AFROTC scholarship application questions

A

amirbenhayon

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Messages
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I'm wondering how early is early in the matters of first in first out. I have had all my paperwork in for about 2 weeks and my interview is this Friday which I have been preparing for quite a bit. I will be done with everything a full month before the first board meets, and I'm not sure if I was early enough
my gpa unweighted is 3.89 and 4.57 weighted(3 APs passed and 5 dual enrollment courses by the end of senior year)
SAT's are 650 CR and 620 M (1270)
Im in the marching band as a Drum Major and am going out for Track and field this spring
NHS member

Should I be a hopeful? i honestly don't know how I compare with most others.
I want the Air Force as a career and not just a source of money, so this is really big for me
 
First of all, kudos to you for your heart to serve! Secondly, your GPA is strong and the challenging course load is a very good thing. I am no expert--there are several others on this forum who are MUCH more knowledgable than me--but I would suggest retaking the SAT and also taking the ACT at your earliest convenience. Your scores are OK, but not stellar--and the Math could stand improvement, in particular. Also, have you any leadership experience--Scouts, club officer, sports captain, etc? Anything in that realm will be very helpful on your application.

Do absolutely everything you can to improve your scores and the leadership/volunteer aspects of your application. And then try not to compare yourself to others (because there are always others with better "everything" in their profiles), and work on your plans B, C, etc. I wish you all the best!!
 
Can't tell you if you made it in time for the first board, but applying early always helps because you will be judged by more boards.

As for your chances there isn't really enough information. You're GPA is a plus, and SAT scores are good, however it looks like you're sports and extracurriculars are sub-par. What is your intended major? Have you taken your PFT yet? If so, how were your scores?

I believe that the interview, extracurriculars, and the PFT score are vital when it comes to being selected for a scholarship. For example, I had a weighted 3.2 GPA, and a 27 ACT. Well below the average for scholarship recipients. However I had numerous extracurriculars, five varsity letters, VP of senior class, and countless others. I maxed out my PFT and did awesome in my interview. Those are the reasons I was awarded a scholarship.

So in conclusion, try to do very well in the interview. Don't quote me, but I believe the interviewer ranks his/her applicants in order of who they think deserves a scholarship. If you're at the top of that list I would say you're a fit-in for a scholarship.
 
my PFT I got a 10:59 run 41 pushups and 26 situps, but I didn't have the held feet as I see was a allowed. on my schools test I got 60+ situps with feet held

My EC's
Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
Marching Band, 9th-12th grade. Trumpet section Leader 11th and 12th grade, Asst. Drum Major 12th grade.
Concert Band- 9-12th grade 1st chair 10-12.
Wind Ensemble- 11-12 grade 1st chair all.
Jazz Band
Tampa Bay thunder Drum and Bugle Corps 2011 inaugural member (summer) (weekend tours)
Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps-Member 2012(summer) (87 day tour)
Relay For Life Committee Member 2012-2013

Awards & Accomplishments
PRIDE award 5th grade-Math for South Ward Elementary
AP Scholar Award-2012 for earning a passing grade on 3+ AP exams
Doorways Scholarship Recipient (2007)

Community Activities
National Honor Society-Service projects and plastic and paper recycling
Pinellas Opportunity Counsel- Community Service project developed to supply food to homeless shelter
Relay For Life 2012-2013
Concert Ushering
Church Musician December 24th 2011

I hate posting a full resume but I want to give people who can ease my mind a clear view of who I am. I weighed 216 pounds freshman and sophomore year and I was not fit for sports, Ive since lost much weight and am down to 153 but It was too late for me to do varsity

thanks in advance
 
The SAT is fair but may well not be good enough. You should work to bring it up if at all possible. Otherwise I would say your academics look pretty good. Leadership is fair and difficult to change at this point, so it is what it is. I think leader of trumpet section will be looked on favorably. You really need to retake the PFT is that is allowed. Besides allowing you to correct the issue on situps, you really need to bring down the runtime.

If you didn't mention it in your essay I would bring up the weight loss in the interview. It definitely shows determination, discipline and commitment to me at least. And congrats on that by the way! Wish I could do it!

Keep pressing on. It's all up to you. I hope it works out for you. :thumb:
 
As kinnem stated your SAT is fair, but not high enough IMPO for a Type 1 and not even the avg for a Type 2. You are in the ballpark for a Type 7, but you have not stated whether you are looking for a tech or a non-tech scholarship. A non-tech and with that SAT score it maybe even harder since only 25% of all Type 7s are for non-tech. Non-tech candidates typically have a higher SAT score than the avg due to the competition.

All of that being said, remember if you need the scholarship to pay for your dream school, a type 7 4 yr maybe a problem since they will only pay IS tuition, if it is above IS, they won't accept it. The option left for you is a Type 2 3 yr., that activates as a sophomore, so you need to keep in your mind 2 things:
1. How to pay your freshman yr
2. If you took the DoDMERB exam in the summer, than by the time you contract as a type 2 3 yr., the exam will be out of date since it is over 2 yrs old.

For AFROTC scholarship they do not count your sr. yr. The resume ends your junior yr. Going out for the 1st time spring track will not count.

SATs are not superscored, but best sitting, so if you are going to take them again, be prepared to up at least one section and try to up or maintain the other. For ex: if you get a 640 M and a 630 CR. you will stay at 1270, you will not get the score of 1290.

I think their concern may be PT issues because you have no athletics, and as kinnem stated try to bring that up in the interview so they understand not only why you weren't doing sports, but also your dedication to becoming fit.
 
I am.majoring in computer engineering or computer science. I have a tuition scholarship for about 3 years or 16,000 approximately but I plan on staying in state so freshman year is affordable.
 
If I recall correctly certain computer majors are tech, and certain are non-tech. You need to see which field you will fall into.

That placed aside, you also need to look at the scholarship you have been offered. Does it state tuition or is 16K merit? Big difference. Our DS had merit, and the college allowed it to be used for tuition or R &B.

AFROTC only pays for tuition. I don't know what college you are attending, but I don't know any IS college that charges 34K (Type 2 3 yr is 18K + 16 K) for just tuition.

If your college is only giving 16K to be expressly used for tuition, the AFROTC scholarship might not be your best option. AFROTCHQ will not cut you a check for the difference, nor will they place the difference to R & B. Some colleges allow cut rates for R & B when it comes to ROTC cadets.

Basically, as I read it you have two scholarships that only pay tuition. You are out of pocket for the other portion, and as a parent, I can tell you that the other portion is 50% + each yr.

If I were you right now, I would read the fine print from your college because you could be owing 15-20K a yr.

What is your AF career aspirations? Are you willing to give your life until 2022 to the AF?

No my math is not wrong. The way AFROTC works is you can expect 4-9 months after commissioning before reporting. Attend a school that is 6 months long, graduate from there and the clock starts.

The thought that it is 4 and door from commissioning, is typically not true. It is 4 and door from operational ADAF, thus closer to 5. Graduate in 17, and that means 2022.

Go rated, and it is a whole new ball of wax. DS entered as a scholarship recipient in fall 08, if he wings, he can leave in 2025 at best! He will be 35.

Something to think about.

Caveat: The only positive for the AFROTC scholarship if both only pay tuition is the book allowance and stipend. The negative is if you take the AFROTC scholarship, come sophomore yr you are on the hook be it commitment or repaying the loan if not commissioned. Look up gojira to see why this is important to understand when you contract.
 
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Computer Engineering and Computer Science are both technical majors.

Edit: From AFROTC website:
Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Meteorology, Nuclear Physics, and Nuclear Engineering are highly desired majors for AFROTC cadets. Scholarship applicants selecting these majors might receive priority in the scholarship selection process.
 
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I am perfectly okay with an AF career, as I can get my hands on a computer with many of the officer positions. I could spend 20 years there and I'd be okay with that. From research I've done at the schools I've applied to, a few give me the excess ROTC money for room and board, which is why I would be very happy with type 7. My ideal schools tuition is 6k a year and similarly priced room and board. My current scholarship is tuition only though. I dearly want the ROTC experience in college and a career as an officer but I fear I have decided this too late(my app is done, its just a worry of mine).
Thank you for all the input so far :)
 
amirbenhayon said:
I am perfectly okay with an AF career, as I can get my hands on a computer with many of the officer positions. I could spend 20 years there and I'd be okay with that. From research I've done at the schools I've applied to, a few give me the excess ROTC money for room and board, which is why I would be very happy with type 7. My ideal schools tuition is 6k a year and similarly priced room and board. My current scholarship is tuition only though. I dearly want the ROTC experience in college and a career as an officer but I fear I have decided this too late(my app is done, its just a worry of mine).
Thank you for all the input so far :)
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AFROTC will only pay the $6000 tuition. If any money is going to go towards R&B it will have to come from your non-AFROTC scholarship.

AROTC will let you use the scholarship for R&B but AFROTC will not.
 
amirnemhayon said:
From research I've done at the schools I've applied to, a few give me the excess ROTC money for room and board, which is why I would be very happy with type 7.
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BS, BS, BS, did I forget to say BS?

AFROTC will not pay one penny for R & B , and if your colleges say they will, they are lying!

It is tuition, and tuition only. Look it up on http://afrotc.com

You are being fed a hook on a line like a fish. AFROTC has not and will not, pay the excess for Room and Board. It is not X amount of dollars to use as you choose. It is tuition, tuition only!!!!!!!! If it costs 6K and you get a type 1, they will only pay 6K.

I cannot stress it enough, the school is wrong. AFROTC scholarship will not give any money for Room and Board! The school may give free Room and Board as a scholarship recipient, but that is not from AFROTCHQ, that is the school's decision.
 
"Can I earn an Air Force ROTC Scholarship even if I have another scholarship?
If you earn an Air Force Scholarship, we pay on top of any other scholarships you have. Guess where the extra money goes? In your pocket. You could get paid to go to school. We sweeten the deal by paying you a monthly tax free stipend and covering your textbooks. The best part is there is no commitment until you accept a scholarship from us or become a junior in our program. Test drive it for a semester. We think you'll love it. For more information on scholarships, click here."

This is from the University of Florida Det website
I am not making it up, maybe I just interpreted it wrong.
 
That may be a new thing.

Read this:
http://afrotc.com/scholarships/high-school/scholarship-types/

Notice it says TUITION.

I looked up U of Florida det website.

This is exactly what it says for Det 150
http://afrotc.com/scholarships/high-school/scholarship-types/

Air Force ROTC can help you to overcome the financial hardships associated with college, and when you complete your degree you've got career opportunities after school - debt free.

We can help with:
Tuition
Books and ther school-type expenses
Extra spending money

Nowhere does it say Room and Board or you get to pocket the money when it comes to merit and AFROTC paying more than it costs. It says TUITION that is it. That is U of Florida GATORDDET home page.

Please link the link that says you get to pocket the money or place it to R & B because honestly, many cadets in the system paying R & B out of pocket will meet with their 1st shirts tomorrow.

Again maybe things have changed, but this would be the 1st det that I have ever heard of in the past 5 yrs that allows AFROTC scholarship cadets to pocket the change.

Please link the exact link and the det as I have, because it assists every candidate to see if the AFROTC rules now allow what this college is stating as fact.

OBTW,

I think you misread what you quoted.
"Can I earn an Air Force ROTC Scholarship even if I have another scholarship?
If you earn an Air Force Scholarship, we pay on top of any other scholarships you have. Guess where the extra money goes? In your pocket. You could get paid to go to school.
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If you are merit as I stated prior than AFROTC will pay for tuition, and merit will pay for the rest, the college has the option to place it back in your pocket. AFROTC only pays tuition.

In your case you stated that the school is giving 16K in tuition, not merit. They are not offering R & B, and AFROTC won't pay it either. Merit allows it to be placed against R & B, and in that case AFROTC scholarship would pick up the tuition.

EX:
16K merit per year, tuition is 6 K.

AFROTC pays the 6k, school picks up the R & B. Type 7, you will get the 250/mo stipend and 900 book allowance.
~~~ Free

16 K tuition ONLY per yr, tuition is 6 K.

AFROTC will pay the 6K, AFROTC and the college will pay squat to R & B because it was TUITION only. You would still get the 250 a month and 900 for books, but you would not get one more penny. R & B is on your dime because the scholarship is only tuition.


Like I said I would love to read from any ROTC cadet, be it AF, Army or Navy that they got to pocket money as you just stated.
 
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That appears to be a recruiting statement. I think they are leaving a few things up for interpretation in a way that is perhaps a little mis-leading. If you have other scholarships, that has no bearing on an AFROTC scholarship. AFROTC will pay your tuition and IF the other scholarship allows it will be used to pay room and board. Some scholarships do allow for money to be paid to you so you can use it to cover other costs.

An AFROTC scholarship will pay tuition only, plus a book allowance and a monthly stipend that varies by year.
 
I cannot post links but its on the UF Air Force ROTC FAQ page.
I dont mean to sound like a pretentious kid who knows it all, thats why Im asking for advice here.
 
amirbenhayon said:
I cannot post links but its on the UF Air Force ROTC FAQ page.
I dont mean to sound like a pretentious kid who knows it all, thats why Im asking for advice here.
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I checked the page and you quoted it accurately. Unfortunately, Pima is giving you the straight skinny. It all depends on how your other scholarship can be used, so its possible the other scholarship would be of no value to you if it were only to cover tuition.
 
Got it. I missed the UF in his post. I had already looked at the UF site and as I posted earlier I don't think it is really wrong but it seems to be mis-leading.
 
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