Minorities

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Raptor22

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Because I am a minority (African American) does that mean I have a higher chance of going to a prep school first before getting an appointment? Why do so many minorities get prep school offers first?
 
I can't speak for other SAs, but for West Point no. Candidates are evaluated for appointment first. If a candidate is deemed academically unqualified, they are considered for a prep school. For West Point, under-represented minority (URM) candidates get more consideration for prep school over non-URM. If all candidates are equally considered for prep school, the percentage of URM getting prep school offers will be proportional.
 
Raptor22 said:
Because I am a minority (African American) does that mean I have a higher chance of going to a prep school first before getting an appointment? Why do so many minorities get prep school offers first?
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I'd like to know the answer also. It's a good question.
 
In a nutshell, it is because the public education in this country is segregated - by class (SES) and by race. Students from underperforming schools, typically large urban schools or small rural schools, tend to be poorer and browner than students from schools that have a large proportion of their graduates go on to higher education (college, trade and professional schools, etc.) Of course there are individual exceptions, but nationwide, African American, Hispanic-Latino, African, and South Asian students have lower GPAs, lower SATs/ACTs, lower math and reading proficiency than white and Asian students. (You do not have to take my word for this - TONS of research that the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Research Council, and lots and lots of researchers have done on achievement gaps and their origins.)

Since the SAs are also in the business of building officer corps that reflect the make-up of the country, they have vested interests in developing promising, but underachieving, young people who could be successful, given the right academic support. That's why you see African-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos represented at a higher percentage in the prep schools.
 
LongAgoPlebe said:
In a nutshell, it is because the public education in this country is segregated - by class (SES) and by race. Students from underperforming schools, typically large urban schools or small rural schools, tend to be poorer and browner than students from schools that have a large proportion of their graduates go on to higher education (college, trade and professional schools, etc.) Of course there are individual exceptions, but nationwide, African American, Hispanic-Latino, African, and South Asian students have lower GPAs, lower SATs/ACTs, lower math and reading proficiency than white and Asian students. (You do not have to take my word for this - TONS of research that the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Research Council, and lots and lots of researchers have done on achievement gaps and their origins.)

Since the SAs are also in the business of building officer corps that reflect the make-up of the country, they have vested interests in developing promising, but underachieving, young people who could be successful, given the right academic support. That's why you see African-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos represented at a higher percentage in the prep schools.
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Very interesting.
 
LongAgoPlebe said:
In a nutshell, it is because the public education in this country is segregated - by class (SES) and by race. Students from underperforming schools, typically large urban schools or small rural schools, tend to be poorer and browner than students from schools that have a large proportion of their graduates go on to higher education (college, trade and professional schools, etc.) Of course there are individual exceptions, but nationwide, African American, Hispanic-Latino, African, and South Asian students have lower GPAs, lower SATs/ACTs, lower math and reading proficiency than white and Asian students. (You do not have to take my word for this - TONS of research that the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Research Council, and lots and lots of researchers have done on achievement gaps and their origins.)

Since the SAs are also in the business of building officer corps that reflect the make-up of the country, they have vested interests in developing promising, but underachieving, young people who could be successful, given the right academic support. That's why you see African-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos represented at a higher percentage in the prep schools.
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The students with potential are out there, but the opportunities to develop the talent may have been limited. My DS is not a minority, but did come from a small rural school, and was offered a prep school appointment (which he took). He'll be a Firstie in a few weeks.
 
I don't believe a person's race has anything to do with it. Our son was considered a good candidate but didn't have the grades for the Academy (USAFA). The Prep School is literally preparing him for "The Hill". The Prep School has quite a few athlete recruits.
 
If race did not matter it would not be a question on the application.
Being right or left handed does not matter.
 
West Point needs officers like you! They need you! Having applicants attend MAPS or Civil Prep has you better prepared for academic success.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
My DD was just offered prep. She's an excellent athlete and a good student. No former military. Qualified academic, but she's not as strong as other candidates. This equals sponsored prep. I am thrilled as it gives her a better chance for success than going straight in. Count your blessings!
 
LongAgoPlebe said:
In a nutshell, it is because the public education in this country is segregated - by class (SES) and by race. Students from underperforming schools, typically large urban schools or small rural schools, tend to be poorer and browner than students from schools that have a large proportion of their graduates go on to higher education (college, trade and professional schools, etc.) Of course there are individual exceptions, but nationwide, African American, Hispanic-Latino, African, and South Asian students have lower GPAs, lower SATs/ACTs, lower math and reading proficiency than white and Asian students. (You do not have to take my word for this - TONS of research that the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Research Council, and lots and lots of researchers have done on achievement gaps and their origins.)
Since the SAs are also in the business of building officer corps that reflect the make-up of the country, they have vested interests in developing promising, but underachieving, young people who could be successful, given the right academic support. That's why you see African-Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos represented at a higher percentage in the prep schools.
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Ironically, everything you wrote about minority students can be said for a larger and more socially significant demographic: male students. Put mildly, our educational system is failing boys. Boys have lower GPAs and lower standardized test scores than girls. Boys are far more likely to fall short of basic educational standards than girls, far more likely to drop out of school, far more likely to have discipline issues that affect their records, etc.

So yes you are absolutely correct, there are underperforming demographic groups - although, generally and worldwide, money expenditure is probably a weaker causative factor in such underperformance than cultural attitudes toward education. But by far the largest and most socially significant underperforming demographic group is also the one most ignored. One wonders whether the SAs will start considering this gender disparity in the admissions process.

btw, if anyone is curious as to the SAs' current "marketing goals", the photos selected by USNA for it's most recent Class Portrait promotional literature may be enlightening. http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf
 
FALgarand said:
Ironically, everything you wrote about minority students can be said for a larger and more socially significant demographic: male students. Put mildly, our educational system is failing boys. Boys have lower GPAs and lower standardized test scores than girls. Boys are far more likely to fall short of basic educational standards than girls, far more likely to drop out of school, far more likely to have discipline issues that affect their records, etc.
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Hmmmm - the SAs are not failing boys, in fact, the majority of appointments go to males, white males to be exact. So, I'm not sure your argument holds true there. Perhaps for the civilian population, but not the academies. And yes, marketing may be directed at minorities, be they of any other color than white or women, but each candidate must still meet the requirements to be competitive and land an appointment. Lines have to be drawn somewhere.....always tends to raise hackles either way you look at it.
 
time2 said:
TONS of older threads on this subject. Comes up often and usually goes off in many different directions until a mod shuts down the back and forth arguments that always occur.
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FWIW, I hope my post didn't inflame; that wasn't the intent. I'm sympathetic to disadvantaged applicants. My point was more generic and to point out that boys - as a whole - are being disserved by our educational system. The problem doesn't necessarily manifest in the SA application process because the overall large male population sample (millions) nonetheless can produce many qualified applicants for the statistically insignificant SA population (thousands), despite the education deficit.
 
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