Engineering at Usafa vs Academy Activies and Job Selection

[MilitaryBrat451]

Hello,

I am currently a second year applicant to USAFA. I have a few questions regarding engineering majors at the Academy and the time constraints that come with them. Such as how an engineering major might restrict a cadet from participating in other activities at the academy.

If am I appointed to USAFA, I would be leaning toward an engineering major. I understand that these are among the most rigorous majors and many times cadets do not have the GPA nor the time to participate in certain Academy extracurricular programs such as Soaring, Wings of Blue...etc. Also I understand your overall ranking plays into which job you get, such as a selection for UPT. Are engineering cadets' overall rankings brought down too low by academic ranking to be selected for UPT?

While I will strive to get the highest GPA and overall ranking possible for me, I would like to know if engineer majors are generally able to do extracurricular activities while getting good grades. As well as if a sizable amount of engineer majors (who want it) are selected for UPT slots.

Thank you in advance to all of those who reply!

 

[USAFA10s]

This question is impossible to answer because every person is different. I managed to squeeze in a double major in math and physics as well as play on the tennis team and participate in a number of music groups. I graduated 1 person out of the top 10% (although I was in the top 20 cadets until a car crash in the middle of my junior year took me out for a while)


So the answer is yes you can, but a lot of it comes down to your study skills, time management and willingness to give up things like actually socializing.

I should also add that while your goal and class standing to play a large role in your job selection, they don't guarantee anything. I think most would tell you to pick something you enjoy as your major, it makes life a lot better when classes are actually interesting

 

[raimius]

What USAFA10s said.

You can basically do as much as your time management and ability to quickly understand things allows.
If you are lousy at math and science, engineering would be a bad decision. If they fascinate you, it's probably a good choice.

 

[Pima]

Leave it to PIMA, but I see somethings here that have yet to be answered.

1. 2nd yr applicant
~ Are you in AFROTC? If not, why not?
~~ Not in AFROTC you lost a chance for another nom. source
2. In AFROTC
~ Have you talked to your CoC or PMS? If not why not?
3. Please read raimius blog regarding life at UPT..that blue link by his signature
~ Being a USAFA engineering grad does not and will not ever equate to winging out of UPT.
~~ The number 1 out of my DS's UPT class was prior enlisted via OCS. He got a 22. Number 2 that got an F15E was AFROTC. Number 1 heavy track was also prior E OCS.
~~~ No IP gives a rats butt about where you commissioned from or your degree. They do give a rats butt about how you handle the stick and no book can teach you that impo.


OBTW did I remember to say please read raimius's blog?

If you think an SA life as a STEM major would be juggling, than I would suggest talk to fencersmother to get another look on juggling. Her twins fenced at USAFA, were STEM, got UPT, and I bet they would look back now as pilots to say USAFA was easier than UPT.

 

[MilitaryBrat451]

Leave it to PIMA, but I see somethings here that have yet to be answered.

1. 2nd yr applicant
~ Are you in AFROTC? If not, why not?
~~ Not in AFROTC you lost a chance for another nom. source
2. In AFROTC
~ Have you talked to your CoC or PMS? If not why not?
3. Please read raimius blog regarding life at UPT..that blue link by his signature
~ Being a USAFA engineering grad does not and will not ever equate to winging out of UPT.
~~ The number 1 out of my DS's UPT class was prior enlisted via OCS. He got a 22. Number 2 that got an F15E was AFROTC. Number 1 heavy track was also prior E OCS.
~~~ No IP gives a rats butt about where you commissioned from or your degree. They do give a rats butt about how you handle the stick and no book can teach you that impo.


OBTW did I remember to say please read raimius's blog?

If you think an SA life as a STEM major would be juggling, than I would suggest talk to fencersmother to get another look on juggling. Her twins fenced at USAFA, were STEM, got UPT, and I bet they would look back now as pilots to say USAFA was easier than UPT.

Thank you all for your replies.

I am currently a Falcon Scholar and am just wondering about what degree I should if I were to be appointed to USAFA.

So it seems what you all are saying is the level of difficulty added by engineering is subjective to each individual cadet. That is how I thought it would be, I was just curious as to if there is a sizable amount of engineering majors who go to UPT and/or actively participate in a lot of extracurricular team activities at USAFA.

 

[AFrpaso]

Stats like that aren't really readily available. Plus it's hard to answer a question using "sizable" as your quantifier. That could mean different things to different people.

That being said, one example that might be helpful:

In one of my upper division math courses(with 10 cadets) we have two competitive rock climbers and three soaring instructor pilots who seem to have hacked the time management issues that arise with having a 'difficult' major and participating in extracurricular activities.

 

[MilitaryBrat451]

Stats like that aren't really readily available. Plus it's hard to answer a question using "sizable" as your quantifier. That could mean different things to different people.

That being said, one example that might be helpful:

In one of my upper division math courses(with 10 cadets) we have two competitive rock climbers and three soaring instructor pilots who seem to have hacked the time management issues that arise with having a 'difficult' major and participating in extracurricular activities.

So it seems that it is possible for more than a few cadets to take a stem major as well as participate in team activities. That was all I was wondering. As an academy hopeful I was curious how the engineering course load on average affect's cadets ability to participate in other activities. Next time Ill try to be more precise with my question wording. Thank you for your help and clarification!