MIT vs USAFA with Pilot Selection

[Waffler]

Hello, I was admitted to MIT earlier this year and recently received a USAFA appointment. Right now, I am kinda agonizing over this decision on multiple fronts. In my opinion, both schools are great opportunities in their own very different ways, but I am concerned with the post-commissioning effects of MIT. I understand selection for rated positions is in part based on school-specific scores like GPA and Commander's Ranking, both of which I would think would be more competitive at MIT than most detachments (average GPA at MIT is 3.1, which is kinda low all things considered). So, is this disparity between different schools accounted for during selection for UPT, ENJJPT, or any other anything else (also considering cyber)?

I read the thread the other day asking a similar question, but I don't really think this is the same. First, it is an academy vs ROTC comparison. Second, I would absolutely love to attend either school (both if I could!). Third, I'm not doing this because one option is "easier" than another, I simply don't want to find out I've shot myself in the foot down the line when I could have attended an institution I was already very, very seriously considering attending.

Disclaimers: I don't actually have an AFROTC scholarship yet (due to the consolidation and delay of the AFROTC boards), so this could all become rather moot, making my decision rather easy (although I've been informed that any scholarship will be upgraded to a Type I in this circumstance). Also, this is one part of my decision-making process and certainly not the deciding factor for me

Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[airborne1030]

Those are two very distinguished universities. However, as I’m sure you’re well aware, your experience will be very different at each school. Obviously, AFROTC likes having cadets at MIT; otherwise, they wouldn’t guarantee an upgrade to a Type 1. Because of that, I’m sure if you receive a strong recommendation from your commander and.a better than average GPA, you will probably have a good shot at a rated position.

Regardless of your decision, you will receive a first class education at either institution.

 

[MidCakePa]

Be careful about assuming that your grades will be better at USAFA than at MIT. What little I know about MIT, its reputation for academic rigor is well deserved. (Take note: There’s not necessarily a correlation between a school’s prestige and its academic demands.)

However, USAFA is not only academically rigorous, but it also brings additional demands: military obligations, athletic requirements and various other conditions that make it challenging to score top grades. You’ll need to look more deeply and think more openly about whether MIT is truly “harder.” Maybe yes, maybe not.

 

[GISG_J1513]

Hi Waffler, my DD is in a similar situation. Assume you are referencing the USNA vs. MIT NROTC thread I bumped up. If not, please check it out as there is some sage advice from others.

 

[Waffler]

I was actually referring to a Berkeley vs CU Boulder NROTC thread I ran into the other day @GISG_J1513, but I do know and have read the thread you're talking about. Also @MidCakePa, I should have clarified that I'm really only comparing GPA difficulty between MIT and other ROTC units, as ROTC doesn't really compete with USAFA for pilot slots. I'm more concerned that MIT would be much more competitive than other ROTC units that it actually competes with. For me, GPA difficulty at the academy is irrelevant as your GPA only matters relative to others at the academy. Thanks for the input.

 

[2025mustelse]

Be careful about assuming that your grades will be better at USAFA than at MIT. What little I know about MIT, its reputation for academic rigor is well deserved. (Take note: There’s not necessarily a correlation between a school’s prestige and its academic demands.)

However, USAFA is not only academically rigorous, but it also brings additional demands: military obligations, athletic requirements and various other conditions that make it challenging to score top grades. You’ll need to look more deeply and think more openly about whether MIT is truly “harder.” Maybe yes, maybe not.

MIT is most definitely more academically rigorous than USAFA. I would think that the most competitive school in the country is more academically challenging than USAFA, a school that is 5 points lower average ACT wise. I’m sure you can get a great education at both places, but if if you do well at MIT there shouldn’t be any trouble getting a pilot slot I think. Plus a degree from MIT is worth more than one from USAFA.

 

[shiner]

if you do well at MIT there shouldn’t be any trouble getting a pilot slot I think.

@2025mustelse - Be careful making statements like this unless you have gone full cycle and lived it.

@Waffler - If you will be happy with a non-flying career field, the school choice matters much less. Pick the school with the logo you want on your degree. This is not to say you cannot achieve a pilot slot out of MIT but the probability will be lower based on slot allocations. It is worth a call into the ROTC detachment to understand their historical success rate of students receiving their first preference for AFSC. Additionally, how many pilot slots have they received historically and how many students from their detachment want to fly and successfully get a pilot slot. Is it 50%? Is it 99%?

If you are laser focused on flying, your best statistical chance is through USAFA and you could consider doing post graduate at MIT. Many USAFA grades have taken that path. Here are two that I know --

Want to be an Astronaut? My classmate Raja Chari did undergrad at USAFA and post grad at MIT and is now assigned to the next flight as Commander of Spacex-Crew3 mission as part of the Artemis program.

Want to be a test pilot? Christin Hart Voor did undergrad at USAFA and post grad at MIT and became the first female B-52 test pilot and is working on entering the Astronaut program.

 

[Waffler]

Update: Go Falcons!

 

[pnwpandas]

Update: Go Falcons!

Great username/handle, btw. Very funny.