NROTC Flight School

cjprime12

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Apr 15, 2021
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4
Howdy,
I am a Freshman about to close up my first semester here at Texas A&M. I am on NROTC scholarship and would like to fly once I graduate. About what GPA should I shoot for to get a flight spot during service selection senior year? Obviously the higher the better but I’m curious if I have a shot at all because I’ve had a rough first semester. Not too bad, I should finish around a 2.8 this semester and I plan on improving that in the future but some of the freshman engineering courses kicked my ass (I despise coding). Thanks,
 
I can’t answer your question specifically. But, in general, the better your GPA, the better your choices no matter what. So, get it done. Be smart and get the scuttle butt on professors. If there is a professor that gives out Cs to 90 percent of students-don’t go there. All colleges have those professors. Enroll in a different section. Nothing wrong with common sense. DS selected SNA with 3.75 Engineering GPA. But that is just one data point; don’t let it discourage you-let it motivate you. Also, have a navy flight vision exam in your own dime. It will screen you for things no one else will. Read my posts. DODMERB and family doc exams won’t tell you if you meet navy flight vision reqs.
 
Another point of reference, 4 received pilot slots from my DS university this past spring. The lowest GPA was 3.75 ranging to 4.0 all engineering majors. That said it depends on the needs of the Navy at the time of service selection. I've seen 4.0s who wanted aviation go nuke because that was what the Navy needed that particular year. This year 4.0s got the aviation slot. At the end of the day, work on improving your gpa as best you can.
 
Howdy,
I am a Freshman about to close up my first semester here at Texas A&M. I am on NROTC scholarship and would like to fly once I graduate. About what GPA should I shoot for to get a flight spot during service selection senior year? Obviously the higher the better but I’m curious if I have a shot at all because I’ve had a rough first semester. Not too bad, I should finish around a 2.8 this semester and I plan on improving that in the future but some of the freshman engineering courses kicked my *** (I despise coding). Thanks,
As people mentioned above, clearly with higher GPA the better your chance. You also don't have to be a STEM or Aero major to become a Pilot. Naval Aviation is not looking for a scientist to fly their high tech aircrafts. Many academic and STEM types end up in Sub and Nuke communities. Aviation is rather looking for someone who is physically, medically, and mentally adaptable in the air.

You can still commission as Pilot with under 2.7 GPA as long as you have strong ASTB with OAR Scores above the national average. Believe it or not, Navy, Air Force, Army still look at your ACT and SAT scores when you service and Branch assign and throughout your career in the military. So everything still counts. Other important criteria they look at is your personality fit to be a Pilot, and your problem solving style and skill. This comes out during Pilot selection interview. Just don't get too caught up on minor details. Quick thinking, big picture understanding and demonstrating good judgement and knowledge as Pilot is very important. Other things that will definitely help you is if you are a team athlete at your college. Military take that into a very positive consideration as it demonstrates leadership, teamwork, and a contributor to your service community.

This year, many at the Naval Academy were able to commission as Navy Pilot and NFO with low class ranking and GPA below 2.7. Their chances were 75% for 1st choice and they still got their 1st and 2nd choices. Many were not athletes and some were not considered contributors to their company. So, don't lose hope of becoming a Pilot or NFO. If you are weak in some areas, you can always make up in other areas with strength! Also, life is not over if you don't make Pilot first time. You can try again during your JO time in the fleet. Many have done this successfully.

Good Luck and Go Navy!
 
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As people mentioned above, clearly with higher GPA the better your chance. You also don't have to be a STEM or Aero major to become a Pilot. Naval Aviation is not looking for a scientist to fly their high tech aircrafts. Many academic and STEM types end up in Sub and Nuke communities. Aviation is rather looking for someone who is physically, medically, and mentally adaptable in the air.

You can still commission as Pilot with under 2.7 GPA as long as you have strong ASTB with OAR Scores above the national average. Believe it or not, Navy, Air Force, Army still look at your ACT and SAT scores when you service and Branch assign and throughout your career in the military. So everything still counts. Other important criteria they look at is your personality fit to be a Pilot, and your problem solving style and skill. This comes out during Pilot selection interview. Just don't get too caught up on minor details. Quick thinking, big picture understanding and demonstrating good judgement and knowledge as Pilot is very important. Other things that will definitely help you is if you are a team athlete at your college. Military take that into a very positive consideration as it demonstrates leadership, teamwork, and a contributor to your service community.

This year, many at the Naval Academy were able to commission as Navy Pilot and NFO with low class ranking and GPA below 2.7. Their chances were 75% for 1st choice and they still got their 1st and 2nd choices. Many were not athletes and some were not considered contributors to their company. So, don't lose hope of becoming a Pilot or NFO. If you are weak in some areas, you can always make up in other areas with strength! Also, life is not over if you don't make Pilot first time. You can try again during your JO time in the fleet. Many have done this successfully.

Good Luck and Go Navy!
Quite true-you can do any major your scholarship terms will allow and still be a pilot. If you change majors, you want to make sure your scholarship is not canceled.
 
from the second I entered ROTC I heard this; while there are always people who will fall below and get selected, this answers your general question: to be safe for pilot you want to score 7/7/7 on ASTB, and have a 3.45 or higher. 3.6 gpa if you're Tier3.

For NFO, you want a 6/6/6 and 3.25 gpa or higher

It changes every year based on needs of the navy. For the20+ people I know last year that got pilot/NFO, they fit these stats
 
from the second I entered ROTC I heard this; while there are always people who will fall below and get selected, this answers your general question: to be safe for pilot you want to score 7/7/7 on ASTB, and have a 3.45 or higher. 3.6 gpa if you're Tier3.

For NFO, you want a 6/6/6 and 3.25 gpa or higher

It changes every year based on needs of the navy. For the20+ people I know last year that got pilot/NFO, they fit these stats
Would the case be that doing better in one area compensates for doing worse in another? In my case I have a 3.32 GPA (Tier 3) and an 8/8/7, So I am a little bit uncomfortable with the GPA, and I am studying abroad for this next semester (my last semester before service assignment) so nothing will change before I apply for pilot
 
Would the case be that doing better in one area compensates for doing worse in another? In my case I have a 3.32 GPA (Tier 3) and an 8/8/7, So I am a little bit uncomfortable with the GPA, and I am studying abroad for this next semester (my last semester before service assignment) so nothing will change before I apply for pilot
I would say yes; while you are not a shoo in with that GPA as tier 3, those are great scores, and I'd say you have a 65-75% chance
 
I would say yes; while you are not a shoo in with that GPA as tier 3, those are great scores, and I'd say you have a 65-75% chance
Any way I could bump that too shoo-in status without touching the GPA and not being in person for the program until fall that you know of?
 
Honestly, I'd say no. When you see the community selection sheet you will fill out this summer, you will see it asks about your accomplishments, academic info and ROTC stuff. I listed my three main organizations (Class President, 2 other clubs), my top ROTC billet, my fluency in other languages, and my college Major, both minors and my senior thesis topic.

These are all things that you wouldn't be able to change really IMO
 
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