What can I do to increase my chances of getting an AFROTC scholarship?

ninja96

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May 6, 2020
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I'm a junior in high school this year and I will start to put together my application for an AFROTC Type 1 Scholarship on June 1st. I'm very healthy and planning on training near to my peak for the next year or so.

Academics:
  • 4.0 GPA
  • 32 ACT score
  • Honors Classes
  • National Honors Society
  • Spanish
Extracurricular:
  • Choir
  • Theater
  • Scholars' Bowl
  • Cross Country
  • Karate
    • Instructor Experience
Other:
  • This year I will be acquiring my Private Pilot License with the help of a county flight training scholarship I won.
  • I am interested in and understand STEM topics, but I would prefer not to use them heavily in my career.
  • I learn quickly and am interested in all topics.
  • I have a high interest in communication and multiple languages.
  • I am highly motivated to lead and make a difference.
  • During my senior year of high school I will be interning with the county sheriff's department and city police department.
  • I will graduate with nearly two full years of college classes from a community college.
  • I plan to major in Linguistics, minor in Intelligence and National Security, and take intermediate classes in both Spanish and Arabic.
  • My interests in the Air Force are public affairs, security, intelligence and special forces.
I have a lot of "on paper" qualifications and in person and interviews I'm usually good at "selling myself" and such. I'm mainly wondering if anyone has any suggestions for what I could do to improve my application.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Honors classes
If AP courses are available at your school take as many as possible while keeping reasonable grades. If your school doesn't offer AP then you're good to go. I assume your currently taking dual credit college courses, but wanted to point that out.
Cross Country
Shoot for team captain for leadership. The Karate instructor experience will help but it's a competition and more is better.

This year I will be acquiring my Private Pilot License with the help of a county flight training. I am interested in and understand STEM topics, but I would prefer not to use them heavily in my career.
The PPL will help. Just to make sure you understand, Air Force aircraft are highly technical systems. You will using and relying on STEM stuff in the Air Force. Also, your chances of a scholarship are heavily dependent on your major. About 85% of awardees will be taking a STEM major. By all means plan to major in what interests you, just understand it will impact your ability to win an AFROTC scholarship.

I will graduate with nearly two full years of college classes from a community college.
Just some information you should be aware of. Perhaps you already are. This is useful only in the sense of showing you can handle college courses.

a. The college you will attend may not accept all those credit hours. Many colleges require you take certain courses at that college. Air Force will also require you to take come courses at the college, so you may have to repeat some stuff. Also major pre-reqs tend to be structured to keep you there for 4 years, if they can possibly do it. Follow the money.

b. AFROTC, and all ROTC programs are intended to be 4 year programs. Some folks can accomplish it in 3.5 years, and maybe even a few in 3 by doubling up on required Air Force courses. Starting out with a lot of credit hours could help with that, but it's more than likely you will be spending 4 years in college as an AFROTC participant.
 
One more thing, which I'm sure you're aware of, but I want to mention it here for lurkers. You don't apply for a AFROTC Type 1 Scholarship, you apply for an AFROTC scholarship. The boards determine which type will be awarded. Certainly most, if not all, Type 1 scholarships go to STEM majors. Nevertheless, it's wise to major in what actually interests you. If your major interests you, you will thrive. If you're thriving academically you will also thrive in your ROTC program.

Hope this has been helpful. Good luck. Hope you land your scholarship.
 
I was honored to receive a type 1 this year, I had a 33 ACT and 4.33 GPA, so very similar academically to you. Also a student pilot, won't be able to afford full PPL however. Fitness score was a 10:10 1.5 mile, 55 pushups, sit-ups somewhere in the 60s I believe, and I have a 30 inch wait 145 pounds. You can calculate the points for that if you want to compare.

I would be sure to find plenty of leadership positions and service as this is where I felt my applications stood out. To list a few I was the cadet commander of my civil air patrol squadron that year, national honors society staff, search and rescue team member as well as SAR instructor in CAP, and I had several community service experiences (3x Gold PVSA)

Probably the most important thing to remember is that if you are qualified for a scholarship, I have heard that 75 percent of the points you are given comes from your interview and largely determines what type you will get. Mine laster an hour and 20 minutes, the first section was him explaining the program. If you have done your research this part will go well, not knowing the basics of ROTC or the core values / etc won't look good. Additionally, this is a great time to ask questions, which will come across better if you already have some basic knowledge.

The second part will be where you are asked many questions, some sounding almost the same. If you only have one or two things to tie in to your answers then it will be monotonous for you and the interviewer, not good. My interview was very insistent about wanting specific responses to answers, avoid giving vague cliche responses, they get those all day long. If you have several things you have been heavily involved in that you can tie in to your answers it will be an interesting interview and you will actually have something to talk about with your interviewer. Search and Rescue was an incredible talking point as there are many similarities with the military there. He also seemed to appreciate the fact that I was interested in what he had done for a career and learning about other career opportunities than my plan A. He asked what I would do if I could become a pilot, what I would do if plan B failed, and would I be ok running a maintenance devision or being a logistics officer. If you don't realize the importance of those careers then it is difficult to answer that question confidently.

Also, you will be asked questions about times you have worked with a diverse people group and things along those lines. Don't BS your way through those, they actually do care and it is highly applicable to the military.

Think ahead of time about conflicts and failures, everyone has their good times on the top of your head, but you have to think about challenging times and how you overcame and learned from them, difficult to do on the spot.

Best of luck!
 
One other thing, hate to say it but you aren't going to get a type 1 if you major in linguistics. (OK you have like a .1 percent chance.)


  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Astronautical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Operations Research
  • Physics
Pick one of those if you are genuinely interested in one of them, otherwise you may be able to get a type 7 or type 2. If you want to do intelligence or security maybe look into operations research or something, just make sure its something you could do well in for 4 years.
 
As noted above, some colleges (especially highly selective) require you to take four years of credits from their institution. If you enter with college credits this may allow you to graduate with a double major or add a minor but not likely you will graduate early. If you enter fall of '20, they intend you will be part of the graduating class of '24.
 
I understand STEM is a high priority but under Highly Desired Majors there is also Foreign Language. So in addition to the Technical List provided above, the following list is also provided.

Screen Shot 2020-05-08 at 8.31.39 AM.png
 
^ That's certainly a possibility. Pursue your dreams. There ARE 15% of folks who are not STEM majors who get scholarships. I think the comments about STEM were to be informative and to respond to your subject line of "how to I increase my chances?". Good luck.
 
One other thing, hate to say it but you aren't going to get a type 1 if you major in linguistics. (OK you have like a .1 percent chance.)


  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Astronautical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Operations Research
  • Physics
Pick one of those if you are genuinely interested in one of them, otherwise you may be able to get a type 7 or type 2. If you want to do intelligence or security maybe look into operations research or something, just make sure its something you could do well in for 4 years.

I don't have many options at my school. I have a good feeling that my interview will be fine now that I have read people's replies. Is it easier to get a type 2 or 7 scholarship? Any of them will suffice since I am in-state.
 
If AP courses are available at your school take as many as possible while keeping reasonable grades. If your school doesn't offer AP then you're good to go. I assume your currently taking dual credit college courses, but wanted to point that out.

Shoot for team captain for leadership. The Karate instructor experience will help but it's a competition and more is better.


The PPL will help. Just to make sure you understand, Air Force aircraft are highly technical systems. You will using and relying on STEM stuff in the Air Force. Also, your chances of a scholarship are heavily dependent on your major. About 85% of awardees will be taking a STEM major. By all means plan to major in what interests you, just understand it will impact your ability to win an AFROTC scholarship.


Just some information you should be aware of. Perhaps you already are. This is useful only in the sense of showing you can handle college courses.

a. The college you will attend may not accept all those credit hours. Many colleges require you take certain courses at that college. Air Force will also require you to take come courses at the college, so you may have to repeat some stuff. Also major pre-reqs tend to be structured to keep you there for 4 years, if they can possibly do it. Follow the money.

b. AFROTC, and all ROTC programs are intended to be 4 year programs. Some folks can accomplish it in 3.5 years, and maybe even a few in 3 by doubling up on required Air Force courses. Starting out with a lot of credit hours could help with that, but it's more than likely you will be spending 4 years in college as an AFROTC participant.
Thanks for all this kind advice!

I live out in a very rural area so most of these are not options. We don't have AP, team captains or many real leadership roles. I do what little I can on those fronts.

In regards to my college plans, I've checked every class I need and laid out a schedule. Everything transfers and I will graduate easily within three years.

Do you know if my minor in Intelligence and National Security might help?

Lastly, I have little interest in flying for the Air Force. As I said, I don't mind STEM at all, but I don't want to crunch numbers at a desk for a living.

Again, thank you so much!
 
I'm a junior in high school this year and I will start to put together my application for an AFROTC Type 1 Scholarship on June 1st. I'm very healthy and planning on training near to my peak for the next year or so.

Academics:
  • 4.0 GPA
  • 32 ACT score
  • Honors Classes
  • National Honors Society
  • Spanish
Extracurricular:
  • Choir
  • Theater
  • Scholars' Bowl
  • Cross Country
  • Karate
    • Instructor Experience
Other:
  • This year I will be acquiring my Private Pilot License with the help of a county flight training scholarship I won.
  • I am interested in and understand STEM topics, but I would prefer not to use them heavily in my career.
  • I learn quickly and am interested in all topics.
  • I have a high interest in communication and multiple languages.
  • I am highly motivated to lead and make a difference.
  • During my senior year of high school I will be interning with the county sheriff's department and city police department.
  • I will graduate with nearly two full years of college classes from a community college.
  • I plan to major in Linguistics, minor in Intelligence and National Security, and take intermediate classes in both Spanish and Arabic.
  • My interests in the Air Force are public affairs, security, intelligence and special forces.
I have a lot of "on paper" qualifications and in person and interviews I'm usually good at "selling myself" and such. I'm mainly wondering if anyone has any suggestions for what I could do to improve my application.

Thanks

I'd just like to add that I have decided on my college and even every class I will be taking. My problem seems to be that I am not majoring in two areas that I don't have the option of majoring in, Arabic and Intelligence & National Security.
 
Only way to find out is to apply. Keep in mind that if you want to become a commissioned Air Force officer then you can participate in any ROTC program without a scholarship. Since you're not interested in flying, and the college has AROTC and/or NROTC unit, you might consider applying to those programs as well.
 
I'd just like to add that I have decided on my college and even every class I will be taking. My problem seems to be that I am not majoring in two areas that I don't have the option of majoring in, Arabic and Intelligence & National Security.

Have you considered a school like VMI (Virginia Military Institute) They have both programs you’re interested in. It’s no ordinary college, but my son really likes it. He’s AFROTC :)
 
I don't have many options at my school. I have a good feeling that my interview will be fine now that I have read people's replies. Is it easier to get a type 2 or 7 scholarship? Any of them will suffice since I am in-state.

I believe the "easiest" to receive is a type 7, which would be a great option for you if you plan on going with an in-state public institution.
 
I'd just like to add that I have decided on my college and even every class I will be taking. My problem seems to be that I am not majoring in two areas that I don't have the option of majoring in, Arabic and Intelligence & National Security.
Can you clarify your second statement ("My problem...")? As stated above, Arabic is a Highly Desired Major for AFROTC HSSP scholarship consideration, so it's not a "problem," if that's what you were referring to.

Do you mean to say the "problem" is that the college you've chosen does not offer an Arabic concentration? If so, then would you consider a different college?

AFROTC lists several top universities as having "outstanding language programs" -- the shortlist of "National Flagship" universities for Arabic majors is below:
Brigham Young University​
Indiana University​
University of Arizona​
University of Maryland​
University of Mississippi​
University of Texas, Austin​
 
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