commission this yr he would not get a rated slot. These are kids that applied/received scholarship 5-6 yrs ago when EE grads did get rated, only to find out manpower shut them out 3-4 yrs in, where they still owe at least 4 yrs.
Let's leave the chances of winging out of the equation, but to be brief, basically he has to clear the SFT hurdle, the AFSC board, IFS, and UPT. On a very good day, you are looking at maybe a 50-50 chance. The only 100% thing he will have after SFT is he will owe 4 yrs ADAF.
Now, let's assume he gets UPT and wings. Does he realize he will be @36 yo when he will get the 1st chance to leave? 5 yrs for engineering in college. Typically there is a 1 yr lag time for UPT. He is now 24. 1 yr at UPT. Once winged, you owe 11 yrs., now he is 36.
That is basically 20 yrs from now. Kids see things differently when you say you will be 36...it is now OMG, I am old, my life is almost over!
As I always say the devil is in the details, and those are the details he needs to understand. FYI, I would really sit down with him if he wants to be 22 or 35 pilot. Basically, in the AF for those that wing every yr, it is a 5% chance to get any fighter, and for those airframes, it is @1%. Yet, the 11 yr commitment is the same for all of them.
Why do candidates also go tech, besides a higher chance for a scholarship?
~ If they want to become a Test Pilot or go to NASA, you must have an engineering degree. It is a flat fact. Thus, the long term goal regarding flying is tied to that career path.
Our DS was AFROTC scholarship, non-tech and got a UPT slot, so if it is the fear that non-techs can't get one, that is a fallacy.
Reality is as a non-tech he will have to carry a higher cgpa, and do well on the TBAS for his AFSC OML as a C300 (jr yr).
AFROTC scholarships require 4 semesters of foreign language, he could minor in Mandarin and that will allow him to have the both of best worlds regarding marketability.
However, remember if he commissions, it will be no sooner than 4 1/2 yrs before he could enter the market place, and what his big asset will be regarding many companies, is not only his military experience, but his security clearance. Clearances cost tens of thousands of dollars, last for 5 yrs. He might only have a minor in Mandarin, but that minor will fill that square, and the clearance will fill another, while his military experience fills a third compared to Joe Shmoo regarding the FBI that only has corporate experience.
I would suggest he majors in a major he loves. As stated before by SoleTrain, the fastest way to not commission is being in a major you dislike. Kids cut classes in college IMPHO for 1 of 2 reasons:
1. Hate the major, thus dread the class
2. Academically it wasn't a match, and their ability to master it never was there in the first place.
Many kids go engineering because they are mathematically/science inclined, so the folks/GCs lean them that way. Afterall, Govt/Poli-Sci majors are a dime a dozen, what kind of job can they get?
His degree choice may mean no scholarship, but it means personal happiness. His goal is to join the AF and be a pilot, if that is his fate, than as I said, he will be 36 at the earliest he can bolt. By that time everything he learned in college will be outdated, he will have a Masters, and his military experience will be the asset for employers.
It is time to talk to him honestly. Ask him if money was no object what would he major in? Kids are aware of the cost. Our DS was the strange duck. He had 4 noms to the AFA, AFROTC scholarship. Feb 1st he got his 1st choice traditional college with merit. Bullet and I never felt the AFA was a good fit for him. We sat him down and asked if money wasn't an issue, and you could get a UPT slot anyway where would you go? He said the college, but AFA is his choice because it wouldn't cost a penny (between his AFROTC and merit) we were still out some pennies. That was a Sat. night, Monday a.m. Bullet and him were in the car for a 5 hr car ride. That afternoon, deposits were made with the bursar. ALO was contacted, and he removed his AFA packet.
The point is our DS was willing to go somewhere he never wanted to go to, major in something he didn't want to, because he was conscious of the cost and the impact on our family. Our children care as much about us, as we care about them.
Your DS may be like ours. He may think majoring in something is the best rational option for your family regarding scholarship/financial chances.
JMPO. Sorry if I stepped on toes.