Christcorp
15-Year Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
- Messages
- 5,381
cerberi. I appreciate your post. And I agree with a lot of what you say. However; we cannot confuse ranking students and ranking schools. The school profile is indeed very important. The academy wants to know how a gpa at one school compares to an identical gpa at a different school. They want to know what classes are available; what classes the student took; vs a student at a different school with the same gpa. And class ranking is very important. (Although, I just got done reading an article where almost 50% of high schools are either not ranking their students any longer; or aren't providing such info to colleges because they feel it promotes unhealthy competition). One school, out of 400 graduates, had 100 Valedictorians with a 3.8 or better gpa. But that's another discussion and I digress.
There is a difference between all that and ranking the actual schools in such things as the US News and World Report of high school rankings. That, is what the academy doesn't care about. Neither do most schools. The rankings are not complete or accurate. Matter of fact; even US News and World report specifically states in HOW they rank; the following:
"We started by reviewing 28,496 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Some of those schools had to be eliminated from consideration, mainly because they were too small to be analyzed. This reduced the count to 20,487".
This alone shows that approximately 30% of the public schools aren't even CONSIDERED in the rankings. Matter of fact; you'd have to look at other type rankings to include private schools. And of course, home schooled and many other types of education aren't included.
The academy cares very much how an INDIVIDUAL is ranked compared to the other kids in their school. This provides a lot of good information about the individual, the curriculum, and the school. They care about the school profile to compare with other schools. Where kids go to college; courses available; etc. But this is very different than caring about how a school is ranked nationally. Big Difference.
As for applying; you are correct that many have never heard of the academies and don't apply. But the fact that you never met anyone who wasn't considering the academy because they thought it was for elite kids or kids of a different "Class";..... well, that's your experience. But I'm telling you that I know first hand; as an ALO; as well as someone who looked at it when I was in high school. Even Flieger, who's been an ALO for over 20 years, has said he's seen a lot of kids who thought the academies were for the upper crust elite kids. That is a fact. I have seen that way too many times. Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it's not so.
So, for all those reading; especially the lurkers who are interested in the academies.
1. Don't worry if your school is nationally ranked or considered a "Competitive" school. It doesn't matter. The academies know that 99% of kids have no say so in where they go to school. Plus, the academies know the national rankings are bogus.
2. Take what educational opportunities are available to you, and do the best with it you can. Take the most challenging classes. Do the best you can. Study and do the best you can with ACT/SAT tests. If your school doesn't offer a lot of AP, IB, honors, etc. classes; then consider additional resources. e.g. junior college classes, online classes, etc.
3. The air force academy isn't designed just to produce pilots. They aren't for just the upper crust elite kids; "And ENLISTED is for the average normal kids". The academies are for every class of student. Every background imaginable.
4. And for those of you who do attend a school that is ranked nationally; is a private school; home schooled; is an ACT/SAT teaching mill; etc. don't think you have MORE of a chance; or even LESS of a chance of getting into the academies. It's all about WHAT you had available to you, and WHAT you did with it. Do the most with what you have.
There is a difference between all that and ranking the actual schools in such things as the US News and World Report of high school rankings. That, is what the academy doesn't care about. Neither do most schools. The rankings are not complete or accurate. Matter of fact; even US News and World report specifically states in HOW they rank; the following:
"We started by reviewing 28,496 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Some of those schools had to be eliminated from consideration, mainly because they were too small to be analyzed. This reduced the count to 20,487".
This alone shows that approximately 30% of the public schools aren't even CONSIDERED in the rankings. Matter of fact; you'd have to look at other type rankings to include private schools. And of course, home schooled and many other types of education aren't included.
The academy cares very much how an INDIVIDUAL is ranked compared to the other kids in their school. This provides a lot of good information about the individual, the curriculum, and the school. They care about the school profile to compare with other schools. Where kids go to college; courses available; etc. But this is very different than caring about how a school is ranked nationally. Big Difference.
As for applying; you are correct that many have never heard of the academies and don't apply. But the fact that you never met anyone who wasn't considering the academy because they thought it was for elite kids or kids of a different "Class";..... well, that's your experience. But I'm telling you that I know first hand; as an ALO; as well as someone who looked at it when I was in high school. Even Flieger, who's been an ALO for over 20 years, has said he's seen a lot of kids who thought the academies were for the upper crust elite kids. That is a fact. I have seen that way too many times. Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it's not so.
So, for all those reading; especially the lurkers who are interested in the academies.
1. Don't worry if your school is nationally ranked or considered a "Competitive" school. It doesn't matter. The academies know that 99% of kids have no say so in where they go to school. Plus, the academies know the national rankings are bogus.
2. Take what educational opportunities are available to you, and do the best with it you can. Take the most challenging classes. Do the best you can. Study and do the best you can with ACT/SAT tests. If your school doesn't offer a lot of AP, IB, honors, etc. classes; then consider additional resources. e.g. junior college classes, online classes, etc.
3. The air force academy isn't designed just to produce pilots. They aren't for just the upper crust elite kids; "And ENLISTED is for the average normal kids". The academies are for every class of student. Every background imaginable.
4. And for those of you who do attend a school that is ranked nationally; is a private school; home schooled; is an ACT/SAT teaching mill; etc. don't think you have MORE of a chance; or even LESS of a chance of getting into the academies. It's all about WHAT you had available to you, and WHAT you did with it. Do the most with what you have.
