USAF - Mathematics Degree

xray328

5-Year Member
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Apr 7, 2015
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So as I've already posted our DS was accepted to MIT and plans to be a cadet at Detachment 365. His original plan was to major in Aerospace Engineering but now he's considering a degree in mathematics. I think this whole time he was told he should be an engineer because he's a wiz at math and science. But he's starting to realize he loves math and from what we've researched a love of math doesn't necessarily equate to a love of engineering. In talking to AFROTC recruiters I don't think a switch to a math degree would be a deal breaker for the scholarship, but we aren't sure what a math major would do for the Air Force or what that would translate to in the civilian sector. My thoughts were to get a bachelors in math and a masters in business (which of course the AF probably wouldn't pay for) which could lead into something like investment banking. Any thoughts are very much appreciated. Thanks!
 
First, your major has little or nothing to do with what one does for a living in the military. DS was a history major and not very engineering oriented. He's now excelling as a Communications Officer in the Corps which is a pretty technical field. The AF will not pay for the Masters in most cases but he could serve long enough to get some GI benefits.

The real issue for your DS is two fold. When awarded the scholarship it can say 'for any major' or it can specify the major, probably engineering in your son's case since that's the major he listed on the application. If it specifies the major then he needs to major in that or get permission to switch majors. If he is switching between technical majors or from a non-technical to a technical major then it's usually fairly easy to get permission but is not guaranteed.

Your DS needs to do two things. First he needs to consult the scholarship award letter to see what it says about his major. Second, he needs to check with the unit to see if there is a math major that is in the same (technical vs non-technical) field. They can tell him whether any major at the college he attends is considered technical or non-technical. Not all majors/colleges are equal in this regard.
 
This might seem silly to ask, but we are early in the process .... when applying for an AFROTC high school scholarship, is it a general application to the scholarship or do you apply first to the school and then to the scholarship? If the process is to apply for and receive an AFROTC scholarship first, what is the decision date so that you know how/where to apply to colleges thereafter?
 
This might seem silly to ask, but we are early in the process .... when applying for an AFROTC high school scholarship, is it a general application to the scholarship or do you apply first to the school and then to the scholarship? If the process is to apply for and receive an AFROTC scholarship first, what is the decision date so that you know how/where to apply to colleges thereafter?
They are independent processes. You fill out one application for the scholarship and separate applications for the colleges. It is entirely up to you to be accepted by the college. Make sure you pick some safety schools. All that being said, the list of schools for the scholarship application for AFROTC has almost no meaning. Once awarded a scholarship you can take it to any college with an AFROTC unit, within the restrictions imposed by the scholarship type.
 
His original plan was to major in Aerospace Engineering but now he's considering a degree in mathematics. I think this whole time he was told he should be an engineer because he's a wiz at math and science. But he's starting to realize he loves math and from what we've researched a love of math doesn't necessarily equate to a love of engineering.

Ditto my DS, commissioned out of AROTC in 2015.

He was a math whiz who loved Chemistry, so Chem E was a natural major. He abandoned it for Chemistry midway through sophomore year for two reasons:
  1. He hated it. His strength was problem solving using math and logic. His weakness was problem solving based on rote leaning.
  2. Chem E and ROTC left no room for electives. In his case, he wanted classes in foreign language (Arabic) and computer science classes.
First, your major has little or nothing to do with what one does for a living in the military.

This was certainly the case with his running mate during his Project Go summer in Kiev. This kid, an AFROTC cadet, was a Russian Language major at Iowa State. He wanted to become and he became a USAF pilot.

My DS, like @kinnem 's, is a communication's officer in the Army. His CS courses made the academic side of his training much easier than for those without the STEM degrees, but the branch does not require them.

I will tell you what I tell everyone who plots a course for longer than 18 months for their pre-college master of the universe, raised in comfortable circumstances--wishing someone had done the same for me. At 18, most of them know nothing about the world and not much more about themselves. This includes the Eagle Scouts and Varsity Team Captains. These upcoming years are exciting as they discover strengths, weaknesses and passions they never knew they had.

When my DS was the age of yours, I had him finishing up his advanced degree in Chem E, going off to 3M for several years before getting his Harvard MBA. I didn't even know about his ROTC scholarship until right before his HS graduation. Fast forward and he's setting up communications nodes in the middle of the desert and just finished airborne school.

BTW Congratulations on the scholarship and MIT. Those are huge! He has every reason to dream big and you have every reason to be very proud.
 
My daughter was similar. She started with an intent to double major in math and aerospace engineering. She found out she didn’t care for the math. But back to your son’s situation, keep in mind that mit doesn’t let you declare a major until after your sophomore year. This’ll give him time to figure out his major. Best yet it also allows him to talk with the commander about it. I wouldn’t worry about it. Any degree from mit will open doors. There’s a lot of people using algorhythms and need math experts.
 
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