Minority Status, admission.

[Hopefulmidshipman19]

Will being a female minority be an advantage when it comes to admission. I know it's very controversial, but the naval academy is looking to "diversify" the fleet. What are your opinions?


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[usna1985]

USNA has been gender neutral in admissions for at least 15 years. The USN is looking for greater diversity among its officer corps to reflect the demographics of enlisted personnel. Thus, being a member of certain minority groups (primarily African American and Latino/Hispanic) will help, especially if you are fully qualified with a nom. If you do not meet the academic standards, you won't receive a direct appointment. NAPS is an option for desirable minority candidates who need additional academic prep.

 

[gonavy14]

Yes, being a minority female will help your chances. The Academy will never admit that, but it's the truth. I'm not saying there aren't minorities who are extremely qualified, but on average, the minority students at the Academy are less qualified

 

[Kirkmanj]

MDDADD,
I have no doubt gonavy14 was referring to average academic test scores and intended no offense. I love your post though, because it reminds us that leadership and character is often better measured by what you have overcome and how far you have risen. These are intangibles and what the essays and interviews try to capture. They may or may not be based on minority status, and no doubt are weighed on a case by case basis. As someone who believes that officers should reflect the troops they lead, I agree that diversity is important and that The academies should make room for exceptional character over statistics. All cadets should enter with humility, and I believe that each have earned the right to be there and prove themselves, where their character and convictions will be tested.

To the OP, whether or not it helps, I recommend that you should how your background is relevant to who you are and what you stand for. No one should be a statistic. State the case for your uniqueness.

Best of luck to you

 

[MarineDadHopefulNavySon]

Why is it that some people will correlate minority with "less qualified"? Yes the military is trying very hard to have personnel that represents the population it is tasked with protecting. For many years there were candidates, in the military, government and private sector, who were more than qualified and denied a job for the color of their skin, the religion they practiced, or their sexual preference. Have some undeserving people obtained jobs through diversity, absolutely. Did undeserving people obtain jobs without diversity, you bet! When my DS went in for for NROTC scholarship officer's interview the Chiefs (recruiters) asked that besides being Latino if he had African blood. Nothing much surprises me anymore, but that question did. They then explained that there were quotas to fill. They definitely did not mince any words. However, they want to fulfill those quotas with the most qualified candidates. 60,000 kids from all colors of the rainbow start the USNA process. If you don't think that from that pool, even the minorities are more than qualified to attend USNA you are very short sighted.
When your in the trenches taking enemy fire, you don't care what color, creed, race, religion your partner is as long as he or she can engage, shoot straight and help you get home alive and in one piece. So to answer HopefulMidshipman19's question, yes it is an advantage, but be sure to have all the other qualifications in order as well, great academics, leadership positions, sports, and community service. Without those being a girl, Latino, African American, American Indian, etc won't matter because there will be one who is that will take the spot and be proud and honored to represent that portion of the population of the greatest country on Earth!

 

[goldtrim3]

Thank you MarineDadHopefulNavySon for your comment. Minority does not mean less qualified. That presumption is always at the forefront despite the fact that my son has done the right things and managed a 4.0 his first semester at the academy while taking Calculus 3. I agree, he like other Mids are more than qualified to be there.