AFROTC Application Process

oklempay

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Joined
Jul 22, 2015
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Hi there, as a first time poster of this forum, I wanted to ask a few general questions regarding the AFROTC application process and put up my stats as I am all new to this and a first time in my family.

First, here is my background:

Academics:

-Jan. 2015 SAT: 1850
-March 2015 SAT: 1870
-June 2015 ACT: Comp. 33, English 34, Math 30, Reading 36, Science 33
Unweighted GPA (on a 4 scale): 3.96
No class ranking as my school doesn't do that, but my class size is ~190 and is a fairly competitive school w/ many kids going to Ivy's and high level universities.

Freshman Year: Honors Bio Prep, Honors Global, Honors English
Sophomore Year: AP Euro (4), AP Chem (2), Honors English, PLTW courses
Jr. Year: AP Calc AB (4), AP English Lit. (4), AP Physics 1 (2), AP Env. Science (5), AP US Hist. (5)

I'm signed up for another 5 AP's my senior year
My intended major for college is astronautical engineering. Top school is Cornell U.

Activities:
- Varsity Cross Country (1 yr)
- Varsity Tennis Team (3 yrs)
Clubs:
-Latin Club, Mathletics, Science Olympiad, Physical Science Club, Leadership Core, Key Club, National Honors Society (Treasurer), Theatre Club (was a lead)
- Working towards Private Pilots Certificate (only 6 hrs in right now)
- 50+ hours of volunteer service
- Finished 11 yrs of religion class at local church

PT:
- 40 pushups a minute, ~55 situps a minute, 6:10 mile best, 10:30 mile and a half. I'm still working daily to improve all of these scores.

Reason for ROTC:
I want to serve my country and this seems to be the best fit. Everything I have today only comes from other people fighting to preserve it and keeping this country safe. I hope to pay them back by taking their place one day.

So the questions I have as I'm new to this are:
1.) Does it make a difference turning in all your submission forms way before the Jan. 12 deadline (ie. September)? Does submitting earlier get you higher up on "the list"?
2.) What is the state of funding of the Air Force this year? I understand that the number of ROTC cadets depends heavily on how much funding they get, so is this year better/worse than other years?
3.) I am trying hard for a type I scholarship, so would the above criteria be competitive?
Thank you for your time!

 
1. 1st board is typically DEC. Jan 12th impo means you already missed the Dec board, and might miss the Jan. board too.
~~ I do not know the Jan. date for the board. However:

It is a queue system. Board members are sent to sit on the board for X days. Let's say they have 1500 for the Dec. board. They review 1250. Now come Jan. they have 1750. The remaining 250 will be reviewed, and they than start the 1750 from the Jan list.

Longer you wait, the longer it will be until you are boarded. There is a limited pot of gold. They can't assume you will apply Jan. 11 th.

2.Funding is funding. I would not worry about that at all. I would pay heed to the system.
~ It is known here as a 2+2 scholarship. If selected for SFT as a rising junior they will pay the last 2 years. If not they will probably revoke the scholarship.
~ AFROTC does not include anything from your senior year, but new ACT/SAT scores when it comes to the board.

3. I don't know if you can get a type 1. Your SAT vs. ACT scores are huge differential.
~ SAT Mar 1870 (800 is the top, so I am guessing 620 each subject). However, in June your ACT would place you 730 on each. That is a huge bump.

~~ 1460 SAT ACT equivalent will place you in the Type 1 zone, They will use the bestof the two. Best sitting. I am not going to lie the fact is @6000 kids apply. @900 will receive a scholarship. Out of that about 50 or 5% in the nation will get type 1.

You look solid for a scholarship, but I am not sure that you will be a type 1. It comes down to the pool. If this year 4000 apply than your chances increase. 7000 and it decreases.

Please remember if the only way you can attend Cornell is with the scholarship rethink this path. What if you hate AFROTC as a freshmen? What if you hate the engineering program? What if you don't get selected for SFT?

I know I created more questions than answers, but you need to have those answers when you interview.
 
Thanks for the quick reply!

I can attend Cornell w/out the type I scholarship between my parents and the money I have set aside. I'm also in NY so that helps. I still choose to do ROTC though to take a load off of them and for the experience it will give. If I hate ROTC then I'll find some way to make it work. I find ways to make stressful situations manageable, like during AP week at school.

As I've read, I can walk away during the first two years without having to pay back the scholarship, but I don't think I'll be doing that. I have done extensive research into the engineering program at Cornell and have talked with those involved in it currently. I feel like its a good fit for me. Other colleges I'm applying to are Georgia Tech and Purdue University.

If I don't get selected for SFT then I will disenroll from ROTC and pay back the first two years which I can cover. I would then continue on w/ my regular college career pursuing a masters in engineering.

Other questions though: Does the big difference in my SAT and ACT scores make much of a difference? If you said that they take the best, then does my low SAT scores pose any sort of problem? Also, that is my ACT from one sitting just as a note.
 
As I've read, I can walk away during thefirst two year without having to pay back the scholarship,

False. You get to walk scott free up until the day before the 1st day of school as a sophomore.
IOWs 1 year.

They take the best. The board will look at your ACT since it is a higher best sitting. They will not see your SAT.
 
Pima for the FSIE (Freshman Self Initiated Elimination) you actually have up to the start of sophomore AFROTC class, which may begin later than the actual 1st day of school as a sophomore.
 
I did a broad brush stroke. The OP thought they could walk away during their 1st 2 years. Start of sophomore year and start of AFROTC is what? 1 week, maybe 2 weeks difference?
Huge difference than what the OP was saying:
I can walk away during the first two years without having to pay back the scholarship

There is no walk a way without paying back if you stay your entire sophomore year. That is the assumption the OP is under. They can walk at anytime during the 1st 2 years with no harm/no foul.

The OP also does not understand another aspect. SFT
If I don't get selected for SFT then I will disenroll from ROTC and pay back the first two years which I can cover.

They can disenroll you, probably will. You aren't on the hook for that dime. Now, if they don't disenroll you, and you leave voluntarily than you could be on the hook for the 2 years.
~ Difference is they cut you lose because you were not selected. You on the other hand left.

Sometimes, if the OP is new and has a misconception, it is best to do the broad strokes. in that case. Trust me, I know that school usually chimes up about 1 week before ROTC. However, the OP right now thinks it is anytime within the 1st 2 years.

Don't pay attention to any last post. Pay attention to the OP. These threads warp alot.
 
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Oh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up Pima, I wasn't aware of the smaller details. I'm finding that there's a lot to take in. Is there some website where the entire process is laid out step by step with the little details such as these? I've checked the AFROTC site and I can see vague mentions of stuff you've talked about here, but nothing specific.
 
Even if you don't get a scholarship right off the bat, you can still compete when your in school for a 3 and 2 year scholarship.

Your numbers and what you did in high school though will not matter, it's about how you perform in college.

Study hard (3.5 or higher GPA) exercise (97 or higher PFA), and be involved in your detachment to get a high CC ranking.

Good luck
 
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