Well so is Mitt Romney, but with his grandfather having lived for many moons in Mexico, he'd qualify as a Mexican. True. There are many former Germans who moved there and can thus be determined "Hispanic" for government purposes. The woman running for governor in MA has a great grandma named Hiawatha and thus has claimed "Native American" altho it's not been proven. Got any ethnic loopholes you can play? Doing so would be to your advantage, no doubt.
There's an essay for that topic? I thought it's "why do you want to be an army officer" and "what qualities do you have that enhance the us army" or something like that.communist vs. free man may not need be differentiated on the application but that does sound like a wicked essay.
Hurricane, you apparently have done no research on this issue. Google it. NYTimes and many government agencies have posted positions on this. It is not nearly so apparent as you may think. All highly selective schools have seen monumental increases in their diversity assessments since the feds have required this measure. And fair is fair.
Not so quick on this, knowing the important advantage it can provide. And remember, ethnicity, according to the Department of Education is a function of how the applicant "feels" about his or her heritage. Indeed some agencies use the "one drop" test. Others, as in Romney's case, since his father was Mexican born, is fully an hispanic American by legal definition. (as we know, hispanic is not a racial classification) And that is all that is being asked here. What is legal. And in any case there is no witch hunt or validation required of any claiming certain ethnicities.
So be honest, but if you have a great-great grandfather who's grandma might have been a slave or a missionary to Mexico? Don't underestimate the value of some research on the old family tree. And it is fully ethical and honest. Seriously. It may be more valuable and important than retaking the SAT 5 more times.
Also, if you resort to such a "strategy", be sure to tell all your company classmates exactly what you did, and as soon as possible, even on I-Day. While you are at it, you might as well tell the cadre. But they might already know since they may have a breakdown of the platoon demographics. It will endear you to them forever when they see what kind of person you are.If you seriously are telling Caucasian applicants to try to claim under-represented minority status based on a parent/forbear who lived in Mexico or South/Central America for a spell (as opposed to making some sort of political commentary about the role of diversity policies in American life), I strongly disagree with that "strategy.". I would not agree that is an ethical or honest approach, nor do I think a typical MOC nominating panel or USNA Admissions Board would agree that sort of semantic shenanigans is either ethical, honest, or worthy of someone seeking a place at USNA.
Well, the Academy wants persons of integrity. It's even the first line of the honor concept (Midshipmen are persons of integrity, they stand for that which is right...).
I don't know what that means to you, but to me it means that they do the right thing even when they stand to gain and there's no chance of consequence. It doesn't matter what other people are doing, it matters that they do the right thing. If the OP is just some boring white kid with no ethnic past, then he should write that he's just some boring white kid with no ethnic past rather than concocting or playing up something that's not/barely there.
WP, I really don't get your angle here, both in this thread and several other posts you've recently put up. You post with blatant attacks on the admissions system and snide comments about how the Academy does business in response to innocent questions from parents and candidates. I don't see how this helps anyone.
These kids are, by and large, still in high school. They're pumped about USNA and even more pumped about serving their country. This is a great thing. I don't see how planting ideas in their heads about NAPSters, athletes, minorities, or whatever group somehow "slipping through the cracks" or having lower standards helps them out. It just turns them against potential classmates. If they show up to USNA and think this is true, then that's on them. If their experience is anything like mine, they'll realize that turds come in all shapes and sizes, including non-athlete WASPy males, and so do studs.
The supe, your Congressman, or any relevant decision maker doesn't read this forum or care what you or anyone else here thinks (actually, that's not true...as an alum who can donate money, they care what I think, but the bulk of my O-1 paycheck is going other places for now). Pretending that you're smarter than everyone else by pointing out the flaws in the system gets you and these candidates nowhere.
Here's a hint: everyone else knows the system isn't perfect too. But it does pretty well, all things considered, and for other gripes I think most people here realize that this isn't really the time or place.
The forum, from my interpretation, is about providing guidance to candidates, parents and mids/cadets. Are you here to help kids out? Great! Then help them out. If you're not, then maybe this isn't where you should be posting.