I've dreamed of becoming a pilot for a while, and applied to the Air Force Academy with a 4.2 GPA 31ACT/ 2000 SAT, many sports and extra currics, and 2 nominations from MOC. I received my rejection letter this week and am still looking to pursue a pilot slot in any way. I know I have an option to reapply next year to the Academy, but I was curious what the AFROTC chances are in gaining a slot in pilot training, basically what the proportional breakdown is in pilot training and how it's divided between the AFA and ROTC and other paths as well. I am also curious how my academics stack up in my chances of actually gaining a pilot slot.
Also, what importance does the college I attend ROTC have on getting selected (IE does someone who has an identical record as myself who is doing ROTC in an Ivy league school have an advantage over everyone else)
If you are fully qualified with a nomination and were not selected for an Loa in the Fall and then did not win the competition for an appointment within your nominating sources, you should be waitlisted, and there are around 300 offers of declined appointments filled off the waitlist each year. Since 250 Academy appointments are filled from the prep school, that is about 30% of the class. There are around 500 flight school slots allotted annually to the 1000 Lt's commissioning at the Academy and 500 slots to the 2200 Lt's commissioning through Afrotc. In most years, any Academy Cadet who wants a flight school slot attains one. Not everyone physically qualifies or wants a 10 year commitment after earning one's wings. High school academics have nothing to do with attaining a flight school slot. Sat scores will affect order of merit for the POC. The single most important factor for order of merit for flight school is the Commanders ranking(50%). College GPA is given about the same weight as the PCSM(AFOQT + TBAS)(15%)
https://pcsm.aetc.af.mil/FAQS/FAQS2.HTM
The importance of the college would be expressed in the Commander's ranking of his cadets. I read recently that the highest ranked Afrotc Cadet last year on the order of merit was at Fresno State. Certain Ivy leagues are known to have extreme grade inflation so that would also be a benefit for a cadet at an ivy league, but as far as the quality of the GPA or academic curriculum or the University, that would be expressed subjectively in the Commander's ranking.
This website does a fairly good job of explaining the selection process....
.... One caveat is that on the Usafa Pilot resources page, it states that 1200 Lts commission through Afrotc, the number is closer to 2200, at least according to the Usaf Personnel website.
If you are looking to pursue a "pilot slot in any way", around 40% of Naval Academy commissioned Ensigns and Marine Lt's continue on to flight school:
http://www.usna.edu/admissions/choices.htm
Nrotc is much less competitive for flight school than Afrotc. The Marines will guarantee Nrotc Mo Mids and Plc Candidates an Aviation Contract as early as Freshman year.
