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Scholarship FAQs

1. If I apply for the scholarship, am I obligated to the Air Force in any way? »

2. Can I withdraw my application? »

3. Can I apply for other officer training programs and military scholarships? »

4. If I choose to leave one of the other officer training programs, can I still apply for an in-college Air Force ROTC scholarship? »

5. How do I check on the status of my scholarship application? »

6. When and how will I be notified if I've been offered a scholarship? »

7. If I'm offered a scholarship, how will it be presented? »

8. What kind of scholarships does Air Force ROTC offer? »

9. What majors are eligible for this program? »

10. How do we award scholarships based on majors? »

11. Am I eligible? »

12. What kind of college entrance scores do I need? »

13. What are the weight and fitness standards? »

14. What are the vision standards? »

15. Will I need to take a medical exam? »

16. Does an Air Force ROTC scholarship pay for room and board? »

17. Is it possible for me to change my academic major if on scholarship? »

1. If I apply for the scholarship, am I obligated to the Air Force in any way?
No. Applying for an Air Force ROTC scholarship doesn't obligate you in any way. Four-year scholarship recipients do not incur any obligation until the start of their sophomore year in college.

2. Can I withdraw my application?
Yes. You may withdraw your application at any time by emailing csp@maxwell.af.mil, sending a fax to 334-953-4384, or writing to the High School Scholarship Program at HQ AFROTC/RRUC, 551 East Maxwell Blvd, Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6106.

3. Can I apply for other officer training programs and military scholarships?
Yes. You may apply for any other officer training program (see list below) and even receive scholarship offers from more than one service. However, once you enroll in another program, you'll be removed from further Air Force ROTC scholarship competition. Notify the High School Scholarships Program Section immediately if you accept and enroll in another program.

Other officer training programs include:

U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Military Academy
U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Army ROTC Scholarship Program
Navy ROTC Scholarship Program
Marine Platoon Leaders Course

4. If I choose to leave one of the other officer training programs, can I still apply for an in-college Air Force ROTC scholarship?
Yes. You may apply for one of the Air Force ROTC scholarships of less than four years if a waiver is granted.

5. How do I check on the status of my scholarship application?
Immediately notify the High School Scholarship Program in writing, email, or fax (334-953-4384 or 334-953-7769) if your name, current mailing address, social security number telephone number, or email address changes during the application process. There are several other ways to check on the status of your application package:

Contact your Regional Director of Admissions ».
Call 1-866-423-7682 and speak with a scholarship technician.
Go online » to check the status of your application.

6. When and how will I be notified if I've been offered a scholarship?
If offered an Air Force ROTC scholarship, you'll be notified in writing after the scholarship selection boards meet.

Board results are scheduled to be released on or around the following dates:

December 26, 2008
February 14, 2009
March 14, 2009
April 17, 2009

7. If I'm offered a scholarship, how will it be presented?
Normally, an Air Force officer will come to your school and present the scholarship during your school's annual awards day at the end of the year. Even if you choose not to accept the scholarship offer, you can still have it presented at your school. Although you can choose not to have the scholarship presented, you deserve to be recognized for your accomplishments.

8. What kind of scholarships does Air Force ROTC offer?
We offer three types and two lengths in our High School Scholarship Program. Our scholarships are offered in either 4-year or 3-year lengths. Our 4-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the freshman year while our 3-year scholarships are activated in the fall of the sophomore year.

Our three types of scholarships are:

Type 1 - Pays full college tuition, most lab fees and $900/year for books. Approximately 5 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type-1 scholarship (mostly in Computer, Electrical, and Environmental Engineering).
Type 2 - Pays college tuition and most lab fees up to $15,000 and pays $900/year for books. Approximately 10 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type-2 scholarship (mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $15,000, then he/she pays the difference. All 3-year scholarships are Type 2.
Type 7 - Pays full college tuition and most lab fees, but the student must attend a college/university where the tuition is less than $9,000 per year. The student cannot attend a more expensive institution and pay the difference. These students also receive $900/year for books.

Air Force ROTC scholarships aren't activated until the student enlists in the Obligated Reserve Section of the Air Force Reserve, signs a contract, and passes the medical, moral and physical qualifications for enlistment and contracting. Scholarship benefits are not payable until 45 days after the start of the fall term.

Upon activation, all scholarship cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance (stipend) during the academic year. Currently, the monthly stipend is $300 for freshmen, $350 for sophomores, $450 for juniors and $500 for seniors.

Air Force ROTC scholarships cannot pay for room and board.

9. What majors are eligible for this program?
Air Force ROTC offers scholarships in academic majors needed to meet the needs of the Air Force. This includes both technical majors and non-technical majors. In each year's scholarship cycle, we offer roughly 2,000-plus scholarships across the nation. We strongly urge you to carefully consider the choices you list for an academic major on this application. You may list up to three majors, but you should only list those you will be willing to pursue. You should also ensure the major you want to pursue is offered by the school you want to attend.

Special considerations for prospective engineering or science/technical majors:
For prospective engineering or science/technical majors, you must determine if your major is approved for an Air Force ROTC scholarship at the school you want to attend. You can look this up using the online Schools and Majors » feature.

Special considerations for prospective premedical/dental or nursing majors:
For prospective premedical/dental majors, you should list a major in one of the nontechnical scholarship majors. Prospective nurses should list Nursing. If you are awarded a scholarship in one of these fields, you will begin your college work in that major. After you complete your freshman, sophomore or junior years, you must then compete for a USAF designator (for Prehealth/Predental or Nursing, as appropriate) on a competitive selection board. This designator guarantees you will enter that specialty upon commissioning. If you are not awarded the designator, you will retain your scholarship and enter the Air Force as a line officer upon commissioning in a specialty based on the needs of the Air Force.

Special considerations for prospective pharmacy majors:
For prospective pharmacy majors, if your academic plan requires more than 5 years, you are not eligible for AFROTC membership, and therefore not eligible for AFROTC scholarship nomination. Students in professional academic programs that are more than 5 years in length (e.g., Pharmacy) should complete two full years of academics before joining AFROTC. You could then compete for appropriate in-college scholarship programs while an active cadet.

10. How do we award scholarships based on majors?

We plan to award the majority of scholarships to students pursuing technical scholarships:

Architecture, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Operations Research, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

Please note: only a small number of scholarships will be awarded for students pursuing non-technical majors.

11. Am I eligible?
To be eligible for a scholarship interview for an Air Force ROTC Scholarship, you must:

Become a United States citizen prior to the date you activate the scholarship.
Graduate from a high school or hold an equivalent certificate.
Be at least 17 years old on the date you activate the scholarship.
Be less than 31 years old as of December 31 of the year you will commission.
Be less than 27 years old as of June 30, 2009 (i.e., have a birth date of July 1, 1982, or later). If you have prior active-duty military service, write or call the High School Scholarships Section about extending the age limit.
Not have enrolled full-time in a college or university prior to the Fall 2009 academic term (except for joint high school/college programs).
You must mail in your OFFICIAL High School Transcript with a Raised Seal or Signature from the Guidance Counselor no later than January 10, 2009.
You must mail in your completed Personal Statement Resume and Extracurricular Activity (Bubble) Sheet postmarked no later than January 10, 2009.
If you are a single parent, contact the nearest Air Force ROTC admissions representative to obtain a single parent care plan package.
You must complete the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and mail or fax the PFA Letter of Certification to our headquarters no later than January 10, 2009.
You must take the ACT or SAT1 no later than December 31, 2008 and have the results sent to our office no later than January 10, 2009. You can have them sent directly to our office. The Air Force ROTC test code is 0548 and our address is HQ AFROTC/RRUC, 551 East Maxwell Boulevard, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6106. Acceptable forms of the scores are those results received from the testing agency or off the agency websites, which can be faxed to us at 334-953-4384 or 334-953-7769. Scores posted on your Official Transcript are also acceptable. You can see your high school counselor or write directly to the testing agency for test dates and/or to order a score report. Their website addresses are: SAT- www.collegeboard.com and ACT- www.act.org.

12. What kind of college entrance scores do I need?
We measure your academic performance using an Academic Composite. This is a measure of your academic performance based on a combination of your SAT and/or ACT scores (no mixing allowed), class rank, GPA, and the number of advanced placement or honors courses you have completed through grade 11. Do not wait until you get grade 12 courses--they are not counted in the composite.

Mid-Range Applicant Scores*	Mid-Range Eligibility Scores**	Average Scores of Recipients^†
Class Rank Top 25% GPA 3.46 SAT 1170^†† ACT 27	Class Rank Top 19% GPA 3.59 SAT 1260^†† ACT 27	Class Rank Top 12% GPA 3.77 SAT 1260^†† ACT 27

* Average scores of the middle half of AFROTC applicants for 2008 ** Average scores of the middle half of AFROTC eligible candidates for 2008 ^† Average scores all AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2008 ^†† Math and Verbal portion only

Normally to be eligible for scholarship consideration, you should achieve an SAT composite of 1100 (Math and Verbal portion only) or ACT composite of 24, attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have a class ranking in the top 40%. The majority of scholarship recipients have also completed some advanced placement and honors courses. If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements noted above, you could still apply if you have other outstanding leadership credentials you feel merit consideration by AFROTC for scholarship—ensure you include these credentials in your application.

13. What are the weight and fitness standards?
To apply for the scholarship, you must complete the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and mail the PFA Letter of Certification to us.

If you are offered a scholarship, you must meet the Air Force Weight Standards » prior to activating the scholarship.

If you are offered a scholarship, you must also meet the Air Force Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Standards » prior to the end of your first semester of college.

14. What are the vision standards?
The refractive error in each eye cannot exceed +/- 8.00 diopters. Also, both eyes must be free of any disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and acute or chronic disease. A history of corneal surgical procedures such as radial keratotomy (RK), even if refractive error improves, disqualifies you for Air Force ROTC. EXCEPTION: A history of photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) does not automatically disqualify you from entry; however, certain criteria must be met before being medically certified. Adequate color vision is a prerequisite to entry into many Air Force specialties.

15. Will I need to take a medical exam?
If you are selected to receive a scholarship, you will be scheduled to complete a medical examination. Scholarship winners and their parents are advised that NO SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE ACTIVATED UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL IS MEDICALLY QUALIFIED FOR A COMMISSION. The process is lengthy and may involve several months of processing and correspondence.

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) is the medical certification agency for Air Force ROTC scholarships. Scholarship winners will be scheduled for an examination by DODMERB and DODMERB will determine whether or not the individual is medically qualified for a commission. If you are found to be medically disqualified, but believe there are extenuating circumstances that justify consideration of a waiver of our medical standards, you should follow the DODMERB instructions (with the notification letter) regarding rebuttals and waiver processing. In such cases, DODMERB will discuss your case with AETC/SGPS, the medical waiver authority, to determine if a waiver to the standards is feasible. The final decision is based on the nature of your condition or defect and specific medical parameters and protocols that have been established.

For those selected to receive a scholarship, DODMERB will send you complete instructions. If you cannot meet the scheduled date, request another date. As a candidate, you're responsible for all costs of travel, food and lodging related to the medical examination and personal interview. If you wear hard contact lenses, remove them a minimum of 21 days before the examination; remove soft lenses 72 hours before the examination.

Once you've been scheduled for an examination, if you have a medical question, DODMERB is your only official source of information.

16. Does an Air Force ROTC scholarship pay for room and board?
No. Air Force ROTC scholarships do not pay for room and board. However, many colleges and universities offer subsidies to Air Force ROTC students on scholarship that can cover room and board.

17. Is it possible for me to change my academic major if on scholarship?
Yes, but this is a complex process and should be attempted only after you have given it much thought. Depending on your current major and your proposed major, you may lose your scholarship benefits. Call the detachment you will be attending for details and procedures.

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