Indians at USMA?

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bigbody

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Apr 27, 2021
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Hey yall! I was curious as to the number of Indians (from India, not Native Americans) that are currently attending USMA, or any SA for that matter. From previous threads, I have read that Indians are not considered underrepresented minorities as we are grouped into "Asians", but would USMA look upon someone that is Indian with the same favorableness as someone of Hispanic/Native/African American descent? What about first-generation individuals?

Additionally, if there is anyone of Indian descent that is currently attending, I would love to have a conversation regarding your experiences. Please PM me if it isn't a bother!
 
Yes, there are cadets of South Asian heritage at all of the service academies including USMA. The first two Sikh cadets who wore the traditional objects of their faith graduated and commissioned with the class of 2021. For the Chaplains Time events during Beast there are also groups for Hindu cadets and for Muslim cadets. Over the years I have known several moms of South Asian heritage who have one or more cadets attend West Point (so that is not a great sample--but that I can think of one family with 3 cadets, another with 2 cadets, and three other moms with one cadet each...and of course, that are only families that I know.)

In your application you will have the opportunity to discuss being a first generation American or first to go to college if that is the case for you.
As far as international students, each class has about 15 foreign cadets but the countries seems to change from class to class. I don't know where the detailed information for each class is available but in recent years here have been cadets from Poland, Bangladesh, Peru, Thailand, and many more. I do not know if there are cadets from India.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.
 
I understand that this is typical college application stuff, but please don't "rank" the races in terms of how favorable USMA might see them. USMA occasionally might admit someone over another with equal candidate scores because of their race but don't go into applying with that mindset. I am Asian and my race has just been a small part of my application. If you are first generation, absolutely put that on there but focus on the things that you can better yourself with to make yourself more competitive and not the things you can't change.
 
jc5108 said:
I understand that this is typical college application stuff, but please don't "rank" the races in terms of how favorable USMA might see them. USMA occasionally might admit someone over another with equal candidate scores because of their race but don't go into applying with that mindset. I am Asian and my race has just been a small part of my application. If you are first generation, absolutely put that on there but focus on the things that you can better yourself with to make yourself more competitive and not the things you can't change.
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You are completely right, and I sincerely apologize for coming off that way as it was never my intention for “ranking” different races. I recently had a conversation with a teacher and they mentioned this subject so I thought I would ask on here to gather some insight. Thank you!
 
But Asians are definitely much more under-represented in USMA than in Harvard!
 
USMA sets class profile objectives for multiple characteristics, including race. So, yes some candidates will receive preference based on race, and there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that fact.

Where USMA differs from civilian colleges is that non-merit preference is introduced in a specific appointment category, Additional Appointee, which by law allows admissions to make appointments out of order of merit. Recruited athletes, minorities, and others who do not win an appointment in a competitive category are usually appointed as Additional Appointees if admissions deems it necessary to meet objectives.

A salient point is that no candidate is denied an appointment in a competitive category due to preferential treatment of another candidate. Slate winners and Qualified Alternates are determined strictly on merit, with the possible exception of a MOC using a Principal Nomination, but that is out of the control of admissions.
 
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