I know this isn't the point of this thread, but I feel the need to say it nonetheless. If you really blame affirmative action for why you didn't get into the school, then I already found a big reason why you didn't get in. It's because nobody deserves to be here, but rather everybody works hard to earn a place here and we're a group of people who take accountability for our mistakes and failures and do what's needed to make sure they don't happen again. So if you think that AA is the reason you didn't get in, and that you just had the Academy all stitched up from the start, then I'm sure your application reflected it whether you think it did or not. Feeling like you deserved it is a terrible attitude, and won't help you get into the Academy, survive the Academy, or serve effectively after the Academy. Don't sit around and feel sorry for yourself, get out and do something about it.