Test Pilot School Concerns

[JRDrezzoo]

Hello all,
To explain my situation, I am currently in BDCP as a naval aviator. Due to personal issues i swapped my degree from Computer Science to IT and sorely regret this decision. This throws a rock in my plans as i am now set to graduate at a specific time and cannot get an engineering degree. This all matters as I am looking at trying to go to test pilot school in my active duty career, but will now have to attend uni while I am active duty.
1. Is this even possible without losing my mind with the amount of responsibility and time id have AD?
2. Could i somehow get an engineering degree before my first sea tour ends in order to start applying for TPS?
3. What is the likelihood of getting accepted with just a STEM B.S?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hello all,
To explain my situation, I am currently in BDCP as a naval aviator. Due to personal issues i swapped my degree from Computer Science to IT and sorely regret this decision. This throws a rock in my plans as i am now set to graduate at a specific time and cannot get an engineering degree. This all matters as I am looking at trying to go to test pilot school in my active duty career, but will now have to attend uni while I am active duty.
1. Is this even possible without losing my mind with the amount of responsibility and time id have AD?
2. Could i somehow get an engineering degree before my first sea tour ends in order to start applying for TPS?
3. What is the likelihood of getting accepted with just a STEM B.S?

I am not a 13XX but why are you worried about this when you:

1. Need to pass current semester + pass PRT including new BCA changes.
2. Graduate / be in good standing.
3. Get through OCS.
4. Pass NAMI.
5. Complete flight school / earn wings.
6. Complete all 13XX quals and milestones

 

[JRDrezzoo]

I am not a 13XX but why are you worried about this when you:

1. Need to pass current semester + pass PRT including new BCA changes.
2. Graduate / be in good standing.
3. Get through OCS.
4. Pass NAMI.
5. Complete flight school / earn wings.
6. Complete all 13XX quals and milestones

Its not unreasonable to evaluate long term plans. Nothing worries me other than NAMI and obtaining my wings, regardless i should consider all my options and prepare for making this decision when i accomplish these milestones, which is the topic of my post.

 

[Waveoff]

To start, no I did not do TPS, but… there will almost definitely be 0 time to finish an engineering degree will balancing flight school, qualifications, and deployments. You may find a way to get it done, but usually at the expense of your airmanship and reputation. There’s always a give and take. The unicorns who maybe could do both were already outliers among outliers to begin with. To further add, your military obligations will always come first with no thought given to your degree goals which in the eyes the squadron, is unnecessary and irrelevant to you being a good pilot in general. A degree alone doesn’t make a good pilot or tactician.

I can’t answer number 3 unfortunately with any degree of accuracy.

 

[Swanee]

If you want to go to TPS do what you can to meet the requirements for entry. From there the rest is up to your performance, your airplane or helicopter, and most importantly, your timing.

 

[Brett327]

Hello all,
To explain my situation, I am currently in BDCP as a naval aviator. Due to personal issues i swapped my degree from Computer Science to IT and sorely regret this decision. This throws a rock in my plans as i am now set to graduate at a specific time and cannot get an engineering degree. This all matters as I am looking at trying to go to test pilot school in my active duty career, but will now have to attend uni while I am active duty.
1. Is this even possible without losing my mind with the amount of responsibility and time id have AD?
2. Could i somehow get an engineering degree before my first sea tour ends in order to start applying for TPS?
3. What is the likelihood of getting accepted with just a STEM B.S?

You should first determine whether you can go to TPS without an engineering degree, right? Why are you wringing your hands before you’ve bothered to answer question #3?

 

[IKE]

An engineering degree is NOT required to attend TPS.

Historically, it was strongly desired, with math, physics, etc. being close seconds. Current policy for USN/USMC is STEM desired, but not required. I can tell you we are very interested in Computer and Data Science majors.

My class leader was a Marine with a Poly Sci degree from USNA. A recent grad was a USMA grad with a law degree. You have NOT closed the door.

The caveat would be whether you've taken any core engineering courses (Calc, calc-based physics, etc.) that would show the TPS board your capacity for learning engineering. USNTPS teaches you the engineering required of a flight tester; you just bring the learning capacity.

I don't think you're wrong to ask if you've closed the door to TPS, but generally speaking, TPS selection is based on:

• Timing
• Performance
  • As an aviator (quals)
  • As an officer (FITREPs)
• Academic record

So you should work your ass off in flight school and your first flying tour and let the chips fall when chasing TPS or other shore tour opportunities.

 

[taxi1]

i swapped my degree from Computer Science to IT

Why did you swap? Did you do it to avoid courses like engineering calculus, and differential equations?

What is the IT syllabus like? Are you specializing in cyber security or data analysis?

If you minor in, say, physics, then you’ll have to take those core math courses and will have them in your record. Otherwise, you could just take them as side credits.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

https://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/usntps

“The school's academic rigor and excellence lends to its highly competitive admissions process. Though not required, applicants typically hold degrees in engineering, physical science or math. Those without requisite math or engineering courses can make themselves competitive bolstering transcripts with these classes or completing correspondence courses at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.”

 

[WhiteShiningTin]

Current policy for USN/USMC is STEM desired, but not required. I can tell you we are very interested in Computer and Data Science majors.

Just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason why? All I can imagine is with recent development in AI and data-everything, maybe someone with a better understanding/familiarity in the field is desired.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason why? All I can imagine is with recent development in AI and data-everything, maybe someone with a better understanding/familiarity in the field is desired.

AI is still very new…

Probably just like nuclear officer programs (SWO Nuke, Subs, etc.), despite the rumors being STEM/engineering degrees required, the only actual requirement is calc and physics courses completed to have a baseline academic background. You can be a poli sci major/graduate but with the right core class work completed and still be eligible for nuke… and it does happen.

 

[JRDrezzoo]

Why did you swap? Did you do it to avoid courses like engineering calculus, and differential equations?

What is the IT syllabus like? Are you specializing in cyber security or data analysis?

If you minor in, say, physics, then you’ll have to take those core math courses and will have them in your record. Otherwise, you could just take them as side credits.

At the time i was going through AFROTC and i wanted to avoid taking my senior design classas and my college has a foundation exam which undergrads would typically have to study first months for in order to stay in the college of engineering and computer science. Ive taken all of my math courses up to Calc III and discrete structures, but would have needed differential equations or linear algebra to finish my mathematical portion of the degree. Now that i have nothing but time in BDCP, i regret not sticking through Comp Sci. After looking at the comments tho it may seem i have a fair shot as long as I dedicate myself enough as a leader and a wingman hopefully.

 

[JRDrezzoo]

An engineering degree is NOT required to attend TPS.

Historically, it was strongly desired, with math, physics, etc. being close seconds. Current policy for USN/USMC is STEM desired, but not required. I can tell you we are very interested in Computer and Data Science majors.

My class leader was a Marine with a Poly Sci degree from USNA. A recent grad was a USMA grad with a law degree. You have NOT closed the door.

The caveat would be whether you've taken any core engineering courses (Calc, calc-based physics, etc.) that would show the TPS board your capacity for learning engineering. USNTPS teaches you the engineering required of a flight tester; you just bring the learning capacity.

I don't think you're wrong to ask if you've closed the door to TPS, but generally speaking, TPS selection is based on:

• Timing
• Performance
  • As an aviator (quals)
  • As an officer (FITREPs)
• Academic record

So you should work your ass off in flight school and your first flying tour and let the chips fall when chasing TPS or other shore tour opportunities.

This is news to me so i appreciate it. I have taken core engineering courses, just not any senior design level computer science courses.

 

[JRDrezzoo]

An engineering degree is NOT required to attend TPS.

Historically, it was strongly desired, with math, physics, etc. being close seconds. Current policy for USN/USMC is STEM desired, but not required. I can tell you we are very interested in Computer and Data Science majors.

My class leader was a Marine with a Poly Sci degree from USNA. A recent grad was a USMA grad with a law degree. You have NOT closed the door.

The caveat would be whether you've taken any core engineering courses (Calc, calc-based physics, etc.) that would show the TPS board your capacity for learning engineering. USNTPS teaches you the engineering required of a flight tester; you just bring the learning capacity.

I don't think you're wrong to ask if you've closed the door to TPS, but generally speaking, TPS selection is based on:

• Timing
• Performance
  • As an aviator (quals)
  • As an officer (FITREPs)
• Academic record

So you should work your ass off in flight school and your first flying tour and let the chips fall when chasing TPS or other shore tour opportunities.

Correct me if im wrong but to me it seems like many TPS grads came from academies if they didnt have a STEM degree, im guessing they take that into account heavily as well in terms of selection? I do want to take your advice into account though and maybe shoot for a minor in mathematics or physics to prove that I have the capability to learn.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Correct me if im wrong but to me it seems like many TPS grads came from academies if they didnt have a STEM degree, im guessing they take that into account heavily as well in terms of selection?

The service academies and Navy ROTC all require students to take calc and physics regardless of major.

A poli sci degree program from a regular civilian college very likely isn’t going to require students to take strong technical courses.