Importance of School for AFROTC GPA

[Sowbug]

There have been many discussions on the importance of maintaining a target GPA for tech majors to get selected to SFT. But what weighting, if any, applies to the university where the GPA was earned? For example, when comparing engineering schools' average ACT scores, the scores vary widely so theoretically, you would think it would be easier to get a higher GPA at a school with a lower average ACT thus increasing chances for selection to SFT.

Does any of this play into SFT selection?

 

[ERAUMattmom]

As well as the number of units that a cadet is carrying during each semester.
If a cadet has a 3.8 GPA while carrying 18 units a semester is he/she given any edge over the cadet that has a 3.8 GPA but only carrying 12 units a semester?

 

[Non Ducor Duco]

As well as the number of units that a cadet is carrying during each semester.
If a cadet has a 3.8 GPA while carrying 18 units a semester is he/she given any edge over the cadet that has a 3.8 GPA but only carrying 12 units a semester?

If only it did. I'm going to have over 100 credit hours by the end of this semester while most of my peers will have ~60 or so, but I don't get an edge for that. GPA is calculated at the individual det, they factor in grades from transfer classes which will likely increase the GPA they put in your EA package(i.e. if you took dual enrollment classes, you submit that transcript too and they factor it into your current university's gpa if it's not counted in there already) and alter your gpa to include any grades smoothed over by things like Freshman Forgiveness or Grade Replacement which will definitely lower your AFROTC GPA for FT(i.e. if you took a class and got an F, then took it again through Freshman Forgiveness and got an A, your college will replace that F with an A in GPA calculation, but AFROTC will take the F and the A and factor them both in). There's no grade inflation for someone who takes 18 hours/semester to give them an edge over someone who takes 12 hours/semester. Some cadets overload their schedules every semester and others know that they can only ever handle taking 12-14, in the end all that matters is doing well in the classes you took. The only bump given is for Tech vs Non-Tech.

To the OP,

Schools aren't taken into consideration. But remember, SAT/ACT/AFOQT is a part of the package too. So a cadet that got into their school with a 2100 on the SAT will have an edge over someone who got into their school with a 1400. Competitive schools, and especially competitive engineering schools, generally produce competitive cadets for EAs and rated slots. Of course though, nothing is guaranteed and in a few years they may faze out the SAT/ACT portion and have just the AFOQT count. There are rumors of that, but then again, just about everything pertaining FT is a rumor every year until late in the Spring when HQ finally solidifies everything and lets the detachments know.

 

[Pima]

+1 Non Ducor. Let's be honest the cadet admitted to MIT for aero engineering is probably going to have a much higher best sitting SAT/ACT, or AFOQT than the cadet accepted to University of Kalamazoo where they have a 95% acceptance rate and the superscore SAT avg is 1046 in their aero engineering program. The cadet at MIT with a 3.2 might be the high east GPA, and his rank will reflect it, whereas the 3.2 at Kalamazoo might be the lowest.

In other words, like Ducor stated there is a finesse issue to this process. I will say this, that the: academically, my school is tops brings me back to the scholarship candidates when they say on their chance me thread "I attend a competitive high school". The fact is this is national. Not every college can be the tops.

I would say that because they are bringing the AFOQT back down from a year group perspective, I think that other is some validity in the rumor mill.
~~~ Until 2011 or 12, cadets always took the AFOQT on a Saturday in the fall their 100/250 year. The reason why is you can only take it twice, and there must be a 6 month lag between test.

For lurkers, especially candidates, take the ACT. The reason why is the ACT has a Science portion, and our DS that took not the SAT and the ACT said the ACT was more comparable to the AFOQT. Just his opinion. Bullet too agreed because theray stated part of the exam is pilot and nav portions.

 

[Sowbug]

Thanks for all of the excellent replies. They were very helpful.