I need some help with people who know how to get into college

[Bosco123]

Yup, thats right. It has come to that time were I need to start looking inot getting into colleges, and I realy need some help. This is pretty much all new to me, because I'm only the second person to acually think about going to college in my family.
I have had a clear path on what I want to major in, Aeronautical Engineering, and I'm still looking around for what college I should go into for that. The best place I heard for that kind of major is Embury- Riddle, in Daytona Beach, FL.
The scholorship will npt be a problem for me, I can get an ROTC scholorship even before I even get into the college, but who and were do I see to get the scholorship? I would guess that the SAI for that Batallion would be the person that I would talk to, but I am still unsure of that. Maybe even the Army itself I could get it, but like I said I am still unsure about that.
So, I ask you guys who have gone, or are in college to help me out hereand figure out how to get into what college I want. Right now, its a toss-up between Embury and University of Florida, which I don't believe I have god enough grades to get in anyways.
So, can anybody help me out?

[bj229r]

My cousin's son tried to get into UF---he graduated with a 4.2 gpa (out of 4...took some college courses) got 1900 out of 2400 on his SAT's, got 25 of 28 on his ACT's.....was his school web master ....nuthin. (He got a free ride academic to FSU though). None of his equally accomplished WASP friends got into UF either, though they noticed several minority kids with far lesser scores got in....don't assume it's a given.

[sluggish]

If money is an issue remember, community college is still college.  Figure out what you want to do.  Get a counselor who knows what they're doing.  Find a community collge near you that has transferable credits to the school of your choice.  Take as many classes as you can at the community college then transfer the cedits to your state school.

[Maverick]

Your first step would be to start to talk to your school counselors. They have some starter info about colleges and what it takes for the entrance procedures.

Second step is for you to start looking at the colleges that have the major you want in your state. In state tuition will be far far less expensive for you.

The ROTC scholarship situation will be found at the ROTC detachment at the college you want to attend. You won't get a scholarship any place but at a college with ROTC at the campus. Go to this web site for AF ROTC info.  http://www.afrotc.com/ They have a list of colleges with the program and info about scholarships.

[Bosco123]

Money was really not an issue, because like I said, I can get a full ride scholarship from ROTC alone, and probably some more.

That's were my problem comes in, my GPA is not as high as your cousin with a 4.2 GPA, I only have a 2.8 GPA. By the end of last semester (which was my sophomore year) I had a 3.4, but that was unweighted. I'm taking 3 honors courses now, and have 2 1/2 years of foreign lang. With the weight of the GPA, it would be 2.9, which still really isn't enough. I have a 3rd year varsity letter, and that's probably what hurts me the most academic wise. Usually, when the season is over for sports, my grade goes right back up.
I don't want to give up the sports because that looks really good on my college application.
I have not taken an ACT or SAT as of yet, but I really should take as many as I can before my Senior year.

[68Dougal]

I'm actually in Army ROTC at Embry-Riddle in Daytona right now, so I might be able to help you out. Everybody is just about to leave for the winter break, though, so you might not be able to get in contact with anyone until after the new year.

Right now the Army is more or less throwing money at new people, so ROTC is the way to go as long you are prepared for the commitment. And make sure you're in shape. We had the largest freshman class ever this year, with I think about 70 4-year scholarship recipients, but about 15-20 of them ended up paying for this semester because they couldn't pass the PT test (with relaxed standards, at that!) and Riddle is NOT cheap.

Who to contact? I can get you the number for the gold bar desk. They can usually answer all of your questions.

As for the Aeronautical Engineering, I hear Riddle is just about the best, but from my experience it seems like at least 25% of people switch out of engineering before sophomore year, and probably more than 50% are in different majors by the time they graduate.

Now, having an easier major isn't a bad thing if you plan on making a career out of the Army. Grades are a huge factor in determining what you do once you commission. If you want to fly you better be on top of your stuff.

I could go really in depth, but I just finished my last final and I feel like relaxing now. If you have any specific questions I'd be glad to answer them or find out the answer for you.

[Hawker25]

My first question would be what do you want to do with your degree?  Do you want to work for Boeing designing planes or become a pilot.  Either way i would be very skeptical of Riddle.  I think it is a fine school but very overpriced.  I have several guys around the airport that went to Riddle and wished they had gone somewhere else due to the financial burden it put on them.  Now i know you have said you are getting a ROTC scholarship and i don't know to the extent that this will cover your bills but i have seen Riddle to cost over $130,000 for the kind of degree you want plus living expenses.  Now if the Army will cover all it great but I still say check out some other colleges that are around and have longer established records with other degrees, especially if you want to be a pilot.  If you go to Riddle if you drop out of A.E.  you are stuck with not so great options for other degrees to fall back on.  If you go to a college such as Purdue , which has a top notch engineering school, then you also have the option of getting a degree you can make a living with if you found not making it in A.E. and later on were not able to fly.  Just my 2 cents from the research i have done before i started flight training and talking to other pilots on the line who went to Riddle.

[Tarmac]

I don't want to give up the sports because that looks really good on my college application.

Don't kid yourself.  You can have whatever reason you want for playing sports (nothing wrong with that) but don't pretend sports will help you get into college unless you're all-state and have a real shot at a sports scholarship.  Sports are icing on the cake, but if you have a bad GPA you're just polishing a turd.  

Use your junior year to bring your grades up; colleges often weigh the later years more heavily especially if they see an upward trend in grades.  

[Getback]

I graduated in the bottom 3rd of my high school class and finished a Masters last year. It seems I took a bunch of high level classes in High School for which the College accounted for. BTW, College is easier than High School. Just look on line for the Colleges you would like to apply to. They will help you through the process. Also contact a counselor. That will help immensely. I believe Einstein did poorly in grade school. Also, grades are no indication of success, Integrity is.

[CAVPFCDD]

UF is a tough school, but state schools are easier on the wallet

Jacksonville University has a very good NROTC program as well as tonnnns of flight stuff, alot of future pilots go to JU, a bit pricey but check into it

www.ju.edu

[Bosco123]

You are probably going to end up to be goto guy, from pretty much here on out. Glad to know that I have someone that goes to a school that I want to go to. As for commitment, I am totally ready for that, I might become the BC for my battalion in my high school (Either BC or XO, I have a compotition with another person who wants to become BC as well) and I've been in it for my third year, going on four. PT test will not be an issue for me. We have Raiders here, if you don't know what that is, its like Ranger comp for high school Army JROTC. I am the highest in my class, were I go into the extended scale, and score about a 310 or higher.
I kind of figured that Aeronautical Engineering was a hard major to carrer in. I am, not horrible in Algebra, but not excellent in it either. I scored a B+ in it last quarter. I am going to take Calculus next year, since that's what I need for the major. I also knew that becoming a pilot in the military is a hard thing to come by now, and if I can not become a pilot in Helicopters or Jets, then a Predetor pilot could be another great option in choices to come. I have been doing some reasherch, and by what it seems, there going to need an increse in Predetor pilots, within the next two years.
So, if my initial plan fails, then I have a back up for that.
I'm not going to harras you right now, I'm in my premature stages of looking for my college, but I have a clear focus on which college I want to go in, which would be Embry. I will PM you probably way more in the summer, since that's when I want to declare what school I want to go to.

[68Dougal]

My first question would be what do you want to do with your degree?  Do you want to work for Boeing designing planes or become a pilot.  Either way i would be very skeptical of Riddle.  I think it is a fine school but very overpriced.  I have several guys around the airport that went to Riddle and wished they had gone somewhere else due to the financial burden it put on them.  Now i know you have said you are getting a ROTC scholarship and i don't know to the extent that this will cover your bills but i have seen Riddle to cost over $130,000 for the kind of degree you want plus living expenses.  Now if the Army will cover all it great but I still say check out some other colleges that are around and have longer established records with other degrees, especially if you want to be a pilot.  If you go to Riddle if you drop out of A.E.  you are stuck with not so great options for other degrees to fall back on.  If you go to a college such as Purdue , which has a top notch engineering school, then you also have the option of getting a degree you can make a living with if you found not making it in A.E. and later on were not able to fly.  Just my 2 cents from the research i have done before i started flight training and talking to other pilots on the line who went to Riddle.

I'd have to agree with this. Riddle is way over-priced, especially for flight training. However, the Army does cover all tuition expenses, plus a book allowance each semester, and Riddle kicks in an extra ~$7,000 each year for room and board. You also get a monthly stipend of a few hundred dollars (it goes up based on what year you're in).

Definitely check out other places before deciding, though. I actually transferred here because I was miserable at my first school. Make sure you pick the right school for you. Look around.

EDIT: You (Bosco) posted before I finished my reply to Hawker. Good to hear on the PT part. We have a lot of ****bags that can barely complete the 2-mile. Feel free to PM me whenever you want. Like I said above, even though Riddle might be your first choice, definitely look at other places, too. You don't want to get stuck with only one choice. It's good that you're starting early, though.

[Bosco123]

My two mile is probably my best area of compotition. I'm running it below 12:30, so that will tell you my fitness level. I do want a college that focuses on flight school, and has a military backround involved in it. To me, as of right now, money is know issue to me, even if I don't get a scholorship.  still have the Florida Bright Futures scholorship, and I can back it with some money from my family. My cousin, when to University of Tampa, and you know that that's another privet college. I think it over 30,000 just for tuition. It may not be as much as Embry, but I can back with my family on this one as well.
I was looking at Norwich for a wile, I wanted a military college, so that when I got into the military, which I know for certin, know matter if I go to college or not, that I am going to make a carrer out of it. I will look around for flight schools that don't cost as much, and are in Florida, that have a AROTC program in it. That will virtually narrow it down to only a few, maybe only one, but I cain't be totaly sure.
As I said, I'm not going to be agressive as of now, but come summer, I am going to have to choose a college. Right now this is an open door, and I am seriously looking for at Embry as of now. I'll send you a PM Dougal, for some more information about the school.

[SunBat]

The more AH you play and the more time you spend on the bbs, the better chance you will have. 

[Dragon]

The more AH you play and the more time you spend on the bbs, the better chance you will have. 

Seriously, take and pass a spelling class.