SAT/ACT Test Scores and an AFROTC Scholarship/Commission

[gibpilotslotplz]

Hello,
Next year will, I will be beginning college as a freshman straight out of high school. I was unable to apply for an AFROTC scholarship since I couldn't meet the minimum high school GPA requirement ( I go to a very challenging prep school). My ACT scores were also too low and I don't see them as "officer quality". I will be seeking a scholarship in freshman or sophomore year prior to field training as I pursue a rated slot. I know that high school grades aren't counted once your'e in college and a GMC cadet, but will my ACT scores be reviewed again before I get selected for scholarship? Or will my AFOQT and college GPA be the only academic factors that influence my selection?

 

[eljay60]

Is there a reason you can't do some of the free review things online and retake the test?

 

[Pima]

Every year they tweak the system. When DS was in AFROTC they gave the AFOQT to AS100s. I believe now it is given when you are a 200/250.

Not to go off track or be a downer, but your post does not make sense to me. You state you go to a rigorous prep school and you did not meet the min. cgpa. Okay, I can go with that, but you follow that up with you did not make the min for your ACT. The ACT and SAT exams are created to show your academic foundation from a national aspect.
~ If your school is so rigorous than why was your ACT too low, iows you should have that foundation or at least hit the min requirement of 24 . HQ AFROTC will readjust your gpa to their algorithm, and they will use the school profile in their assessment.
~~ I wish I had a penny for every poster that says my school is rigorous, or competitive, etc. because if I did I would be a millionaire. The fact is HQ will use the profile to determine that aspect. How many (%) attends Ivy vs 4 yr private/public vs 2 yr CC vs work? If 50% go Ivy and 10% go CC than that is different than if 10% go Ivy and 50% go CC.
~~~ They will also look at your curriculum rigor compared to your peers. % that take AP/IB classes and the number of those classes they take compared to you. IE you graduate with 3 APs, but 52% of your class took 6.

Next. The AFOQT is akin to the ACT. If you are having trouble with the ACT, than the AFOQT is not going to be easier. I would suggest you buy study aids for the AFOQT. They do not superscore. You can take it 2x, but it must be 180 days apart. It will be the best sitting. Your AFOQT score will be used for SFT aka LEAD selection.

Additionally. you have not stated one key factor when it comes to obtaining a scholarship. What is your intended major? As I am sure you know, AFROTC looks for STEM majors aka TECH.

I wish you luck, as I stated I am not trying to be the downer, but just saying that there is more to the selection process than what you are thinking. If I was to put in an econ class aspect. You are looking at Macro, but they are looking at Micro

 

[gibpilotslotplz]

Is there a reason you can't do some of the free review things online and retake the test?

I am considering taking the SAT instead, but I do not know if I can do that in my final semester of high school. I suppose it is worth looking into a bit further though.

 

[doireann]

Is there a reason you can't do some of the free review things online and retake the test?

I am considering taking the SAT instead, but I do not know if I can do that in my final semester of high school. I suppose it is worth looking into a bit further though.

Of course you can take the sat as a senior. You can also take the ACT as a senior. My son took both as a junior, one of his colleges wanted him to take it again as a senior and he did so much better the second time. Now he is waiting.

 

[gibpilotslotplz]

Every year they tweak the system. When DS was in AFROTC they gave the AFOQT to AS100s. I believe now it is given when you are a 200/250.

Not to go off track or be a downer, but your post does not make sense to me. You state you go to a rigorous prep school and you did not meet the min. cgpa. Okay, I can go with that, but you follow that up with you did not make the min for your ACT. The ACT and SAT exams are created to show your academic foundation from a national aspect.
~ If your school is so rigorous than why was your ACT too low, iows you should have that foundation or at least hit the min requirement of 24 . HQ AFROTC will readjust your gpa to their algorithm, and they will use the school profile in their assessment.
~~ I wish I had a penny for every poster that says my school is rigorous, or competitive, etc. because if I did I would be a millionaire. The fact is HQ will use the profile to determine that aspect. How many (%) attends Ivy vs 4 yr private/public vs 2 yr CC vs work? If 50% go Ivy and 10% go CC than that is different than if 10% go Ivy and 50% go CC.
~~~ They will also look at your curriculum rigor compared to your peers. % that take AP/IB classes and the number of those classes they take compared to you. IE you graduate with 3 APs, but 52% of your class took 6.

Next. The AFOQT is akin to the ACT. If you are having trouble with the ACT, than the AFOQT is not going to be easier. I would suggest you buy study aids for the AFOQT. They do not superscore. You can take it 2x, but it must be 180 days apart. It will be the best sitting. Your AFOQT score will be used for SFT aka LEAD selection.

Additionally. you have not stated one key factor when it comes to obtaining a scholarship. What is your intended major? As I am sure you know, AFROTC looks for STEM majors aka TECH.

I wish you luck, as I stated I am not trying to be the downer, but just saying that there is more to the selection process than what you are thinking. If I was to put in an econ class aspect. You are looking at Macro, but they are looking at Micro

When I took my ACT last year, I'll admit that I did not give it my best effort. I was lazy, unmotivated, not sure what I wanted to do after high school, and this was before the Air Force appealed to me. I very much regret not applying myself to the best of my ability. I know the AFOQT is similar and I plan to apply myself to the best of my ability. My ACT wasn't terrible however. I scored a 25 and made it into one of my favorite out of state colleges. I couldn't go for scholarship because the AFROTC website says that the minimum ACT score is 26, not 24. Scholarship is also not a necessity for me, since I am fortunate enough to come from a financially strong family, but I would still love to get one. But do I need to submit any ACT scores to the AF as a GMC cadet before field training regardless if I go on scholarship or not? My major will be international affairs, but I have been told that majors do not restrict scholarships.

 

[Pima]

I should have said 24 ACT English is the min.
Let's also be honest even a 26 ACT is waaaayyyy low for an AFROTC scholarship type 7. The avg best sitting for a type 7 is close to a 29 ACT or around 1280 SAT. Again that is best sitting, not a superscore.
~ JMPO, those with a 29 also have a strong academic (PAR) and ECs.

HQ AFROTC looks at the WHOLE package. Believe it or not they look at scholarships like a business...risk/reward. There are many candidates with great academic stats that get the " We are sorry at this time we cannot offer you a scholarship" Why? Because all they have on their resume is book smart. HQ AFROTC is looking at the candidate being well rounded. They want to see the candidate involved in things outside of the class room to illustrate that they can juggle multiple things while keeping a strong gpa.

But do I need to submit any ACT scores to the AF as a GMC cadet before field training regardless if I go on scholarship or not?

Unless something has changed you will not submit your ACT scores directly to them. HOWEVER your det. will have them on record. As a cadet you will meet with your cadre every semester regarding your academic progression. Your college will have on record your ACT, hence they too will have it on their file. Just like they will know your grades at college for every semester.

Whoever told you that your major does not restrict you from a scholarship is correct. However, just like HSSP selection, your major will matter when it comes to an ICSP if you are talking about the national ICSP (HQ AFROTC) and not the Commanders ability to offer an ICSP. The difference between the national ICSP and Commanders is the Commanders is tied only to your college, the national is tied to the cadet. It is a board scenario out of Maxwell like the HSSP.
~ IE if you are attending a LAC school than your competition for a Commanders ICSP will be other non-tech majors, hence it really will not matter. However, if that OOS college also has tech majors you will probably find that a non-tech major is at a disadvantage compared to a tech major.
~~ For SFT aka LEAD selection the gpa for tech majors are @3.0/3.1, whereas non-tech majors are @ 3.3/3.4 . IOWS. HQ AFROTC expects that a tech major cadets course curriculum is going to be more strenuous/difficult than a non-tech and give them some leeway.

Additionally, let's also address some other key points.
1. Physically where do you stand from the PFA aspect.
~ Fastest way to get noticed in a det in a bad way is a poor PFA. Form matters when it comes to sit ups and push ups. Many cadets with a scholarship in hand will bust their PFA 1st shot out (for contracting) because their form is wrong. The det will have cadets that are the PT people, and if the form is wrong they will not count it.
~~ MY DS was a PT instructor, he was also the pacer at the back for the run. His job was to get across the line with time to go. If you were in the back he had no problem screaming Cadet gibpilotslotplz pick it up so everyone could hear your name. PT instructors also talk to the FCC regarding how you are faring in this area. FCCs will discuss this when they have their weekly cadre meeting, and it will be placed in your file regarding your official score every semester.
~~~ 95 is basically average when it comes to a score.
2. DoDMERB
~ As a non-scholarship cadet you have yet to do a DoDMERB exam. Even if you never get a scholarship, to attend SFT you will be required to have a DoDMERB exam. FYI, they will go back into your medical history from the age of 13 and on. Nut allergies can result in a DQ. ADD diagnosis with meds can bite you. Concussions. Color vision deficiency. ETC, etc., etc.
~~ Not trying to scare you, just trying to say if you have any medical issues in your history get those records in order now because waivers can take months. Scholarship cadets must pass the DoDMERB exam to contract.
3. Cadets selected for rated positions will need to also pass the FAA FC1 physical. It is a 3 day physical that will include everything from your eyes to your toes, and in depth. You will have an EKG performed.
4. Reality is cadets on scholarship are the minority.
~ Nationally only about 16-18% of all cadets are on scholarship.
~ HQ AFROTC does not care if one det has 100% on scholarship and another has 0%. It is national. The top of the top nationally.
~ SFT selection board will not know if you are on scholarship or not. It is what the AF calls "masked" IOWS the board has no clue. You get no bonus points for being on scholarship.

Hope that helps.

 

[gibpilotslotplz]

Thanks Pima. This information is great. I've assessed my DODMERB situation and I'm 99.9999% sure I can get in and I like my odds for an FC1 physical later on. I have an off topic question about the detachment PT as well: I've administered the Air Force test multiple times for myself and I am currently running a 10:30 mile and a half, doing around 45 push-ups in a minute (arms bent 90) and about 50 sit ups in a minute (arms crossed on chest, elbows to knees). I know these aren't awesome scores and they don't quite exceed 90 in the scoring process. I'm working out, eating better and keeping my weight below 208lbs (I'm 6'1") to be in standards. I'll be in better shape by the time college roles around in August, but if I were to go into into AFROTC with my current PT situation, would I fare well in the detachment?