<p>Hi! Our son has received an Air Force ROTC scholarship that requires him to get a technical degree. He is planning on majoring in engineering. His top choices at this point, to which he has already been accepted, are Auburn and Clemson. I'd really like to hear from someone about the Air Force ROTC programs at both schools,k and any other information that would help to distinguish the 2 schools. He wants to major in Aerospace Engineering if he goes to Auburn. Clemson doesn't have that major, but he has been told the Mechanical Engineering major would be acceptable as well. Any thoughts on the differences between these two majors would be helpful as well. It's decision time and so far it's a tie!!</p>
<p>Auburn’s Aerospace Engineering degree has turned out a number of astronauts.</p>
<p>Aerospace Eng. is thought to be more difficult than Mech. Eng. (per my H who majored in Mech. Eng.) Remember a high gpa is important in ROTC. GPA is a big factor when they are seniors and selecting where they want to serve.</p>
<p>CU and AU are very similiar. The people I know who went to Clemson loved it.</p>
<p>Starting in 2011 85% of all ROTC scholarship recipients must major in what they call “Tier 1” majors, which include not only engineering but most sciences and nursing as well. You can still contract into ROTC with a liberal arts major but the chances of a scholarship will be greatly reduced, no matter what your GPA.</p>
<p>^
The above absolutely does NOT apply to Army ROTC.</p>
<p>To the OP - Both are good schools but I would lean toward Auburn. He should visit both and pick which ever school is the best “fit”.
Congratuations and good luck to him!</p>
<p>The op stated that her S has already received an AFROTC scholarship. My comment regarding gpa was about college gpa and service selection as a college senior (not h.s. senior trying to get a ROTC schloarship). </p>
<p>Service selection is when ROTC (and Service Academies) college seniors select which specialty area they want to be assigned to within their specific miliatary branch. It is based on a myriad of things including the student’s gpa, Physical Fitness test scores, Prof. of Military Sci. recommendations,etc. All candidates scores go into a national pool. Those with the higher aggregate scores have a much better shot at getting their first choice of service selection.</p>
<p>A friend’s S attends Auburn (he’s from GA)and loves it. My sister’s job involves travel to college campuses all over the country. She really likes Auburn, says the kids there are always helpful,polite and just seem to be happy from her observations and interactions there.</p>
<p>OP, has your S visited both schools?</p>
<p>Well, you can already buy him orange shirts that say “TIGERS”! :)</p>
<p>He is definitely leaning toward Auburn because it seemed a better fit to him after visiting both schools. We just want to make sure that is the “right” decision before he is fuly committed to either school. Pack Mom, thanks for the info about how important his GPA is for his future military assignments.</p>
<p>You’re very welcome. My S just commissioned through NROTC (NC State) last May.</p>
<p>I know you posted quite a few months ago, but I just ran across this today. I just graduated from Auburn Univ with an Aero Engineering Degree and comissioned through the AF ROTC program on May 14th of this year (I was accepted to Auburn, Clemson, and Alabama). So if you or your son have any questions about Auburn, Aero Eng, or the Air Force ROTC progrem, feel free to contact me at <a href=“mailto:schneth@auburn.edu”>schneth@auburn.edu</a>.</p>
<p>If your son has any thoughts of aerospace engineering now, and does not have a clear preference for Clemson, I would not recommend a school that doesn’t have the option for aerospace. He may very well decide on mechanical, however it would be a shame for him to be at Clemson and go through the experience of really wanting to study aerospace.</p>
<p>If he had a clear preference for Clemson it would be different. You would be faced with him wondering if he chose the wrong campus. I would chose the school that offered the program he is interested in.</p>
<p>FWIW, my son intends on studying aerospace. He refused to look at any school that does not offer it as a major. He understands he may change his mind, however saw no value in starting at a school that didn’t offer it. Auburn is one of only three schools he is applying to.</p>