Forum: Future F-16 crew

I wanna get this out of the way: I think the current U.S. education system is a total joke, esspecially college. However, I know Im gonna have to do it anyway and it's best to suck it up and try your best.

What college major would be helpful to somebody going into AFROTC, or just ROTC? I know they look for specific ones (hard courses), but im pretty clueless of what they are.

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shabah_cactus wrote:

I wanna get this out of the way: I think the current U.S. education system is a total joke, esspecially college. However, I know Im gonna have to do it anyway and it's best to suck it up and try your best.

What college major would be helpful to somebody going into AFROTC, or just ROTC? I know they look for specific ones (hard courses), but im pretty clueless of what they are.

Well if you want to be a Pilot it doesn't really matter what you pick as a major. I know a former B-1 Pilot who got his degree in Wildlife Science, and fighter pilot who majored in journalism. Your class standing and such matter much more (I'm sure someone else could provide ROTC details).

If you want to be employed in the defense industry in general (like for Lockheed Martin or as civilian DoD), you basically can't lose with Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace engineering.

If you're looking for a ROTC scholarship Engineering/Science is the way to go.

Electrical Engineering...

kori wrote:

If you're looking for a ROTC scholarship Engineering/Science is the way to go.

Well, they have "technical" scholarships exclusively for engineering majors, but they also have scholarships for the rest of us. I got one majoring in Agricultural Leadership and Development. Very Happy

Prinz_Eugn is correct, hard classes and even major don't matter, they look at your overall GPA.

I hate to say it but everything really comes down to your GPA and your overall ranking. You can pick a tough major because it looks good on paper but if you get a 2.0 GPA you can essentially kiss getting your first choice of AFSC goodbye. I have friends with all sorts of academic majors who got pilot slots, everything from history to aeronautical engineering. It's really a game and you have to ask yourself, do you want to try to beat it, hoping to do a tough major and somehow manage to pull off good grads or do you want to take something easier and ensure you get good grads?

Even all that though doesn't guarantee anything. I got good grades and still didn't get my top pick. A lot of it comes down to what Mother Blue decides she wants you to be.

Salute!

I go with Delta and others on this.

In my case, I tried for an aero degree and when I almost flunked out of USAFA, I reverted to the basic, core curriculum. Was still weighted toward engineering, but I also took over 25 semester hours of English and Philosophy to re-build my GPA - enough for a major at a "normal" school, but not USAFA.

When I was at USAFA we all had a pilot training slot if physically qualified, but that has changed. In the ROTC I don't think it's ever been that way - ya gotta have good grades.

The biggie was what you do in UPT. I had decent hands and had flown a bit in light planes. Came out real high in UPT and got my fighter slot. So did others of note that were mediocre in the "college" academics - Richter and Ritchie being two from my class.

So take courses you like AND ARE GOOD AT!!! Mianly "good at". You can always go back to school once you have those shiny wings. And you can't beat the educational assistance you get in the active service, Guard or Reserve.

Gums sends... and such

Thanks for the help guys.

I got some time to decide what I wanna major in, but it's good to know It's more about GPA than the major.

Studying something that you enjoy helps your GPA a lot. It also gives you a good fall back plan if for some reason you don't make it in the military. Study something you don't like, you may end up with a job you don't like.

Redvan wrote:

Studying something that you enjoy helps your GPA a lot. It also gives you a good fall back plan if for some reason you don't make it in the military. Study something you don't like, you may end up with a job you don't like.

My thoughts exactly...same advice I gave my son.

shabah_cactus wrote:

I think the current U.S. education system is a total joke, esspecially college. However, I know Im gonna have to do it anyway and it's best to suck it up and try your best.

I agree that our grade schools through HS are pretty much a waste in many cases, but our colleges are pretty good. I have an issue with some of the majors (why are they worthy of a 4 year degree?), but the accreditation process pretty much keeps the diplomas honest.

Doesn't count the degree-by-mail programs IMHO.

Now, that said, just because the degree is legitimate doesn't mean the school is where I want my kid to go. Many big schools, especially the state-funded institutions, pretty much admit you and you're on your own. Fail and oh well. My son will be going to a very small school next year (900 students). Incredibly good school ($$) but if he shows signs of struggles they will hunt him down and help him. He needs that so..

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Good college major?