First off, I'd just like to say hello! I stumbled on this site the other day, and after lurking for awhile I've finally decided to reg up and ask some questions ![Big Grin :D :D](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png)
Alright, I'll cut right to it. I'm 19 years old, and I'm a sophomore at the University of Iowa. I have roughly 26 credits, with a 2.09 GPA (Pathetic, I'm aware. More on that later.). For as long as I can remember, I've wanted nothing more with my life than to be an Army helicopter pilot. However, I'd always thought of it as a 'phase' I was going through, and that I would find some major in school or some profession out there that I would fall in love with. Well, here we are, 19 years later, and my desire to fly is greater than ever, as well as my loathing of school. I've finally decided to act on it, and read everything I could find on the internet in respect to which route to go that would be the quickest/most efficient way to achieve my goal. I went down to the local recruiters office to discuss my options with an actual person. However, I'm still at a loss as to which route would be the most beneficial to me. As far as I understand it, I could start putting a packet together and start jumping through the hoops of the Highschool to Flightschool program, which, ideally, is what I would prefer to do. The other option I've been told would be to enlist, and choose an MOS working directly with the birds and their respective crews, then apply to WOCS a short time later. Obviously which route to pick depends on the individual, which is precisely why I'm here. This would be my prospective 'Highschool to Flightschool' resume:
19 years old, 20 in March. Near perfect vision, good physical shape. 4 year Highschool Varsity swimmer, and was a captain my senior year. Member of the quill and scroll Journalism 'society', art editor for the highschool yearbook. Marching band for 2 years. 26 on my ACT, and scored an 80 on the practice ASVAB at the recruiter's office. I've had plenty of jobs, never been fired, clean criminal record except for a few speeding tickets and a disorderly house violation (loud music, basically). Re-Founding Father of the Iowa Beta chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Lots of community service/philanthropy hours. 26 College credits, 2.09 GPA. 3.47 HS GPA. All that plus a few other things I'm forgetting. Oh, and ZERO flight experience (though I'm planning on taking the ground portion of a PPL this Feb.)
Basically, I'm terrified of what my grades will do to my packet. I'd be the first to say that they're not the best; quite the contrary as a matter of fact. Not to sound cocky, arrogant, or anything of the sort, but I like to consider myself a pretty smart person with quite a bit higher than average intelligence. Like I said, I got a 26 on my ACT and never studied for it a day in my life. With that said, I'm just not meant for college, or anymore 'real' schooling in general (with the Highschool to Flightschool classes/programs as the exception, seeing as they pertain DIRECTLY to what I want to do with my life. I hope that makes sense
). I'm fully aware that that sounds ridiculous, but it's just not my thing. I've never been a fan of studying, simply because the stuff I would study would hold no interest to me in the least. However, I bought the ARCO study guide for the AFAST a week or so ago, and haven't been able to put it down. Why? Because it interests me, and applies directly to what I want to do in my life. I don't even have a date for the AFAST yet, but I've studied more for it in the last week than for the exams I have this upcoming week. Which, quite frankly, scares me. I'm terrified that any board that looks at my packet will see my GPA and toss me straight into the 'No.' pile without a second guess.
Alright, sorry for that massive bit of background info. I'll get on to the actual questions now![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png)
• First and foremost; is my GPA really that important? I feel like a high GT and AFAST score with a mediocre GPA would be much more of an advantage than a high GPA and mediocre GT and AFAST.
• Will my list of 'extra-curricular' activities be of an advantage at all? I mean I'm sure it doesn't hurt to have them by any means, but I'm curious if they actually would make that much of a difference in the end. Multiple ones are leadership positions, and I feel like the fact that I was a founding father of (no lie here) the best Fraternity on campus?
• Should I just say it, enlist, and bust my ass there?
I'm sure I'll come up with more questions, and I appreciate all and any comments. I hope I don't come off as a total nooblet or anything, and if this is in the wrong forum please feel free to delete/move/let me know/whatever. Oh, and also, I realize there is much more to getting accepted into the program, but these are my immediate concerns. I'll cross those other bridges when I get to them![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png)
Thanks again, and I hope you guys can help me out![Smile :) :)](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png)
-Weston
![Big Grin :D :D](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png)
Alright, I'll cut right to it. I'm 19 years old, and I'm a sophomore at the University of Iowa. I have roughly 26 credits, with a 2.09 GPA (Pathetic, I'm aware. More on that later.). For as long as I can remember, I've wanted nothing more with my life than to be an Army helicopter pilot. However, I'd always thought of it as a 'phase' I was going through, and that I would find some major in school or some profession out there that I would fall in love with. Well, here we are, 19 years later, and my desire to fly is greater than ever, as well as my loathing of school. I've finally decided to act on it, and read everything I could find on the internet in respect to which route to go that would be the quickest/most efficient way to achieve my goal. I went down to the local recruiters office to discuss my options with an actual person. However, I'm still at a loss as to which route would be the most beneficial to me. As far as I understand it, I could start putting a packet together and start jumping through the hoops of the Highschool to Flightschool program, which, ideally, is what I would prefer to do. The other option I've been told would be to enlist, and choose an MOS working directly with the birds and their respective crews, then apply to WOCS a short time later. Obviously which route to pick depends on the individual, which is precisely why I'm here. This would be my prospective 'Highschool to Flightschool' resume:
19 years old, 20 in March. Near perfect vision, good physical shape. 4 year Highschool Varsity swimmer, and was a captain my senior year. Member of the quill and scroll Journalism 'society', art editor for the highschool yearbook. Marching band for 2 years. 26 on my ACT, and scored an 80 on the practice ASVAB at the recruiter's office. I've had plenty of jobs, never been fired, clean criminal record except for a few speeding tickets and a disorderly house violation (loud music, basically). Re-Founding Father of the Iowa Beta chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Lots of community service/philanthropy hours. 26 College credits, 2.09 GPA. 3.47 HS GPA. All that plus a few other things I'm forgetting. Oh, and ZERO flight experience (though I'm planning on taking the ground portion of a PPL this Feb.)
Basically, I'm terrified of what my grades will do to my packet. I'd be the first to say that they're not the best; quite the contrary as a matter of fact. Not to sound cocky, arrogant, or anything of the sort, but I like to consider myself a pretty smart person with quite a bit higher than average intelligence. Like I said, I got a 26 on my ACT and never studied for it a day in my life. With that said, I'm just not meant for college, or anymore 'real' schooling in general (with the Highschool to Flightschool classes/programs as the exception, seeing as they pertain DIRECTLY to what I want to do with my life. I hope that makes sense
![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png)
Alright, sorry for that massive bit of background info. I'll get on to the actual questions now
![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png)
• First and foremost; is my GPA really that important? I feel like a high GT and AFAST score with a mediocre GPA would be much more of an advantage than a high GPA and mediocre GT and AFAST.
• Will my list of 'extra-curricular' activities be of an advantage at all? I mean I'm sure it doesn't hurt to have them by any means, but I'm curious if they actually would make that much of a difference in the end. Multiple ones are leadership positions, and I feel like the fact that I was a founding father of (no lie here) the best Fraternity on campus?
• Should I just say it, enlist, and bust my ass there?
I'm sure I'll come up with more questions, and I appreciate all and any comments. I hope I don't come off as a total nooblet or anything, and if this is in the wrong forum please feel free to delete/move/let me know/whatever. Oh, and also, I realize there is much more to getting accepted into the program, but these are my immediate concerns. I'll cross those other bridges when I get to them
![Stick Out Tongue :P :P](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png)
Thanks again, and I hope you guys can help me out
![Smile :) :)](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png)
-Weston