AFROTC has an ED, but I believe it is different than USAFA. AFROTC/USAFA cadets can correct me, but I believe for AFROTC cadets part of the ED process is two prong.
~ Applying for an ED slot
~~ Part of that is ...
~ Applying for Med schools.
I don't know about USAFA, but it is also a two prong regarding not only paying for schooling, but if you are considered ADAF.
~ She can be offered ED, but seen as a Reservist, not ADAF. What that means to her is they allow her to delay AD until she graduates, but will not pay her an O1 salary during those years, and during the summer she will do her required 2 weeks, etc.
~~ USAFA grads will be paid to attend Med school.
~ She can be picked up for ED like USAFA grads and they will pay her educational costs and pay as an O1. Her job is to attend college.
I would dig deeper on the AFROTC site.
My opinion is and will always be that a 17/18 year old has dreams of a career. However, when they attend an SA or a college the dream may change. I have 3 kids. Only one did not change their major once in college(our AFROTC scholarship child...he was nontech).
JMPO, and with $2.07 you can a small Starbucks coffee. I would say that if she is willing to live through BCT, sleep on top of her bed for 9 months, than I would say go USAFA.
~ I say that because USAFA is known as The Little Engineering School in the Rockies. They are STEM oriented. They might not have the Pre Med classes like Yale, but they are the tops when it comes to schools regarding things like Chemistry. She may decide she wants to be a Bio Chemist.
~~ No HS kid knows what Organic Chemistry will be like in college, but yet, that will be a part of their academic career.
~ I would pm hornetguy, Christcorp, Eagle. They have intimate knowledge on how the ED works at USAFA.
As far as the you owe 5 years and AFROTC grads owe 4, it is total BS if that is factor.
~ USAFA grad clock starts the minute they commission. AFROTC starts the minute they show up at their first assignment. It could take 6-9 months before they arrive. Hence, might as well be 5 years.
This is a hard decision. My DS has no regrets going AFROTC scholarship over USAFA, but he knew in his heart that if he went USAFA it wasn't because he wanted to attend USAFA, it was an illusion of being a USAFA grad. That is not the reason to go! Just like a Yale degree is not a reason. If she wants the "ALL IN" experience than go USAFA. If she wants to be an 18 year old and date a 20 year old, no timed get your hair up, be a girly girl, than maybe AFROTC is a better bet.
Finally, as an AFROTC parent I will add this. If she goes to Yale and next year she decides that she made a mistake by not going USAFA, she will have the ability to gat an ROTC nomination on top of her MOCs. She will be competitive, but if she leaves USAFA, then she will have to reapply to Yale and for the ICSP AFROTC scholarship.
~ Can you afford for her to attend Yale without the scholarship?
As you can see I am an advocate for both paths. Only you know your child. Only you know if she is one of the 20% that don't commission via USAFA (5% that leave during BCT) if you can afford for her to attend Yale without the AFROTC scholarship
~ On I day the AFROTC scholarship is revoked. Medically turned back July 23rd, paid the deposit to Yale as back up, she won't have the AFROTC scholarship.
There are risks on both sides of the argument. I get you want input, but honestly, if my DS went to USAFA I believe he would have commissioned, but I don't know if he would have been happy. He didn't want to be a doc. Hating where you attend, feeling trapped, usually = lower GPAs. Lower GPA for her out of USAFA could mean no ED option.
Talk to her. Ignore us.