AFROTC Scholarship chances?

kingneptune117

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
46
Hey all,

I have a 28 ACT, a 3.2/4 gpa, top 60% class rank (bad I know)

I have been employed at a grocery store for two years straight, working about 14 hours a week. I played JV tennis freshman year.

I have community service back from 8th grade, should I even put that on my application? Just curious if that would be unreasonable.

Anyway I know my application is pretty weak, but I am a VERY determined person who really wants to serve and maybe I can show them that in the interview. I dont have my PFA stats yet, but you guys tell me how good I need to do on my PFA in order for me to have a chance at this scholarship. Thanks.
 
AFROTC is the most competitive for places, and they seem to be cutting back.

Your class ranking might be an issue:

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, you must achieve an SAT composite of 1100 (Math and Verbal portion only) or ACT composite of 24, attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have a class ranking in the top 40%.


http://afrotc.com/scholarships/high-school/eligibility/

What major/profession are you wanting to get into.
 
Who did you call up?

Maxwell is not going to say to you not to worry about class rank.

The only way they may say that is i you are attending one of the top 10 Public HS in the nation, because rank and school profile are placed into the equation for PAR.

Attending TJJHS and being in he top 50% academically would probably still beat out the valedictorian for another HS (Their SAT median is in the 1500's out of 1600). It is the number 1 HS in the US.

PAR accounts for 60% of your WCS. This is what they look at
1. SAT
2. GPA (re-weghted to their parameters)
3. Rank
4. Course rigor
5. School profile ---i.e. % that go Ivy, Private, IS, OOS, 2 yr, trade, etc.

From there they create a score.

Now put that aside. Let's talk reality.

~~~You have no chance of getting one if you don't apply

~~~ If you have a certain school in mind, contact the det. There are schools that work with the det for admittance.

Additionally certain schools cut their rates for ROTC students, see if the college does.

The det has no impact on the scholarship process. However, you have now put your name on their radar.

~~~If you do not get one apply in college for a 3 yr.


If you really want to serve you won't give up. Just keep chugging away.

OBTW to answer your question...the PFA is really a small amount.
 
I called up the number on the AFROTC website and they said that it is not a REQUIREMENT, it of course still matters, but I do not have to have a 40% class rank to be eligible.

I am going to work my ass off on the PFA either way.

I will NEVER give up on my dream of becoming an Air Force pilot. Being an officer is awesome and I would have NO problem not being a pilot, but I will keep trying for a pilot slot because that is my ultimate goal.

The only thing that may hold me back is DODMERB because of a birth defect on my hand since birth. It of course does not affect what I do but the doc may not believe me. Even if I do not get the scholarship I am of course still going for AFROTC.

I am planning on going to U of Iowa. What do I say to them when I call?

Thanks for the help guys.
 
There is a difference between requirement and being concerned about the class rank.

The only academic requirement I know of is the SAT/ACT min. However, you just need to understand how the WCS works, and rank is a very small % of the PAR, but it still is a part of PAR scoring. GPA and SAT are the big players in PAR.

The birth defect can be an issue for DodMerb. I would suggest to do the following:

1. Get every bit of your medical records together now in case you have to get a waiver...starting from when it was diagnosed.

2. Go onto the DodMerb forum here and ask MullenLE what you need to do to get ahead of the issue.

Mullen may say it is not a DQ issue and thus, nothing, he may say you need to do x,y,z.

Tell him you want to be a pilot. I say that because there are officers who are medically cleared for everything, but flying; again, it is always wise to be ahead of the game.

DQs can take months to clear up if waivers are needed, the sooner you know the faster it can be rectified.

I would call them and arrange a visit. I would ask to have a one on one with the leadership, and also ask when I was making the apptmt to see if you could talk to some of the cadets.

They are always happy to do this, so don't think you are disrupting their schedules.

When there be frank and honest with the leadership. Don't sugar coat your background (academically, medically or EC). The only way to get an honest chance from them is if you are honest with them.

Tell them regardless of the scholarship you will be enrolling in the AFROTC program.

Discuss their program, how many cadets, how many on scholarship, % of cadets that have det jobs, % that get their 1st pick for AFSC, what were their college stats for those that got their 1st pick? Ask if they have a "mentor" program for C100s...this is a program where C300's are assigned to you in case you need/want their guidance regarding the program; i.e. how to get a job in the det., which military fraternity to join, or to join one at all, PFA issues,etc.

You have made the decision to go to UI and AFROTC, now is the time to start laying the foundation for your ROTC career. The more you know prior to entering the more competitive you will be when you enter.

It is not common for candidates to visit dets. They visit the colleges, but rarely ask for interviews at the det. This also allows them to put a name to your face prior to arriving. As a C100 at big dets, the 1st semester is putting a name to the face.

Good luck.
 
Pima,

Thank you for the very useful information.

I have talked to Mr. Mullen MANY times, and he said I have to wait until I take the DODMERB so he can help me. He just does not know since everything is a case by case basis.


Also, and this is to everybody, here are my PFA results! I gave it 100%!

1.5 MILE RUN: 10:50
CRUNCHES 1 MINUTE: 42
SIT UPS 1 MINUTE: 53

I didnt do so hot on the crunches. First of all, I had trouble doing them since they were directly after the pushups, second of all nobody was holding my feet. I'm not sure the feet thing would have made a difference. On my school fitness test, I get upwards of 60 since we use this blue board with feet holders. Not sure why I did so bad on that but whats done is done.
 
The one thing most candidates don't understand is that their PFA numbers traditionally change when they get to the det., because now there will be higher ranking cadets making sure you do it their way.

I am not a fan of making excuses, because trust me, doing the PFA in 40 degree weather at 3 pm will get you better results than doing it in 30 degree weather as it is raining at 6 a.m. in the morning while they shout at you.

Your run needs to be worked on. Currently that is @ 7:45 min mile, you really want to aim for a 7 minute mile.

Candidates that will become cadets, should not stop working out over the summer. The fastest way to put your face to your name is by falling out of PT. There will be a POC cadet that runs behind the slowest runner and they will keep calling out your last name until you are no longer the one they are following. Do that a couple of times and now they know you, but not in a good way.
 
from the stats that I posted of myself though, what do you think about my chances?

I work out at least 3 times a week. I just started a month ago so I expect to improve.
 
I am not a sugar coat kind of girl because I think it does more harm than good.

The fact is you have some issues when it comes to the AFROTC scholarship, but at the same time I don't have the real picture because there are things that they look at that you have yet to discuss.

1. ACT is 28, but that could also be 24 V and 32 M. The 24 V would basically place you in the snow balls chance since they consider that score non-competitive.

2. You have not stated your intended major. 95% of the big time scholarships go to technical majors.

If you intend to major in poli-sci, it is going to be hard with those stats because the competition is stiff.

If you intend to major in Chinese, you sit better because they need people like that...just realize if you intend to major in a high demand foreign language the sword cuts both ways, and they may say no to you going UPT.

3. I don't know how many APs you have taken or your course rigor in the school.

If you have a 3.2 uw, but have taken every single advance class available than that plays into the equation.

If it is a 3.2 and the only AP you took were Western Art and Human Geography it will hurt.

4. The school profile.

If your hs send 25% to Ivies, 25% Private/IS, 25% OOS and the remaining 25% split among CC, trade and work than again you will sit better at the 60% marker because they see the school as very competitive.

Conversely if only 1% goes Ivy, 40% go IS/OOS and Private, while the remaining 59% go trade or CC, that will hurt you.

5. Diversity

The AF wants diversity in their programs and sometimes it is the diversity that you bring to them which will push you over the line.

Let's say you are 1/4 Native Indian, well that helps. Or maybe in your essay you tell them your family immigrated from Croatia in 94.

The scholarship selection is like college admission selections, they look at the Whole Person, not just one aspect. The only difference is they are up front and honest about the % they put to every aspect.


6. The final issue that every candidates needs to pound into their skull is that 99% of every AFA candidate will opt to apply as their plan B.

Maxwell does not talk to the AFA when it comes to the scholarship board...in other words they don't say send me over the list of those you have apptd so we don't waste our time giving them a scholarship.

That means you have to use the AFA candidate as your marker to knock off or at least be on their level to give you some sense of security.

There is absolutely nobody here who would give you a % chance, because nobody here has the whole picture of your packet. The best we can do is to point out how the system works and constantly remind you that you have 0% chance of getting a scholarship if you do not submit your paperwork.


Right now if you have submitted everything, it is now out of your hands, the answer will come soon enough. Now is the time to relish every last second in hs...go to the basketball games, hang with your friends, find a date for prom. Before you know it you will be picking up you cap and gown for graduation and saying I wish I spent more time with you guys instead of fretting over something I had no control over.

Trust me as a Mom, that is always the big regret for kids on graduation day.
 
The longer you stick around here the more you learn.

I really do believe this is the greatest site for anyone interested in the military.

It is also important for those who apply to multiple services that each ROTC selection process is different.

Just because the AFROTC process works one way don't take a leap that the NROTC or AROTC follows suit.

The AFROTC system is very unique because it is a de-centralized system. They do not "talk" and do not place any weight when it comes to university selection.

It is a nationalistic approach on a WCS point scale.

Score above the line and you get a scholarship to take anywhere they accept AFROTC, below and there is no scholarship.

Pound into your head that the AF doesn't care if 100% of the det is on scholarship or 10% are on scholarship at that det. It is all about what you bring to the table.

If you want to go UPT or try again for the AFA you really need to talk to that det and see how it washes out. Ask for statistical percentages, not the number of who got what....i.e 10 UPT slots came down for U of X, and only 5 came down for U of Y, however...

U of X had 40 candidates and U of Y had 12. Logic states U of Y gives you a better opportunity to get UPT even though the number was less.

The same for AFA, if you really want to go to the AFA, it is best to inform them now before entering. A great det will have no problem supporting you with an ROTC nom.

A. They want the best for the AF.

B. By informing them now, they know to keep an eye on you come the beginning of term. This will allow them to be prepared to write a rec.

~~~DON'T...DON'T ...DON'T hide this from them, because nothing will tick the command off faster than you coming in Sept and asking for a rec for the ROTC nom when they are just getting to know you as a cadet.

Our DS flittered back in forth from the AFA and AFROTC, he met the det CC to make a decision. The CC knew it was between the 2 of them and Notre Dame AFROTC.

He flat out said to our DS: "If in Sept., you decide you made the wrong choice I will support you for the AFA".

That assurance made our DS walk out and ask to go to the Bursars office to put down the deposit.

Sept. rolled around and he called in our DS to his office to see if he wanted to leave. He didn't.

The point is great AFROTC commanders care about not only the cadet, but the AF and it is very important to have that in your AFROTC career.

Now throw all of that aside, it is also important to remember that for them it is not personal, it is professional.

If they are being harsh from a criticism POV, it has nothing to do of how they feel about you personally, it has everything to do with shaking you hard enough to get on their page.

In the military you need to always remember it is always professional, and for an 18 yo that is hard to comprehend. It is hard to grasp that the military will treat an 18 yo the same as a 45 yo.

Parents of candidates, and scholarship recipients be prepared, this might be your baby, but to them they will not be viewed that way. Book money doesn't get deposited, the ROTC program will not talk to you even if you are paying for the difference of the scholarship and tuition. Late fee hit because ROTC didn't pay soon enough for the college, they won't talk to you if your child is over 18. SFT conflicts with the wedding of the ROTC cadets sister, you have no voice in changing Maxwell 1 to Maxwell 5, it is all up to the cadet to argue it.

ROTC parents once the cadet is over 18 you will have no ability to talk to ROTC. This is not the college world where they will work with the parents regarding issues, this is the military and they see 18 as a legal age of consent.
 
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Im going into mechanical engineering. I only have one AP class, and that is this year.

Also, I sent in my personal statement monday from illinois, and it goes to maxwell which is in alabama. They have yet to update the site saying they have recieved it!

I faxed in my PFA yesterday though, and it is already updated as me turning it in. What gives? Should I resend it?
 
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Im going into mechanical engineering. I only have one AP class, and that is this year.

Also, I sent in my personal statement monday from illinois, and it goes to maxwell which is in alabama. They have yet to update the site saying they have recieved it!

I faxed in my PFA yesterday though, and it is already updated as me turning it in. What gives? Should I resend it?

I would call Maxwell and check but when my stuff was going through this time last year, they were backed up a couple weeks.
 
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