Are students selected for AFROTC scholarships at specific schools or in general, for any school?

[wperry722]

Hey Everyone,
I thought that AFROTC offered general/universal scholarships, meaning the acceptance into ROTC was independent of the school the recipient attended (of course, the school would have to offer an AFROTC program); however, in my scholarship application, the Air Force asked me to select 5 schools in which I was interested. This appears to indicate that my AFROTC application would be considered on a school-by-school basis, not the general basis I originally expected. Can anyone shed some light on this situation?

From the "Application Process" page on the AFROTC website: "Once you have decided to accept the scholarship offer, the Air Force ROTC detachment at your selected school will provide further guidance on the actions required for the fall term of your first semester of college". The way I read this statement was that a student would choose their school after they were given a general/universal AFROTC scholarship. Am I correct in this interpretation?

I know that for the Army ROTC scholarship, I must select 7 schools that will be individually sent my packet to evaluate for acceptance into their specific program, so I am wondering if the same is true in the Air Force?

If the school I attend is independent from my AFROTC application, why do they ask me to provide schools? And why do they limit the number of schools for which I can declare my interest, considering it will not send my application to each one (so their would be no incentive for me to input schools I am actually not interested in)

 

[kinnem]

You can take an AFROTC scholarship to any college that has an AFROTC unit, even if its not one on the list in your application. When you are awarded a scholarship you will inform them of the school you actually plan to attend. The list in the application is merely a point of interest.

 

[kinnem]

I should add you must still fall within the restrictions kf the scholarship type.

 

[wperry722]

I should add you must still fall within the restrictions kf the scholarship type.

Can you elaborate on this? Are you saying that I will have access to different types of scholarships at different schools? Are certain scholarship types available only at certain schools?

Thanks for your help!

 

[kinnem]

See the AFROTC web page. They have several types of scholarships. When they offer you a scholarship they will tell you what type it is. Each type has some restrictions on money or the locale where you can attend college. You can change some of them from one type to another but at a cost. See the primary sources where its fully explained. Try searching for "AFROTC Scholarship Types".

 

[Pima]

Kinnem is correct about the types, such as, type 7 will only pay the cost of tuition for in-state. It doesn't mean you can't take it to an OOS if the school charges you the in-state rate. It does mean that unlike type 2 where it is capped at 18K and pay the difference, type 7 you cannot.
Best example I can give is TAMU. If you get at least 1K in a scholarship from the school, they will charge you the in state resident cost. In that situation you would be able to use the type 7 regardless where you live.

Are you saying that I will have access to different types of scholarships at different schools?

Not access to different scholarships per se, but if you look at the top of this forum there is a room and board thread. There are schools that give a discount for room and board if you are on a ROTC scholarship or in ROTC.

 

[dhen81]

You can take your scholarship to a college of your choosing, depending on your type however.
type 1 can be taken to a private or public college
Type 2 can be used at any college up to 18K per yr
Type 7 can be used at an instate public college OR can be switched to a 3 yr type 2 and used out of state. You’d be responsible for paying year 1.
My son was awarded a type 7, we live in Delaware. He chose to go to West Virginia University because that school gives their ROTC cadets the in state tuition rate so he didn’t have to switch it to a type 2, bonus they paid for his room.

 

[Pima]

Type 2 can be used at any college up to 18K per yr

Type 7 can be used at an instate public college OR can be switched to a 3 yr type 2 and used out of state

It doesn't have to be a public college. It has to be the cost of in state tuition. IE. Your DS was awarded a type 7 and you live in DE, however, WV gives IS for ROTC cadets. Thus, even though he went OOS he was able to keep a type 7, similar to my example of TAU.
I have a friends' DS that got a type 7 for private. He was able to use a type 7 since the tuition was lower than their IS public.

Again, the real biggie here is that a type 2 you can pay the difference if tuition is over 18K. Type 7 you cannot, pay the difference between the IS and OOS cost. You will have to do as @dhen81 stated, which is convert to a 3 yr type 2.

The real thing to understand is that type 2 has not increased the amount since 2010. Type 2 can actually hurt if you plan to go IS, because they are capped at 18K, and type 7 is capped at IS rate. There are a few posters now caught in this quandry. They were awarded type 2 (which is more selective -15% are awarded compared to 75% type 7) However, they are going IS and the tuition is over 18K. That means they are paying out of pocket. I do not know if HQ AFROTC switched them to a type 7 or not, but it is something to think about when it comes to financial planning.

 

[snaffy1]

My son was awarded a type 7, we live in Delaware. He chose to go to West Virginia University because that school gives their ROTC cadets the in state tuition rate so he didn’t have to switch it to a type 2, bonus they paid for his room.

My son was also awarded a type 7, we live in PA and he's going to WVU in the fall of this year (2021). Any thoughts on how well that detachment is run?