AFROTC schools for USAFA reapply

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HANKER

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If acceptance doesn't happen this year, for sure the plan is to try again next year for USAFA. In the meantime, need to understand what schools catch the attention most of USAFA for AFROTC programs if one wants to become a pilot. Ideally the school isn't huge, but that is less of a factor than reputation. I have searched on this site and do not really see a comprehensive list. Will be applying for AFROTC scholarship. Actually finished with all aspects of the application and ready to hit send after picking and ranking schools!
 
HANKER said:
If acceptance doesn't happen this year, for sure the plan is to try again next year for USAFA. In the meantime, need to understand what schools catch the attention most of USAFA for AFROTC programs if one wants to become a pilot. Ideally the school isn't huge, but that is less of a factor than reputation. I have searched on this site and do not really see a comprehensive list. Will be applying for AFROTC scholarship. Actually finished with all aspects of the application and ready to hit send after picking and ranking schools!
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Controversial comment, but if you want to be a pilot and that's THE GOAL, regardless of branch... Go to USMMA.
 
Grads of USMMA can commission in any branch or sail commercially on a US-flagged ship to fulfill their obligation. The way the numbers work out grads of KP applying for USN Flight billets are accepted at a very high rate. There is much discussion and debate on this topic in the USMMA forum. Do some homework, and make your own decisions, but don't rule it out.
 
Look up Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. They have all ROTC programs. I believe their AFROTC slots are full though.
 
OP, in your case you as a rising HS senior (?) would apply simultaneously to the USAFA and to AFROTC HSSP scholarship program. You might get accepted to both, and choose between them. If you are not accepted into USAFA, you might be given a prep-school path to pursue USAFA. Or if you are rejected by the academy, you can either participate as a AFROTC scholarship recipient if awarded, or compete as a college programmer to earn an ICSP scholarship for AFROTC. Of course, while in AFROTC you can reapply to USAFA.

Your question views ROTC as a means to an end. I would recommend you keep an open mind as maybe you'll find a home in AFROTC during your first year. If you move to USAFA you'll start over so 4 more vs 3 more years of schooling after that freshman year.

I think the school that USAFA pays attention to are candidate specific - which candidate has a stellar recommendation from their unit, a 4.0, is active / a learning sponge in AFROTC, takes on advancing responsibilities. Which college and major would allow you to achieve that? Would I take on the toughest grind of an engineering program and get a 2.6 GPA and only time to do the min. in AFROTC? Nope- not with your goals. Find a program you'll thrive in.

I also recommend you pursue multiple academies, ROTC programs if your goal is to serve. Each year we see posts from high GPA/ high SAT candidates who are rejected when on-paper THEY thought they wouldn't be.
 
I definitely will keep an open mind, and I'm applying to USAFA and USNA and AFROTC scholarship. I actually feel I will be rejected despite my high stats, so that is why I'm preparing and would love to hear about the most notable AFROTC programs instead of guessing. I'm fully prepared to fall in love with a school and change my mind, but I keep reading that "all of the AFROTC schools are good so make it more about the type of school you like." I am not a candidate for prep school, I have been told my stats academically are too high.
 
The "most notable" AFROTC program is the one at the school that's a best fit for you. The advice you'll regularly see on SAF is to pick the school, not the AFROTC unit. That's because AFROTC will be a small (if important) part of your total college experience. If the fit is right with the school, then all should be well with AFROTC too. Day-to-day satisfaction with school will have greater impact on AFROTC satisfaction than vice-versa.

If you do -- somehow -- figure out if there's such a thing as a "favored school" yet don't excel there, your candidacy won't be helped by the school's reputation. Your personal credentials and accomplishments, not any one school's supposed standing, are what will get you a USAFA appointment.
 
To echo what some of the other individuals have said, pick the school based on what fits your goals. From my understanding, USAFA does not care that much about what school an AFROTC applicant is from. They will look at GPA, major, AFROTC performance, the rest of the package, and the school is simply a footnote. However, if your goal is simply to fly, I would not count AFROTC out.

I applied to USAFA back in the day. I recieved the TWE. I went to a normal college, did AFROTC, reapplied to USAFA, got a second TWE. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. I fell in love with AFROTC, got my pilot slot, and the rest is history. It is not complicated getting a pilot slot out of AFROTC. Get good grades, score well on the AFOQT, good a good score on the PFA, be a good dude, and that's about it.

If you want to reapply to USAFA go for it. However, AFROTC is an amazing program so I encourage you to keep an open mind.
 
To quote Capt MJ "Performance, Performance, Performance". How well you excel wherever you are planted is much more important than where you are planted. Going to a school you like is much more important than going to one you THINK gets you a better chance to go to USAFA. You haven't found a comprehensive list because there isn't one.
 
Find the college that is a good fit for you to succeed. Also make sure the DET is on campus if that's something that will be important to you. I totally agree with every A400 stated above. Scores to have the best chance at that pilot slot.
 
HANKER said:
need to understand what schools catch the attention most of USAFA for AFROTC programs
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Grades and CO letter matter much more than school.

Curious as to if you've looked at NROTC, which commissions hundreds of pilot and naval flight officer selectees every year.
 
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