<p>I'm currently a California resident as well as a senior. I will be applying to around three UC's and three-four CSU's. However, I recently stumbled upon Penn State which I heard was a reputable engineering school. My GPA is super low if I include freshman year (around 3.6 unweighted) but UC's only "count" sophomore and junior year GPA towards their total calculation which I managed to have 3.8 unweighted or 4.4 fully weighted / 4.2 UC GPA. My SAT I is 2,060 and my SAT II scores are soon to be determined. My EC's are moderate including wrestling, NHS, CSF, and youth group with leadership position.</p>
<p>So to get to the point, would I stand a chance applying to Penn State? Is the OOS cost worth it? I am doing AFROTC so I'll hopefully get some tuition scholarship from them as a mechanical / electrical engineer. Is it worth applying? I JUST considered it lately and have been debating whether or not to apply to it. I don't mind going OOS and my parents certainly won't mind (as long as I receive financial assistance.)</p>
<p>Thank you very much! I really appreciate your answers (if I actually get some.)</p>
<p>It’s an excellent engineering school. My sinl and binl did engg there, and my binl did NROTC (A6s, first Gulf War)… You’re a good candidate for acceptance, but the ROTC stuff is something I know nothing about. It is expensive OOS; heck, it’s expensive IS; and there’s no FA for practically anyone. So if you’re not bringing the aid thru ROTC, you won’t find any from PSU.</p>
<p>Your GPA is certainly not “super low”, but I know that PSU has a well-recognized engineering program so I don’t know if it is competitive enough. While it is a great campus, I don’t think it is worth the OOS tuition to attend. They offer little FA so chances are you won’t get much although I don’t know anything about ROTC either. We are in CA also, and my daughter was fortunate to get a great scholarship, but for Musical Theater which has its own funding sources. She would definitely not have attended if she had not received the scholarship but she absolutely loved her time there! </p>
<p>UIUC has a terrific reputation in engineering and is tuition-free after 1 year for IL National Guard (including IL Air Guard). First year, you may want to take only 6-11 hours per semester to save on costs (you can still graduate in 4 years if you come in with some AP credits).</p>
<p>Unfortunately 80% of AFROTC scholarships will not allow a California resident to attend Penn State. These are the Type VII scholarships and are limited to in state public universities. </p>
<p>Type I AFROTC scholarships will pay full tuition at any university nationwide, but only 5% of scholarships are of this type and all require engineering majors (plus only go to the very best students). </p>
<p>Type II scholarships will pay up to $18,000 per year at out of state and private colleges, but only 15% of scholarships are of this type. </p>
<p>A 4-year Type VII scholarship can be converted to a 3-year Type II scholarship to go out of state, but means you will need to personally pay your full cost for the freshman year. A couple of private universities will subsidize you for everything else. See University of St.Thomas in Minnesota:
<a href=“Department of Aerospace Studies | College of Arts and Sciences | University of St. Thomas”>http://www.stthomas.edu/afrotc/scholarship/</a>
Plus there are a couple of state universities which will accept a Type VII and treat you as though you are in state. See U.Minnesota and U.Kentucky.</p>
<p>In short, going to Penn State on a AFROTC scholarship is going to be difficult. The best plan for AFROTC is to stay in California.</p>
<p>Thank you. I have a question about the AFROTC scholarship since we’re on this subject. So if I stay IN STATE, I qualify for the Type I and Type VII scholarships correct? So Type VII pays the whole in state tuition or just part of it? I’m a little confused because of the competitiveness over Type I but that’s mainly for people who want to go out of state and get a full scholarship correct? I’m most likely staying in California though. Also, it says that they need more electrical engineers and I am planning in majoring in mechanical engineering. Will it make a difference if I major in EE rather than MechE? As in, will it increase my chances of obtaining a scholarship? I honestly just need tuition money mainly because I don’t want my parents to work harder than they already do to pay for my tuition. </p>
<p>Really appreciate your answer, super helpful in helping me make this decision! :)</p>
<p>The Air Force has the most complicated ROTC scholarship program. So, it is normal to be a bit confused about it. Army and Navy are simpler – partly because both of those always pay full tuition, regardless of where you go to college.</p>
<p>The Air Force decides which scholarship Type it wants to give you. It is not a matter of qualifying for one or another. Strictly speaking you are qualified for all of them. </p>
<p>The better the Air Force likes you the more likely they are to give you a more valuable scholarship. Some students might, for example, be silly enough to use their Type I scholarship at their state university, even though it should probably be used for a private or out of state school. The Air Force gives you the scholarship, then you choose where to use it.</p>
<p>A Type VII scholarship is not supposed to have any financial limit. I have never heard of a state school charging more than $18,000 for tuition and fees. Usually that runs between $10,000 and $16,000. So, Type VII will pay all tuition at your in state public university.</p>
<p>Type I scholarships don’t necessarily need to go out of state. For example, you could use it to attend a private school in California such as USC. You would not be allowed to use a Type VII at USC, however. Yes, it is in state, but it is private.</p>
<p>I have never heard any preference of electrical engineering over mechanical engineering. Maybe the Air Force does prefer EE, but I never heard of it. But the Air Force is rather picky about what you major in. They mostly want you to major in engineering and hard science. Take a look at this website: <a href=“http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/schools”>http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/schools</a></p>
<p>Other than ROTC, you might consider some small liberal arts colleges. They often give great scholarships to people with grades and scores like yours. For example, it probably would cost less for you to attend Ohio Wesleyan University (after they give you a scholarship) than to attend UCLA.</p>
<p>If this sounds interesting, take a look at this website: <a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/”>http://www.ctcl.org/</a>
Lots of excellent colleges list there. Most would give you a scholarship for at least 50% of tuition.</p>
<p>LACs generally have nonexistent engineering programs, though. However, you might be able to get a big scholarship to Scripps and then study engineering at Mudd. </p>
<p>So is this mostly about serving your country or money for college? Because if it’s mainly money for college, a decent number of engineering schools will also throw money your way (maybe even a lot) simply because you’re a female with pretty good stats interested in engineering. I’m thinking of schools like Rose-Hulman, RPI, WPI, Stevens, and NYU-Poly. Being from CA would help at all these schools as well (geographic diversity). Being Asian may even be an asset at Rose-Hulman (out in IN).</p>
<p>Also, how much can your parents afford? Both Olin and Cooper Union are half-tuition. Webb is tuition- free (pretty specialized, though). US Coast Guard Academy and US Merchant Marine Academy are full-ride.</p>
<p>PurpleTitan makes a very good point about engineering not being at liberal arts colleges. My mistake. The closest those colleges can come is physics, chemistry, and math.</p>
<p>A good private tech school which might give you an outstanding scholarship is Rose-Hulman in Indiana. Ranked as the best tech school which does not offer a Ph.D. Check it out: <a href=“http://www.rose-hulman.edu/”>404 | Rose-Hulman;
<p>Unless you love ships, the Merchant Marina Academy is pretty limiting. Only has five majors, and all are focused on ships and shipping. Their engineering coursework is totally focused on ships too. On the other hand, you do not have to go into the military after graduation. You can work for a shipping company.</p>
<p>Thank you PurpleTitan and NROTCgrad. Yes the Air Force was a little confusing but you made it a lot more clear. I have more questions if you don’t mind answering. </p>
<p>Should I still apply to privates? I’m looking more towards public universities (3 UC’s and a couple states) mainly because I never actually considered privates. If I do, I’d be a little behind the game in the category of letter of recommendations, etc. </p>
<p>& PurpleTitan, I would love to serve my country and be an engineer at the same time. I feel like it’s a good opportunity for me to not only be part of the military but receive an education and major in something I want as well. I would still do it without a scholarship but I just hope I get one as it will help.</p>
<p>Also, for the fitness test, who will assess my test? Do I do it in groups at a local place? I’m fairly fit but could improve my cardio a little bit more. It was really good during wrestling season then it went downhill towards the summer and during SAT/AP testing time but my cardio improves fast. The pushups and situps portion should be fine as well. </p>
<p>I’m majoring in engineering for sure which is why I looked towards the Air Force. Also, my uncle is a 1st LT in the Air Force as an electrical engineer and my other uncle is a Sgt in the Army. </p>
<p>I’m not looking towards any academies. My dream school is UCSD which I can crosstown with SDSU. I’ve had my mind set on it for quite a while and that’s a problem because I don’t know much about other colleges besides the publics. I never considered privates and I really want to do AFROTC.</p>
<p>There is no need to consider private universities unless you have one you are interested in. Especially since you basically need a Type I to attend a one. So, attending a private college on a AFROTC scholarship is a long shot. I would definitely not apply to more than one or two. Chances are you would get a Type VII, which are only good at public universities.</p>
<p>I think the physical fitness test is administered by a coach at your high school. The details are spelled out in the application.</p>