Re-applicant Decision Help?!

K-Night017

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
12
I just received my TWE in the mail. I knew my odds were against me because of my GPA so I kind of mentally prepared myself for it ahead of time. With the disappointment of not receiving an appointment aside, I now have a very hard decision to make. I am determined to reapply next year and hopefully get an appointment. I already have back ups in order but I cannot decide which one is best. I have been accepted to Mizzou and Missouri S&T which both offer AFROTC. I also have been accepted to NWPrep so if I dont receive a Falcon Foundation Scholarship, I can self prep there. I also am being recruited to play soccer at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. Only problem is they don't offer ROTC. I would really like to play a year of college soccer if possible. I have the possibility of walking on to the Missouri S&T team. I am unsure of which route will put me in the best position to receive an appointment next year. I was hoping someone could tell how the academy views intercollegiate athletics and what you think the best option would be in your opinion. I know no one can tell me a way to guarantee an appointment, I just appreciate the advice. Thanks in advance.
 
From experience I'd say go to a college with AFROTC. You're then in the running to receive an AFROTC nomination for next year's class and if you once again get a TWE next year, you'll still be on track to commission. Regarding the issue of NWP vs. Mizzou/S&T is something I can't answer. Have you applied to SLU? I heard they have a pretty good AFROTC unit.
 
+1 with eboyd

The more noms you have the more slates you are on. Talk to the colleges because they will have to nom you. The sooner they know the more they can assist you regarding the ROTC nom. Not telling them until the last minute is not the way to go.

JMPO, but why would you risk it playing soccer as a walk on? You have no career aspirations to play, the common phrase here for appointees is:
Congrats now pull out the bubble wrap!

If you love soccer you can play intramural at college where AFROTC exists, and again your career aspiration is to be an AF officer, not a soccer player.

As you stated none of us can give you any guarantee, but what we can guarantee is that you will need at least one nom for an appointment and Roosevelt University can not give that guarantee.

Here's the bigger question. Do you want to go to Roosevelt or only going there to play soccer?
 
Just a different point of view, for what it's worth. You said your GPA could have been better. What if you were to go to the best college of your choice, and spend ALL of your time for the next year getting the very best grades you can. Instead of spending your time on ROTC, spend that time studying to get the best grades possible. Yes, you lose a nomination source, if you are competitive for a ROTC nomination, but if grades are your main weakness this might be an option. Again, just a different point of view.
 
Get the best grades you can, taking the most difficult course work available (especially Math, Sciences, and Computer). Forget Roosevelt - what could it possibly do to help you? It's easy academics (relatively speaking) and you could get an AFROTC gang together to do intramurals if that's what you want.

As PIMA said, don't risk the injury.

Maybe retake and ace the SAT/ACT? Make sure you stay fit athletically and get some leadership experience. ROTC seems a perfect avenue for that.
 
Just a little info to put into the monkey wrench. A 3.5gpa in college while applying to the academy is NOT the same thing as a 3.5gpa in high school and applying to the academy.

So while you think your grades could be "Stronger", those applying from college are looked at and scored differently. Not saying that it's not important to get the highest grades possible in college; or to forsake ROTC; or any other thing. Just pointing out when you make your decision, going from say a 3.5gpa in high school to a 3.8 in college is a much higher jump than the high school senior applying with a 3.8gpa.
 
GPA

You are saying it is much better right? I have DS that needs to improve grades to get in so he is going to college and doing ROTC to get good grades and hopefully work his way into the academy.
 
You are saying it is much better right? I have DS that needs to improve grades to get in so he is going to college and doing ROTC to get good grades and hopefully work his way into the academy.

I think what Mike is saying (CC, correct me if I'm wrong) is that a 3.8 college GPA is of greater value than a 3.8 GPA in high school. It shows you can do college level work and that it is something that Admissions likes to see.
 
Thanks for the advice. I see what you guys are saying about Roosevelt. I think that the soccer was the main thing that attracted me to it, it doesn't really have anything else that i'm looking for. That narrows down my options a slightly. I still am unsure if i should consider NWPrep. Does anyone know if you can still do ROTC at the college you go to 2nd semester?
 
if you dont have a falcon scholarship why would you do NWP? that doesnt seem to make any sense to me. Just do AFROTC and restart your app in july and do an engineering major and get hte best GPA you can. doing NWP without a falcon scholarship doesnt make sense. Did you apply for an AFROTC scholarship?
 
I had planned on it but ended up withdrawing it before I finished. I don't remember why, I'm kicking myself for it now. I have heard that a good number of people are successful after self prepping. I only considered NWPrep because I heard people come out much stronger academically, and have a much better chance at both getting into and succeeding at an academy. But I only have heard a few things and have no way of knowing if they are accurate, which is what brings me here.
 
ah. I dont think that self prepping at NWP would make you stronger than just doing AFROTC and trying to get your GPA up and reapplying and then if USAFA doesnt work next year you didnt waste a year and your welll on your way to being an officer-assuming you get a field training spot.
 
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