What AF ROTC program would you recommend?

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hawgsnoop

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Anyone have kids (or yourself) that truly love the Air Force ROTC program at their school/university? Looking for more than the google answer of 'top 10 ROTC programs'. Please post below any insight, nationwide. Our kiddo requires a tech major and currently has apps in across the southwest but open to about anywhere. Thanks for any insight!
 
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I have read on here several times that it’s best for the student to choose the college, not the ROTC program. Leadership does change on a rotating basis at these programs, students end up leaving ROTC for various reasons, some change to Army, Navy etc. Is it a school they would be able to stay at if for some reason ROTC doesn’t work out? There are pros and cons to large versus small units, and small versus large. It’s really all about what your student makes of it. Best of luck to them!
 
EJF said:
I have read on here several times that it’s best for the student to choose the college, not the ROTC program. Leadership does change on a rotating basis at these programs, students end up leaving ROTC for various reasons, some change to Army, Navy etc. Is it a school they would be able to stay at if for some reason ROTC doesn’t work out? There are pros and cons to large versus small units, and small versus large. It’s really all about what your student makes of it. Best of luck to them!
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X2 with pick the school not the unit. That is what really matters.
 
Apply to the school, not ROTC. ROTC only occupies a tiny fraction of my son's time in his first semester at school.
I assume your kiddo chooses AFROTC because he/she likes aerospace technology, so choose a school which is strong in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering( many schools treat AE as a subject under ME). Here is my selection criteria:
1. Academic Ranking.
2. Close tie to National Labs.
3. Close tie to NASA.
4. Long history of AFROTC
Base on these, here is my top 5:
1.MIT
2.UC Berkeley
3.Purdue
4.Stanford
5.Caltech
 
hornet6232 said:
Apply to the school, not ROTC. ROTC only occupies a tiny fraction of my son's time in his first semester at school.
I assume your kiddo chooses AFROTC because he/she likes aerospace technology, so choose a school which is strong in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering( many schools treat AE as a subject under ME). Here is my selection criteria:
1. Academic Ranking.
2. Close tie to National Labs.
3. Close tie to NASA.
4. Long history of AFROTC
Base on these, here is my top 5:
1.MIT
2.UC Berkeley
3.Purdue
4.Stanford
5.Caltech
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Good list, and I can attest as a parent that MIT has a great AFROTC program and a great college experience. I would add the University of Colorado in Boulder to that list. It's aerospace program fits your criteria.
 
hawgsnoop said:
Anyone have kids (or yourself) that truly love the Air Force ROTC program at their school/university? Looking for more than the google answer of 'top 10 ROTC programs'. Please post below any insight, nationwide. Our kiddo requires a tech major and currently has apps in across the southwest but open to about anywhere. Thanks for any insight!
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My son is on tier 1 afrotc at tulane and loves his detachment. Tulane also offers free room and board. On a side note my son was accepted at some of the schools on the other posters list but liked the size of Tulane and the detachment. He's an engineering major but will have a minor in Aerospace due to AFROTC classes.
 
WMSMOM said:
My son is on tier 1 afrotc at tulane and loves his detachment. Tulane also offers free room and board. On a side note my son was accepted at some of the schools on the other posters list but liked the size of Tulane and the detachment. He's an engineering major but will have a minor in Aerospace due to AFROTC classes.
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Thank you, we've heard great things about Tulane ROTC also. Totally understand about picking the University first but also know that the ROTC peers/friends atmosphere can create a winning environment for that aspect life.
 
Recommend you share more details:
What major does your DS plan to study? Which schools that also have an AFROTC attachment (or cross-town partnership) have that major. At the top top top schools most candidates are top students with top grades, ECs, SAT/ ACT, AP, etc. Can he pick a range of reach, range, and safety schools - 2-3 in each to apply to? What size school/ AFROTC program - urban v rural, big v small town, what opportunities for research exist within a walkable/ drivable distance?, alumni network? Sounds like proximity to home is not critical. OK - paint the picture with more details and perhaps those here can share what specific schools they attended or visited when completing their own due diligence come to mind. Good luck.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
Recommend you share more details:
What major does your DS plan to study? Which schools that also have an AFROTC attachment (or cross-town partnership) have that major. At the top top top schools most candidates are top students with top grades, ECs, SAT/ ACT, AP, etc. Can he pick a range of reach, range, and safety schools - 2-3 in each to apply to? What size school/ AFROTC program - urban v rural, big v small town, what opportunities for research exist within a walkable/ drivable distance?, alumni network? Sounds like proximity to home is not critical. OK - paint the picture with more details and perhaps those here can share what specific schools they attended or visited when completing their own due diligence come to mind. Good luck.
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Thanks! Well, her scholarship specifies 'technical'. So she's sorting through that. She ironically stands out more in the non-technical fields.
Honestly not looking for top top school, looking for an awesome program that is the right fit. She's an athlete, leader, not into any sort of partying. Likely wants to fly long term, but also considering architecture or engineering. We are both 25 year AF vets along with most of her extended family and we do believe in surrounding yourself with high-caliber motivated individuals.

She has already been accepted to her safety schools and a couple of her Top Choices we are just encouraging her to perhaps consider a few more options before apps are due in Jan. She does have a Type 1 and is pursing SA. We have several friends with kids in ROTC programs so we've heard 'Never do Cross Town' alongside "My son loves doing Cross Town!".

Proximity to home is not critical at all. Some of the schools she is interested in have significant cross town commutes (California schools) so would appreciate any recent reflections on that. One friend taught at CU Boulder ROTC and would actually travel TO CO MINES to teach sometimes vs making students commute. I understand the mentality of those that say pick the school not the unit, however in this case I am asking for the advice of which units are cohesive, positive, with awesome cadet and or Officer leadership. I understand this changes. Thanks for any insight.
 
Personal friend who's son was AF Technical scholarship chose cross town California school with travel time to main unit. Freshman year all went well despite spending a decent amount of time driving. Just weeks before sophomore year began PT was shifted to a later time of day which would have caused him to have significant commute time interfering with core classes. Also critical class conflicted with leadership lab. After several meetings to discuss options with all parties involved he really had none. Missing so much ROTC was not going to put him in a good place to be considered for FT after Junior Year, Transferring to the main school was not an option at that point, can't recall the reason why. In the end he gave up his scholarship to be able to continue at his school which he loved. Eventually he decided he didn't want to be in the technical major after all. Maybe AF wasn't really for him, but he was really fighting an uphill battle trying to make it all work.
 
EJF said:
Personal friend who's son was AF Technical scholarship chose cross town California school with travel time to main unit. Freshman year all went well despite spending a decent amount of time driving. Just weeks before sophomore year began PT was shifted to a later time of day which would have caused him to have significant commute time interfering with core classes. Also critical class conflicted with leadership lab. After several meetings to discuss options with all parties involved he really had none. Missing so much ROTC was not going to put him in a good place to be considered for FT after Junior Year, Transferring to the main school was not an option at that point, can't recall the reason why. In the end he gave up his scholarship to be able to continue at his school which he loved. Eventually he decided he didn't want to be in the technical major after all. Maybe AF wasn't really for him, but he was really fighting an uphill battle trying to make it all work.
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This is very helpful! And a concern for several of the California schools with significant traffic and commute time. I appreciate you sharing!
 
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hawgsnoop said:
Anyone have kids (or yourself) that truly love the Air Force ROTC program at their school/university? Looking for more than the google answer of 'top 10 ROTC programs'. Please post below any insight, nationwide. Our kiddo requires a tech major and currently has apps in across the southwest but open to about anywhere. Thanks for any insight!
Click to expand...
My child is a 100 at University of Alabama, detachment 010. She has had a fabulous experience so far with the AFROTC program, and also gets to experience all of the energy and activity of a large SEC school. There are a lot of opportunities to get tech experience during summer internships up in Huntsville, which is where NASA and Redstone Arsenal are. Lots of high-tech companies.
 
My son went to the University of Georgia-- loved the school and it's atmosphere. He joined their AFROTC program (DET160) and had the most wonderful experience, which sometimes, it's what the student makes of it too. He was in their Honor Guard, which was also a fabulous experience. He also marched with the UGA Redcoat band his 4th year. Graduated with his BS in Mechanical Engineering.
He ended up receiving a pilot slot and begins his C-17 career in just a few weeks.
 
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