M98234

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Jul 29, 2016
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Hello Everyone,

I will be a freshman this fall on a 4 year type 7 technical major scholarship in AFROTC. When I first applied for the scholarship I applied as a meteorology major. I thought meteorology would be interesting but after much thought my mind has changed (as it does for many my age). I am, however, heavily interested in economics. I also heard that meteorology is currently an undermanned field in the AF. I know part of being in the military is doing whatever job they tell you to do but I really don't want to do weather. The only issue is that although economics does require some hard math classes and is in the college of science, it is a non-technical major. I know if I switch, there's a high chance of losing the scholarship. My question is if anyone knows if it is a guarantee that there will be a loss of scholarship or does it go somewhere for review where it will be either approved or denied.

Many Thanks
 
Before I answer your question, I think you need to sit down with the folks and have an adult conversation about financially can you afford to attend your college without the scholarship.

It will go to HQ AFROTC for approval via through your det. CoC, but I am going to be honest regarding chances of keeping it. Chances are going to be very slim that they will approve it especially since you have yet to even start school and AFROTC. Still go for it, but be prepared for the answer to be NO.
~ To them it could look suspect that you tried to "game" the system at this point. I am not saying you did that, but at this point they can only go off the fact that before you even start school you have decided to go from a tech to a non-tech major.

Now on the flip side they may allow you to convert to Econ, but the reason maybe because from your WCS they deemed that whether you went tech or non-tech your score was high enough to earn the scholarship as a non-tech.

Remember also the fact that there is a limited pot of gold for the HSSP and ICSP, but they also know that a specific percentage will not activate the scholarship, either because they went to an SA or took another ROTC scholarship. This can also play into the equation of whether or not they will allow you to convert it to a non-tech. If more than they predicted activate the scholarship in the fall than your chances will diminish, if there is still money in the pot than your chances increase.

As you stated the AF considers meteorology as a critical manning AFSC and again that maybe another reason why you were awarded the scholarship and that could play largely into whether they allow you to convert it.

All you can do is ask for them to convert it and be prepared financially to pay for school if they say no. I would never recommend you keep the scholarship and major in a field that you know is not a match for you. The main reason why is impo that is a sure key to failure because when you hate what you are doing it will seep into other parts of your life.
~ I.E. you can end up failing a class and in that case if your cgpa drops too low than as much as you might love AFROTC or your college and friends, the scholarship can be yanked, and that is the best result. The worst result is not getting selected for SFT, which could mean dis-enrollment from AFROTC on top of the loss of scholarship.

Best of luck, and thank you for wanting to defend this great nation.
 
Thank you for the reply. After thinking it over I think I'll give it at least a semester. Since most classes are the same for freshman anyway, combined with my AP credits, I am currently enrolled in a introduction to meteorology class and also an economics class. That way I can give each a try and make a more informed decision if I decide to switch. I also think it would look better on my part if I give it a try and decide after a semester or two that I don't like it. I honestly did not think about how it would look a little suspect if I tried to switch right from the start. I really appreciate the insight.
 
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how difficult it would be to change from a tech to tech?
 
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how difficult it would be to change from a tech to tech?

My buddy switched from Electrical to Mechanical without a hitch. Tech to tech, by assumption, should be easier to switch than tech to non-tech.
 
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