RUMOR: class of 2014 diversity

I recently heard a rumor that there was an announcement to current AFA cadets that the appointments offered for the class of 2014 were the most diverse in AFA history with 40% minorities & women. Current cadets? or anyone else?

There were some figures quoted like that at orientation due to recruitment and applications up from more diverse locations than in the past

I've also heard that, and it's a complete rumor with no facts to back it up. I'll believe it when I see it.

its a fact but as far as the actual numbers go... who knows

The different service academies, as well as the military in general, has been very proactive in recent years to recruit a more diverse population. Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying to make the services more representative of the population demographic. But remember that the academies are still bound by law with many different requirements in their appointments. In other words, those who receive appointments, still must be qualified. And they all still require nominations. The academy can't just sort by race, color, and sex and hand out appointments. If you don't get a nomination, you're NOT getting an appointment. And if your representative has 10 names on his/her slate, and they are are white men and women, the academy can't substitute a black or hispanic for your representative's slot.

Now, to be honest, I'm not sure if 40% of the 2014 class are minorities. I think that would be a little hight. I could see a 40% INCREASE over last year, or the average. But that's different than 40% of total numbers. But as long as the individuals receiving appointments are qualified and capable, I have no problems. Just like all other military decisions, if they realize in the future that they aren't getting in the highly qualified, career minding, leaders that they're looking for, they'll raise the standards back up. Now I know I said the KEY WORD here: "STANDARDS". That is not to say that IF there are more minorities being accepted, that they don't meet the standards. I'm positive they do. But the fact is, the standards are much LOWER than the actual appointed class. I.e. The average gpa the last couple years of applicants have been 3.86. ACT scores have been 29-30. etc... These scores are much higher than the "Minimum Standards".

Anyway, we'll find out the actual demographics of the 2014 in a couple of months. They normally post it in the local CS paper around July. Then you'll know the actual numbers and can compare it to last year. Remember, an Academy appointment is NOT A RIGHT. It's also based on the "Total Person". Which means you can NEVER, EVER, say that you are more qualified than someone else. Especially if you didn't receive an appointment and they did. Because you don't know the "Total Person" package. The academy knows, but not you. And this is also NOT a communist country. It's not suppose to be 100% fair. It's suppose to be slightly subjective. The only thing FAIR about the appointment process is that each of the 50 states, and other nominating categories, are equally represented in the class profile. Inside of each of those nominating categories is room to be subjective.

The above is great in rhetoric but in actuality the prep school numbers for test scores are not included in the incoming class statistics. I'm not ripping Prep School students, but I think the AFA's method of reporting the incoming class statistics smells of something sour (and fuels the debate about Prep School standards) when you don't include those statistics.

Has anyone seen statistical (race/gender/GPA/standardized test scores) breakdown of a recent prep school class? If those student's high school GPA and standardized test scores are not included in the stats of the incoming freshman class then the freshman stats may not accurately reflect the actual admissions standards of the AFA. BTW - do the prep school grads still need nominations from their congress persons / senators or is there a different method for those student to get noms?

Preppies still need nominations yes.. at the end of the p school year they will re-write letters to get nominations. Even if for some reason they don't get nominations the academy takes care of it.

I have never seen anything published on the stats of the incoming prep class but maybe I did not know where to look but I suspect it is not published information.

However, I have seen published postings of applicants that did not get an appointment supposedly been told they were overqualified for the Prep School.

Like I said, I just think the statistics for the WHOLE incoming class should be published. But if you read the fine print, it will say that the statistics for the incoming class do not include appointees from the Prep School.

CadCandMateus said:

Even if for some reason they don't get nominations the academy takes care of it.

Click to expand...

How does the academy "take" care of it? If the prep school students have stats lower than students that are rejected because they are overqualified for the prep school program AND they don't need to compete in the regular pool of noms; how does that affect the following:

Christcorp said:

In other words, those who receive appointments, still must be qualified. And they all still require nominations. The academy can't just sort by race, color, and sex and hand out appointments. If you don't get a nomination, you're NOT getting an appointment.

Click to expand...

Getting back to the original poster's comment about there being 40% minorities and women in the class of 2014, I don't think that this is even an issue. In looking at the profile for the class of 2013, it shows that there were 20.3% women, and 23% minorities. Given that some of the 2013s fit into both categories, it is pretty obvious that having an incoming class that is 40% women and minorities is nothing new or out of the ordinary.

https://admissions.usafa.edu/RRC/Class_of_2013_profile.pdf

I will have to say that I really don't like dealing with rumors on this board. I prefer that we stick with facts and known policies.

Stealth_81

So true Stealth. How many threads have we had here where people start spitting out numbers; only to realize that stats can be made to say anything you want them to. For some people, they don't include women as "minorities". In other stats, they are considered minorities. If you include women as minorities, then 40% minorities is a very plausible number. If you don't consider women part of the minority, and say there's 40% minorities, then does that mean there's 20% women, 40% non-white men, and 40% white men? And what about the category of minorities that might ALSO be women. E.g. Black women, Asian women?

Usually, when we start talking numbers, or people start trying to decipher the appointment break down to determine their place in the scheme of things; I usually start sounding like a "Piss Ant". I truly do understand people who really want to get into the academy. I understand their desire to try and find a way to understand the method behind the madness. There's some here who have been involved with the process for a very long time. And there's still some things that some just don't have the answers to. Even ALO's.

But there are some things in life that are simply out of our control. I don't think anyone can change their race, and I doubt you can change your sex. At least not before the next application cycle or next BCT class. So why are we discussing this?

Anyway, this is one of those topics that I think I can bow out of. I know some people get excited with any and every piece of academy news they may find posted. Sometimes you just need to look past things and go hang out with your friends and family and enjoy life. Later.... Mike.....