Hello SAF,
I see a lot of posts about scholarships especially "chance" threads. I'm not sure if this thread is necessary however, I feel like it'd be useful to clear up some things. I'm speaking only on behalf of AFROTC and its scholarship process.
Application:
The official application website is: http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/application
The deadline to apply is December 1st so if you are currently a senior, unfortunately you are out of luck. Just to clear this up - DO NOT wait until last minute to apply.
Applying for the scholarship takes more than a week ideally.
Process:
Now, this is where everyone typically gets confused. After filling out the first application, the Air Force will verify your eligibility and give you access to the files which include your Counselor's GPA form and PFA form.
1. The Counselor's GPA form is a form that your counselor fills out that includes your unweighted GPA and whether or not you took AP classes. Now note, Air Force ONLY considers stats from freshman to junior year. The only thing that counts senior year are your test scores.
-The counselor will also be asked to release a general profile of your school including number of AP classes, GPA scale (7 or 10 points), % that go Ivy, etc. You can see it has a huge effect because a more competitive school will theoretically be harder to achieve a higher GPA.
2. PFA: This is your physical fitness test. The test will be composed of 1 minute pushups, situps, and a 1.5 mile run. A school administrator will monitor you and fill out the form. This should be straight forward and the file attached as instructions as well.
3. You will be asked to upload your transcript and report your GPA. Note that it is preferred you use PDF.
4. You will be asked to report AND upload your SAT/ACT scores. Note that you do NOT need to send scores unless you absolutely have to. All you have to do is send a screenshot of your scores on a PDF file. Your SAT/ACT score is BEST SITTING ONLY. Meaning they do not take the highest scores from each section from each try aka superscoring. Whatever your highest test score in one sitting is, you use it. They will only allow you to upload your highest (for example, you try to upload a 29 ACT AND a 1250 SAT because you want them to evaluate you using both, they'd only allow you to upload the 29 ACT.)
5. Extracurricular activities also are from freshman to junior years. What the Air Force is looking for is sports and leadership. They want to see that you can maintain grades while taking on leadership positions. Playing a sport will demonstrate your fitness as well - however, being a captain of a team sport would be more beneficial. Fill out the activities list with brief descriptions.
6. Interview. Once you submit all your files, you will be reviewed by the scholarship technician to see if everything is valid and you are eligible. (You need I believe 26 ACT and 1160 SAT) SAT only counts critical reading and math. The interview will be scheduled through e-mail at the closest detachment.
-The interview if you may notice varies. However, one thing they do want to look for is leadership and maturity. They will ask situational questions or about your leadership position. Make sure you bring a resume - which is a nice typed out paper of your GPA and extracurriculars. Please be ready to expect the unexpected and dress nicely. Slacks, button up and tie will do. Also, ask questions such as "What is the avg CGPA for [insert major] selected for SFT?"
7. The board results listed on the website is actually for the very last board. There are many boards so if you manage to make it to the first one, you have a chance of being re-boarded if you are competitive enough. Basically, don't procrastinate to the last board.
Factors:
A lot of people do not know some things about the AFROTC scholarship.
1. The first thing is that it's a 2+2 scholarship. When you enroll in AFROTC, you compete for SFT (Summer Field Training) in the summer of your sophomore year. They will evaluate you based on GPA, Commander's Ranking, AFOQT, PFT, etc. Anyways, if you do not make SFT then your scholarship will be revoked and you will be disenrolled.
2. There are three types of scholarship.
Type 1—Pays full college tuition, most fees and a book allowance. Approximately five percent of our four-year scholarships are Type 1—mostly in technical fields as deemed needed by the Air Force (careers with a scientific basis such as engineering, chemistry and meteorology).
Type 2—Pays college tuition and most fees up to $18,000 and a book allowance. Approximately 15 percent of our four-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type 2 scholarship (again, mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $18,000 per year, then he/she pays the difference.
Type 7—Pays college tuition up to the equivalent of a public school’s in-state rate and a book allowance. If a student receives a Type 7 offer but wishes to attend a college/university where they do not qualify under the guidelines, the student can convert the four-year Type 7 scholarship to a three-year Type 2 scholarship. You cannot activate a Type 7 scholarship at a non-qualifying school and pay the difference.
3. Most scholarships about 80% are offered to STEM majors. To get a rough idea, here are the "Technical Tiers." Please do not choose a major just because they have a higher chance of getting a scholarship. Remember, majors are a huge factor but it's not the only one..
Technical–Tier 1
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Technical–Tier 2
Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Astronautical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
4. AFROTC is NOT college tied like NROTC. You can use the scholarship at any college (if you are going to a private/out of state, convert that Type 7 but it's only for 3 years remember, 2+1.)
5. After the scholarship, remember it is not over. There's still DoDMERB.
Summary:
I may be missing a few things here but this is just the gist of it. Just note that many of us can't chance you because there's so many variables and none of us sits on the board. Oh and a heads up, they manage to change the process every year I believe. For example, this year, everyone who is "re-boarded" goes to the last and final board rather than being carried to the next.
Also, AFROTC scholarships do not pay for room and board. So when selecting a college, make sure you go to one that you can manage to pay WITHOUT the scholarship because you never know. Always have a Plan A, Plan B, ETC.
Also, if you do get a scholarship, please try to not act like you're everything. Going into AFROTC, or any ROTC, there will be many non-scholarship cadets. It doesn't matter if you have a scholarship, your shot at SFT is the same as everyone else's.
Of course you can always earn a scholarship in college however this will be a little difficult (sometimes there may not be one ICSP because not enough money, etc.) The scholarship process itself is competitive especially with AFROTC. I believe they award the least amount of scholarships (if I'm correct.)
Correct me on anything if I'm wrong. And add anything that I'm missing. Thanks.
I see a lot of posts about scholarships especially "chance" threads. I'm not sure if this thread is necessary however, I feel like it'd be useful to clear up some things. I'm speaking only on behalf of AFROTC and its scholarship process.
Application:
The official application website is: http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/application
The deadline to apply is December 1st so if you are currently a senior, unfortunately you are out of luck. Just to clear this up - DO NOT wait until last minute to apply.
Applying for the scholarship takes more than a week ideally.
Process:
Now, this is where everyone typically gets confused. After filling out the first application, the Air Force will verify your eligibility and give you access to the files which include your Counselor's GPA form and PFA form.
1. The Counselor's GPA form is a form that your counselor fills out that includes your unweighted GPA and whether or not you took AP classes. Now note, Air Force ONLY considers stats from freshman to junior year. The only thing that counts senior year are your test scores.
-The counselor will also be asked to release a general profile of your school including number of AP classes, GPA scale (7 or 10 points), % that go Ivy, etc. You can see it has a huge effect because a more competitive school will theoretically be harder to achieve a higher GPA.
2. PFA: This is your physical fitness test. The test will be composed of 1 minute pushups, situps, and a 1.5 mile run. A school administrator will monitor you and fill out the form. This should be straight forward and the file attached as instructions as well.
3. You will be asked to upload your transcript and report your GPA. Note that it is preferred you use PDF.
4. You will be asked to report AND upload your SAT/ACT scores. Note that you do NOT need to send scores unless you absolutely have to. All you have to do is send a screenshot of your scores on a PDF file. Your SAT/ACT score is BEST SITTING ONLY. Meaning they do not take the highest scores from each section from each try aka superscoring. Whatever your highest test score in one sitting is, you use it. They will only allow you to upload your highest (for example, you try to upload a 29 ACT AND a 1250 SAT because you want them to evaluate you using both, they'd only allow you to upload the 29 ACT.)
5. Extracurricular activities also are from freshman to junior years. What the Air Force is looking for is sports and leadership. They want to see that you can maintain grades while taking on leadership positions. Playing a sport will demonstrate your fitness as well - however, being a captain of a team sport would be more beneficial. Fill out the activities list with brief descriptions.
6. Interview. Once you submit all your files, you will be reviewed by the scholarship technician to see if everything is valid and you are eligible. (You need I believe 26 ACT and 1160 SAT) SAT only counts critical reading and math. The interview will be scheduled through e-mail at the closest detachment.
-The interview if you may notice varies. However, one thing they do want to look for is leadership and maturity. They will ask situational questions or about your leadership position. Make sure you bring a resume - which is a nice typed out paper of your GPA and extracurriculars. Please be ready to expect the unexpected and dress nicely. Slacks, button up and tie will do. Also, ask questions such as "What is the avg CGPA for [insert major] selected for SFT?"
7. The board results listed on the website is actually for the very last board. There are many boards so if you manage to make it to the first one, you have a chance of being re-boarded if you are competitive enough. Basically, don't procrastinate to the last board.
Factors:
A lot of people do not know some things about the AFROTC scholarship.
1. The first thing is that it's a 2+2 scholarship. When you enroll in AFROTC, you compete for SFT (Summer Field Training) in the summer of your sophomore year. They will evaluate you based on GPA, Commander's Ranking, AFOQT, PFT, etc. Anyways, if you do not make SFT then your scholarship will be revoked and you will be disenrolled.
2. There are three types of scholarship.
Type 1—Pays full college tuition, most fees and a book allowance. Approximately five percent of our four-year scholarships are Type 1—mostly in technical fields as deemed needed by the Air Force (careers with a scientific basis such as engineering, chemistry and meteorology).
Type 2—Pays college tuition and most fees up to $18,000 and a book allowance. Approximately 15 percent of our four-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type 2 scholarship (again, mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $18,000 per year, then he/she pays the difference.
Type 7—Pays college tuition up to the equivalent of a public school’s in-state rate and a book allowance. If a student receives a Type 7 offer but wishes to attend a college/university where they do not qualify under the guidelines, the student can convert the four-year Type 7 scholarship to a three-year Type 2 scholarship. You cannot activate a Type 7 scholarship at a non-qualifying school and pay the difference.
3. Most scholarships about 80% are offered to STEM majors. To get a rough idea, here are the "Technical Tiers." Please do not choose a major just because they have a higher chance of getting a scholarship. Remember, majors are a huge factor but it's not the only one..
Technical–Tier 1
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Technical–Tier 2
Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Astronautical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
4. AFROTC is NOT college tied like NROTC. You can use the scholarship at any college (if you are going to a private/out of state, convert that Type 7 but it's only for 3 years remember, 2+1.)
5. After the scholarship, remember it is not over. There's still DoDMERB.
Summary:
I may be missing a few things here but this is just the gist of it. Just note that many of us can't chance you because there's so many variables and none of us sits on the board. Oh and a heads up, they manage to change the process every year I believe. For example, this year, everyone who is "re-boarded" goes to the last and final board rather than being carried to the next.
Also, AFROTC scholarships do not pay for room and board. So when selecting a college, make sure you go to one that you can manage to pay WITHOUT the scholarship because you never know. Always have a Plan A, Plan B, ETC.
Also, if you do get a scholarship, please try to not act like you're everything. Going into AFROTC, or any ROTC, there will be many non-scholarship cadets. It doesn't matter if you have a scholarship, your shot at SFT is the same as everyone else's.
Of course you can always earn a scholarship in college however this will be a little difficult (sometimes there may not be one ICSP because not enough money, etc.) The scholarship process itself is competitive especially with AFROTC. I believe they award the least amount of scholarships (if I'm correct.)
Correct me on anything if I'm wrong. And add anything that I'm missing. Thanks.