So lately I've been seeing people put their ethnicity when describing their profile but I'm not sure what the reason for that is. I have heard about service academics attempting to create a more diverse student body and a person's race and ethnic group being counted towards their admission. Is this true? And along with that, if a service academy does not have enough people of a certain race, will they lower standards for a person of that certain race?
Race and ethnicity
- Thread starter Napk1ns
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There's probably not a concrete answer to that within any of the Admissions Board's policies. I haven't consumed my time pondering over such an implication simply because there are greater concerns in this process than a racial or ethnic admission policy. The Board has to assemble a class annually based on hundreds of factors for each candidate regardless, meaning race or ethnicity would be of minute qualitative consideration when compared to greater influencers on the WCS.
The greatest competition we'll ever have, no matter where or when, is ourselves. Worry about that competition, instead, and the rest will prove insignificant.
The greatest competition we'll ever have, no matter where or when, is ourselves. Worry about that competition, instead, and the rest will prove insignificant.
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Thanks for that information. I began to worry about if people could simply get in with mediocre scores and grades simply because of their race, but now that concern is gone.
CGA applicant 2024
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I agree it is not a huge issue, however to my knowledge they accept a higher percentage of female applications than male to balance the class. They are all highly qualified applicants however, so they do not just accept someone on the basis of race or gender
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Should you attend USAFA, your bigger concern may very well be that many of those cadets of different race or ethnicity are more accomplished, more capable, more successful than you are. Beware stereotypes at SAs — they tend to get you in trouble.
I would like to kindly share that my son is a minority applicant who has worked very hard to compete for a spot at the academy. He earned a 1510 on his SAT studying on his own, his high school grades and course load are excellent, all while playing varsity sports and working 10-15 hours per week during his entire high school career. It is hard to read comments to the effect that "people could simply get in with mediocre scores and grades simply because of their race." Please don't assume that every minority student who makes it into an elite school got in because of his/her race or ethnicity.
txfwindian
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OP: You have a concern, but that concern ( headache ) belongs to SA and not you. Your biggest concern should be to get an appointment ( things you can control) and let go of things out of your control.
As was said, there are many many qualified ( academically, physically and medically) minority applicants in today’s world. And in the end, how one performs in one’s mission has no bearing on one’s color, race, gender.
On a side note, my DD ( female, minority) aced her first SAT, top 5% of her class, very diversified EC ( verbatim from a BGO).
Good luck on your application process
As was said, there are many many qualified ( academically, physically and medically) minority applicants in today’s world. And in the end, how one performs in one’s mission has no bearing on one’s color, race, gender.
On a side note, my DD ( female, minority) aced her first SAT, top 5% of her class, very diversified EC ( verbatim from a BGO).
Good luck on your application process
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@Napk1ns: The AFA Admissions website breaks down (w/definitions of terms) the selection process by determining your WCS, Weighted Composite Score. This is made up of your Academic & Extracurricular Composites. Lastly, the Selection Committee determines your Selection Composite: the prior italicized scores plus "qualitative components and intangibles". It is probably here that the individual candidates' "diversity" would come into play.
Three things I wish mention: First, diversity means something different to USAFA. While it means all of the usual definitions associated with the word, it also includes special circumstances such as: the candidate that has to work on a farm or in their families' store & therefore is unable to be the Captain of the Glee Club, etc. Or the candidate has to be home to take care of younger siblings so the parents (single parent as well) can work. Homeschooled candidates, 1st in the family to attend college; you get the idea. Second, the diversity component, while being one of many considerations is something you have no control over while you have complete control over what your WCS will be. Focus on what you can control; what makes up that WCS score, CFA, etc. & put all your energies into improving & submitting the best #'s that make it up.
Finally, the Class of 2019 pdf file (link below) provides the diversity breakdown for your consideration as well as outlining many goals for you to reach to be seriously considered. Good luck.
www.academyadmissions.com
@CGA applicant 2024: The Class of 2023 Profile shows women make up just 28% of the class. That is hardly an acceptance of a " higher percentage of female applications than male to balance the class" as you posted. Unless of course you think that % of women is the required amount to balance the class which I do not. Link below:
www.usafa.edu
Three things I wish mention: First, diversity means something different to USAFA. While it means all of the usual definitions associated with the word, it also includes special circumstances such as: the candidate that has to work on a farm or in their families' store & therefore is unable to be the Captain of the Glee Club, etc. Or the candidate has to be home to take care of younger siblings so the parents (single parent as well) can work. Homeschooled candidates, 1st in the family to attend college; you get the idea. Second, the diversity component, while being one of many considerations is something you have no control over while you have complete control over what your WCS will be. Focus on what you can control; what makes up that WCS score, CFA, etc. & put all your energies into improving & submitting the best #'s that make it up.
Finally, the Class of 2019 pdf file (link below) provides the diversity breakdown for your consideration as well as outlining many goals for you to reach to be seriously considered. Good luck.
How to Apply | U.S. Air Force Academy
Want to apply to the Air Force Academy? Start with information about our admissions cycles and application process to become an official candidate.
www.academyadmissions.com
@CGA applicant 2024: The Class of 2023 Profile shows women make up just 28% of the class. That is hardly an acceptance of a " higher percentage of female applications than male to balance the class" as you posted. Unless of course you think that % of women is the required amount to balance the class which I do not. Link below:
Basic Cadet Training: The breakdown for the AF Academy’s Class of ‘23
This year-last year comparison of the demographic of incoming basic cadets at the United States Air Force Academy.
www.usafa.edu
txfwindian
Parent of USNA C/O 2025
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I forgot to add that my DD is working extremely hard ( from 195 lbs to now less than 170 lbs) over last 4 months and still has ways to go. Does that means she will get a pass b/c she is a minority.. I don’t think so.
You asked a straightforward question and I will give you a straightforward answer.
Yes, service academies set diversity goals and if they are short of appointees in any particular category, candidates from that category will be appointed with lower WCS scores than candidates that are not in that category. However, the majority of appointees in every category have very competitive WCS scores.
I'm sure USAFA, like USMA, carefully tracks the number of candidates that are appointed below a specified WCS score. The category that receives the greatest benefit is recruited athletes, over 57% scoring below the specified score for the USMA Class of 2016. Racial/Ethnic categories were well below 50% and that is skewed since many of those are also recruited athletes - meaning that well over 50% would likely have been appointed irrespective of diversity preferences.
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@Napk1ns: The AFA Admissions website breaks down (w/definitions of terms) the selection process by determining your WCS, Weighted Composite Score. This is made up of your Academic & Extracurricular Composites. Lastly, the Selection Committee determines your Selection Composite: the prior italicized scores plus "qualitative components and intangibles". It is probably here that the individual candidates' "diversity" would come into play.
Three things I wish mention: First, diversity means something different to USAFA. While it means all of the usual definitions associated with the word, it also includes special circumstances such as: the candidate that has to work on a farm or in their families' store & therefore is unable to be the Captain of the Glee Club, etc. Or the candidate has to be home to take care of younger siblings so the parents (single parent as well) can work. Homeschooled candidates, 1st in the family to attend college; you get the idea. Second, the diversity component, while being one of many considerations is something you have no control over while you have complete control over what your WCS will be. Focus on what you can control; what makes up that WCS score, CFA, etc. & put all your energies into improving & submitting the best #'s that make it up.
Finally, the Class of 2019 pdf file (link below) provides the diversity breakdown for your consideration as well as outlining many goals for you to reach to be seriously considered. Good luck.
How to Apply | U.S. Air Force Academy
Want to apply to the Air Force Academy? Start with information about our admissions cycles and application process to become an official candidate.
@CGA applicant 2024: The Class of 2023 Profile shows women make up just 28% of the class. That is hardly an acceptance of a " higher percentage of female applications than male to balance the class" as you posted. Unless of course you think that % of women is the required amount to balance the class which I do not. Link below:
Basic Cadet Training: The breakdown for the AF Academy’s Class of ‘23
This year-last year comparison of the demographic of incoming basic cadets at the United States Air Force Academy.
At I Day, a mother asked why there was “only” 28% women in the class of 2023. The Superintendent answered because the percentage of female applicants for the class of 2023 was 28%. He did say they are making efforts to increase female applicants but in general the rule above applies. He did not specifically say but I would assume there is also a relationship between minority applicants and % accepted as well.
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Class year % of women # of women/men # of Diversity Cadets % of Class
2023 28% 323/1147 367 32%
2022 25% 295/1170 397 34%
2021 27% 334/1216 381 31%
2020 29% 342/1168 335 30%
2019 27% 329/1242 397 32%
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2023 28% 323/1147 367 32%
2022 25% 295/1170 397 34%
2021 27% 334/1216 381 31%
2020 29% 342/1168 335 30%
2019 27% 329/1242 397 32%
- Average of 325 women/year for above. Average % of women of Classes from above: 27%
- Average of 375 diversity cadets/year for above. Average % of Diversity of Classes from above: 32%
- The current Superintendent arrived in July, 2017 so his classes are 2022 & 2023 respectively.
- His 1st class, (2022) has the lowest # of women. Guess the rule that year for women was 25%.
- That also was the year (2017) of his much-publicized speech to the Wing supporting diversity, but the # of women in his 1st class profile decreased by 30 women lower then the 5 year average; 295 vs. 325.
- However, his 1st class tied with the 2019 Class as as having the highest # of actual diversity cadets, 397, 22 cadets above the average of 375.
- 397 diversity cadets...the exact # as the highest # of his predecessor. Even though she reached that # with a bigger class (1242 vs. 1170) it's still the exact #. What a coincidence you might be thinking, can there be more?
- Unfortunately, his next class dropped back 30 diversity cadets, a 2% reduction which seems to be represented in the reduction of total cadets from 1170 to 1147, here a difference of 23 cadets. Looks like the diversity cadets took the hit there while the # of his women went up from 295 to 323, 28 female cadets more but still lower by 2 than the 5-year average.
- In his 2 Classes as the Superintendent, when the #'s of his women go down, the #'s of his diversity cadets go up, & vice versa.
- For the prior Superintendent's 3 Class years, the pattern is the same: women down, diversity up & vice versa. Could it be another coincidence?
- For the Class of 2024....we'll see if the pattern continues.
U.S. Air Force Academy
The Class of 2022 is the most diverse class ever admitted to #USAFA. A few stats to consider: 1,170 basic cadets; 295 are women and 875 are men; and 397 are minorities. For more photos of...
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Here is a study on racial preferences at federal military academies.
Racial, Ethnic and Gender Preferences in Admissions to the U.S. Military
Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy
https://www.ceousa.org/attachments/article/663/ceousa-service-adademies.pdf
Racial, Ethnic and Gender Preferences in Admissions to the U.S. Military
Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy
https://www.ceousa.org/attachments/article/663/ceousa-service-adademies.pdf
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In the study above, I read it that data from 1995-era was used, so it’s definitely dated, and there is a heavy reliance on comparing quantitative stats as the benchmark for “more qualified,” without balancing the many qualitative factors the SAs look for in future leaders.
SA Admissions is an art and a science. Anecdotally, I recall many USNA midshipmen who passed through our sponsor family who were not academic standouts, but brought other sterling qualities to the table, who went on to become extraordinarily successful as operational leaders. Of course, some of those with perfect SAT scores did too. There didn’t seem to be a strict correlation, but my data set is limited to 4-5 sponsor mids/year since mid-90’s, and no doubt my own personal biases.
When the s_ _ _ is going down in the field, cockpit or bridge, it takes personal courage, physical stamina, grit, and a brain wired to act and lead, while being smart enough to recall training but also quickly run through the improv scenarios and their percentages. I don’t care what their outer packaging looks like. There is no test for that, but I believe Admissions does its best to look for the factors that support the development of leaders. It is an ever-evolving process.
On a personal note, a memory popped up in my head. My DH, a USNA grad and career naval aviator, who attended private schools but was self-admittedly a middling student due to his own lack of effort, saved both our lives one night in a display of icy calm and situational command that still awes me to this day. We were on the Pali Highway, Oahu, night, headed up over the pass, toward the leeward side, and it had just started to rain, normal speed in the car. The car suddenly hit a slick spot, began to fishtail out of control, spinning, and DH silently guided it though oncoming and adjacent traffic not using brakes and down-shifting and then pointed it dead-on at the sheer rock cliff face abutting the narrow shoulder. The impact was absorbed by the front end, air bags deployed, and we were mostly off the road. Meanwhile, I put our new puppy on the floor between my legs (air bags), put my phone in a secure pocket, and breathed deep. It was eerily quiet in the car, slow motion and fast at the same time. We crashed, sat a moment, got out. Front end of car was smashed. DH was completely calm. He always credits his actions to the muscle memory of his USNA training and years in the cockpit and military roles, and his tendency to work inward solutions while processing outward elements, and refusing to be overcome by fear. Far afield from the topic, I know, but those qualities aren’t readily discerned from SAT, class standing or GPA.
I have no doubt his knowledge of centrifugal force, coefficient of friction, etc., were somehow involved, but the intangible factors allowed him to channel adrenaline toward rapid situation evaluation and choice of action plan to bring us through and get us stopped.
SA Admissions is an art and a science. Anecdotally, I recall many USNA midshipmen who passed through our sponsor family who were not academic standouts, but brought other sterling qualities to the table, who went on to become extraordinarily successful as operational leaders. Of course, some of those with perfect SAT scores did too. There didn’t seem to be a strict correlation, but my data set is limited to 4-5 sponsor mids/year since mid-90’s, and no doubt my own personal biases.
When the s_ _ _ is going down in the field, cockpit or bridge, it takes personal courage, physical stamina, grit, and a brain wired to act and lead, while being smart enough to recall training but also quickly run through the improv scenarios and their percentages. I don’t care what their outer packaging looks like. There is no test for that, but I believe Admissions does its best to look for the factors that support the development of leaders. It is an ever-evolving process.
On a personal note, a memory popped up in my head. My DH, a USNA grad and career naval aviator, who attended private schools but was self-admittedly a middling student due to his own lack of effort, saved both our lives one night in a display of icy calm and situational command that still awes me to this day. We were on the Pali Highway, Oahu, night, headed up over the pass, toward the leeward side, and it had just started to rain, normal speed in the car. The car suddenly hit a slick spot, began to fishtail out of control, spinning, and DH silently guided it though oncoming and adjacent traffic not using brakes and down-shifting and then pointed it dead-on at the sheer rock cliff face abutting the narrow shoulder. The impact was absorbed by the front end, air bags deployed, and we were mostly off the road. Meanwhile, I put our new puppy on the floor between my legs (air bags), put my phone in a secure pocket, and breathed deep. It was eerily quiet in the car, slow motion and fast at the same time. We crashed, sat a moment, got out. Front end of car was smashed. DH was completely calm. He always credits his actions to the muscle memory of his USNA training and years in the cockpit and military roles, and his tendency to work inward solutions while processing outward elements, and refusing to be overcome by fear. Far afield from the topic, I know, but those qualities aren’t readily discerned from SAT, class standing or GPA.
I have no doubt his knowledge of centrifugal force, coefficient of friction, etc., were somehow involved, but the intangible factors allowed him to channel adrenaline toward rapid situation evaluation and choice of action plan to bring us through and get us stopped.
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