With all due respect, Line in the Sand, not all A's are created equal. Most colleges know that an A from a state where the standards are lower is not the same as an A from a state that ranks in the top 3 in the country for education with a high school that ranks number 1 in that state. To say that because someone got a B in high school is the reason that they are not gettting into a service acadmey is ridiculous. So many factors go into the admissions process.
Your comment that you "never got a B" only leads to more anxiety for these young men and women trying to navigate the admissions process. In this day and age there is so much pressure to perform for these kids in academics, extra curriculars, and athletics I am almost certain we will see an uptick in mental health issues.
Immediately jumping to "that school has politics involved because I wasn't accepted" does no better. But I guess it's part of the world we live in, where everyone has to be a winner and if they're not, it's because the cards were stacked against them.
But you know what, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win.
Honestly, the stats posted were stats that many have some rejected, some not.
I got all A's in a nationally ranked magnet high school with only honors and AP courses. I did well on the SATs and ACTs. I had a varsity letter, played multiple sports, had a number of extra curriculars, was selected for a government advisory board and had some fun at Boys' State.
I got into a number of good schools, but for the purpose of SAF, they included the Coast Guard Academy, the Naval Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. As a back-up, if all of that I had a NROTC scholarship.
And then I went of to the Coast Guard Academy is graduated in the bottom 50% of my class.
My stats are typical. My classmates were far more impressive before and during their CGA time. Maybe a few pulled some Bs in high school. Maybe they were stronger in some areas than others, but the overall average of applicants is something to be impressed by.
So before you sum up being rejected as "go figure! CGA politics!" remember all the big fish are competing to be in a small pond, so there's only so much room.
As far as the uptick in mental health issues.... if this is stress that would lead to an uptick in mental health issues (and yes, I know it certainly is a stressful time), they aint seen nothing yet (yes, I know that's a double negative, it's for effect)! Getting in is the easy part, making it four years is the hard part.