Thinking about Joining....

[ducky_0811]

How does your friend like it?

He enjoyed his time in the Army but has made the decision to leave to go fly private sector. I would encourage you to finish that degree first, it will open more doors and give you more options. as an enlisted guy for 9 years, I love my job and i love the corps, but i wish i had a degree. School first young man, then go out and do all the fun stuff!

[Colt562]

JC have no say on whether their students gets accepted or not. To the OP not sure if you're applying to a private school but Cal State have a guaranteed acceptance in to their Universities if you get your AA/AS degree. Not necessarily into you're chosen field because some majors like nursing requires different path (pre-reqs) to get in to but it will get you in.

Also with all these budget cuts a lot of state schools are cutting back on accepting students specially freshman. But try again, don't get discourage.

I am actually applying to a Cal State. But thank you thank you thank you for pointing this out. I am actually going to get my AA+Transfer. THat should guarentee me admission.

I cannot thank you enough for bringing this to my attention. I am definently going to but this in my appeal letter.

[CowtownBallin]

Active or Reserve? I've been in the Army Reserve since 2009, came in as an E4 after I finished my B.S. If you join a high optempo unit, you're not going to get much continuity. There will always be something going on to make you miss midterms or finals. In the first three years at my unit, I spent 20 months away from home.

I strongly recommend you finish your bachelor's degree before joining. You'll have much more choice in occupations, and it's something that just keeps opening doors for you throughout your career.

If your mind is set, have a look at ROTC. Maybe you can get your last two years at State paid for and have some shiny gold bars waiting for you when you get your diploma. You could go Warrant Officer, but I wouldn't expect any sexy attack helicopters, you'll be up against men and women with aeronautics/engineering degrees, flight experience, etc. Expect a 1957 Chinook with a couple of "ventilation" holes and a puddle of hydraulic oil under the fuselage.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

I would encourage you to consider the PLC program for the Marines. That way you finish school and come out commissioned. I worked in a Marine helo squadron ( hueys and Cobras) and it was a great time. My current reserve unit has a recently retired CW4 USA / ANG pilot (Hueys and Blackhawks), he or i can always provide good info since we both do recruiting.

My son seems to have had potentially the same issue with 4-year acceptance. After talking with numerous other parents, Sadly it seems being middle class, honor society and white hurt his chances in CA. I couldn't convince him to consider other state colleges outside CA.

Thanks for considering to serve - it takes a lot to do it, but you should come out a better person for the experience.

[rkt88edmo]

I am actually applying to a Cal State. But thank you thank you thank you for pointing this out. I am actually going to get my AA+Transfer. THat should guarentee me admission.

I cannot thank you enough for bringing this to my attention. I am definently going to but this in my appeal letter.

Are you sure you aren't just missing one of the key CSU required classes to transfer in? Or is there a lock on new admissions? Seems odd if you applied to multiple and have decent grades that you didn't get accepted.

[jeg0777]

have known plenty of people that joined with just an AA and completed their BS and even a Masters while in. It is easier to do in the Reserves then on Active duty though. In the Reserves you will get your G.I. bill right out of AIT and as long as you show up to Battle Assemblies you can use it. You will also have Tuition Assistance available as long as you show up and pass your PT Tests and Height and Weight. Having a degree before you join is not going to give you much of a leg up for quite a while. About all it will do is make you a Shake and Bake Specialist. The career options available to you depend solely on how you score on the ASVAB. You could have a degree in Rocket Science from M.I.T. but if you bomb the ASVAB you will not have many choices. You also do not have to have your B.S. in hand to Commission. You can get a Direct Commission with an AA and have until you are ready to pin Captain to complete your BS. You can also so the SMP program in the Reserves since you already have an Associates. You would complete Basic and AIT to take care of your Freshman and Sophomore year requirements and then be in the ROTC program as well as attend Battle Assemblies as a DOT. After you Commission you will attend the appropriate Branch school.

[gc61132l]

dltd

[mreed]

Ya I'd see if you can find out why they denied you. If you can find out maybe that'll tell you if it'll be worth the appeal or not. Idk the prerequisite for being a pilot, wether its a BS or AA that'll suffice. That's something to look into also. What would you want to do besides be a pilot? Crew chief is aviation related and they know more about the aircraft then the pilot does. Something to think about.

If you still cant get in and enlisting in the military has always been something you wanted to do just go for it, talk to your folks about it, i was getting my AA to transfer to my local CSU but i didnt like where i was at and joined the marines. joined as aviation mechanics, not saying ill get an opportunity to be a crew chief but it would be fun. just talk to your folks about what you are thinking about, its not really about them, its about you.


edit: but the denial does seem kinda fishy, just figure out whats going on with that...

[Khara]

Get your degree and talk to your family amd some recruiters, before you sign talk to someone already enlisted or a veteran. Most of the time its needs of thw military before what you really want to do, but you never know you'll luck into a MOS you like and may get a duty station that may be awesome. The only down side is that you wouldnt be able to fly helicopters but thats what retirement is for.... I think.