At the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colo., cadets receive a full scholarship while earning a BS. All tuition costs, meals, housing, and a monthly stipend are included in the scholarship. This four-year public university offers 32 academic majors, about half of them in STEM fields like aeronautical engineering, cyber science, electrical engineering, meteorology, and astronautical engineering. Every cadet has the opportunity to compete for summer research projects and completes a capstone project in their field of study.
Graduates earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force or Space Force and are obligated to serve at least five years in one of the dozens of career fields open to officers, including positions in cyberspace operations, behavioral sciences, air traffic, remotely operated aircraft, financial management, and space operations.
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To apply you must be at least 17 years old but not older than 23 by July 1 the year you enter, a U.S. citizen, unmarried with no dependents, and of good moral character. The average high school GPA of successful applicants is 3.85. ▸ Visit usafa.edu for more information about requirements and how to apply.
Ask a Recent Graduate
Lieutenant Andrew Weiss graduated from the USAFA in 2020 with a degree in computer science and a minor in Spanish. In his first assignment since being commissioned, he is serving as an admission advisor for the Academy. His next assignment will be in cyberspace operations.
Why did you choose the Academy and computer science?
I was interested in STEM at a young age. My dad was an electrical engineer in the Air Force and also worked in early-warning missile defense. I always wanted to go to the Academy because I knew it would open so many doors for me. My family sponsored a cadet as part of a program that offers a “home away from home” on weekends, and that had a big impact on me too. I didn’t know what I wanted to study at first, but in my freshman year I took a computer science course and fell in love with it.
What kind of STEM opportunities does the Academy offer?
Every graduate earns a bachelor of science degree because the Academy offers so much exposure to STEM. You can major in engineering in just about every discipline, applied sciences, space exploration and satellite technology, various cyber disciplines, and all sorts of medical fields. The core curriculum is very broad, so it provides a well-rounded education.
Describe the summer research projects and travel opportunities.
Every academic department has an allotment of summer research opportunities that often involve private industry partners like Microsoft or Google or Air Force research labs. Students compete within their major for these real-world projects. I traveled to the Space Dynamics Laboratory in Utah and worked with a team using AI for automatic object detection in radar imagery. As a Spanish minor I lived with a host family in Panama for a month.
“The core curriculum is very broad, so it provides a well-rounded education.”
What happens in a capstone project?
It’s an in-depth project, usually in your senior year, that typically involves an industry partner and combines several topics you’ve studied so far. In my capstone project, we worked with AT&T to create an autonomous drone swarm that would provide cellular coverage for first responders in a situation with a degraded environment — like fighting a wildfire or mobilizing in a hurricane.
What advice do you have for readers interested in applying?
The most common reason people don’t get accepted is they don’t complete the application. It’s long and there are a number of steps like a medical exam and a fitness assessment. While our acceptance rate is 10 percent, of the people who actually complete the application, the rate is closer to 25 percent. So one of the biggest things you can do to help yourself is be sure to finish the application. The Academy is a place of great opportunity, and I encourage people to apply.
The Ford Foundation is working to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties through its Ford Fellowships at the predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral levels. These awards are administered annually through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In 2021, the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program announced 131 awards for predoctoral (75), dissertation (36), and postdoctoral (20) research and study.
You are eligible to apply for a Ford Fellowship if you can demonstrate superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, and meet other requirements on the Ford Foundation website. Applicants should also show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers and demonstrate that they are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching education for all students.
Ford Foundation Fellowship applications are available each year following the September Labor Day holiday. The first deadline is in December, and the deadline for specific supplementary materials is usually in the first week of the following January. ▸ sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm
Ask a Fellowship Advocate
Chris O’Brien of the Fellowships Office of the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the National Academies has managed the Ford Foundation Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs for more than three decades. She is an active advocate for current, past, and future Ford Fellows.
How would you describe the Ford Fellowship experience?
Ford Foundation Fellowships support individuals representing a range of disciplines such as life and physical sciences, mathematics and engineering, the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences. In addition, the annual Conference of Ford Fellows provides an opportunity for researchers to discuss possible future collaborations. Ford Fellows often work with their peers across disciplines, and many build relationships and friendships that have been integral to their development as scholars.
How does the Conference of Ford Fellows benefit recipients?
The Conference of Ford Fellows is a two-day meeting of the most recent fellowship recipients. The program includes academic exchange sessions, one-on-one advising, keynote speakers, plenary panels, and presentations by past Ford Fellows. It provides a unique opportunity for establishing and expanding professional networks. University presses are represented at the event, and many Ford Fellows have had their research published as a result of interviews at the conference.
How extensive is the mentoring component of the Ford Fellowship Program?
The program will be 60 years old in 2022 and has generated a large, diverse, and experienced alumni network. Senior Ford Fellows often offer guidance to scholars embarking on their research and teaching careers. Over the years, countless fellows have expressed gratitude that the Ford Foundation makes this rich experience available.
“I believe that the more you apply for support for future study, the more experienced and successful you become with the process. Apply to as many funding sources as you possibly can.”
What advice do you have for students interested in applying for a Ford Fellowship?
I suggest that scholars access the Directory of Ford Fellows on our website to see biographical information on past and current Ford Fellows. There is also a list of Regional Liaisons who are available to answer questions. These are past Ford Fellows who offer their time and expertise to students navigating their educational paths. I encourage scholars to discuss their academic and career goals with Ford Fellows and Regional Liaisons.
What would you like to highlight about the application process?
Each applicant must write a personal statement. This is an opportunity to let the reviewers know about the rich personal experiences you will bring to your role as an educator, and how that will help future generations of students. Three letters of reference are required, as well as a letter from your proposed host institution if you are a postdoctoral applicant. You should constantly monitor the completeness of your application online.
Any parting words for our readers?
I believe that the more you apply for support for future study, the more experienced and successful you become with the process. Apply to as many funding sources as you possibly can, and if you receive comments on your application, use them as a guide for making future applications more competitive. Ask faculty members and close friends to suggest refinements to your draft documents so that when you submit the application, it is concise, well-stated, accurate, and complete. Finally, I wish you the very best as you seek to achieve your career and academic goals.