American_Ace said:
HerrLURP, did you not read our previous posts? Do you truly believe that the girl I knew who got her LOA before Christmas is a better leader/athlete/scholar than big?!?!
I did read that. However, you are forgetting that the MEN applicants compete on a whole different pool than WOMEN. Generally speaking it is easier for a girl to get in because the female pool isn't as competitive, and I generally disagree with the rigid 15% female rule, but that's the way it is.
American_Ace said:
From what I've read, big and his friend in NV have the potential to become great military officers, but they are continually denied for very obscure reasons. Tell me, what could they possibly do to show admissions they have what it takes to become great officers that reflect nicely on the academy's reputation?
From what I've read about Big, he had a 1340 SAT, and he said he has a high GPA at a college he goes to in Nevada. A 1340 is a good score, but without a high school GPA nobody can say for certain whether he truly was competitive or not.
American_Ace said:
And do you honestly think the Academies don't consider gender, race, etc.?!?! They don't have specific quotas for asffirmative action, but they do give minorities more consideration. I could find the specific site where I found that, but I don't have time. The AFA officially posts their criteria (60% SAT/GPA, 20%....) on their web site, but the navy doesn't so that they don't have to be completely objective.
I already covered the gender issue above. As far as race is concerned, the current Academy policy for helping minorities is through RECRUITMENT ONLY. By that, I mean admissions officers will seek out qualified minorities, keep them in the loop, keep the motivated, and basically hold their hand through the admissions process. However, all the grunt-work, the grades/test scores, are the sole responsibility of the applicant and they get no extra points or consideration in that department. Keep in mind that a high percentage of minorities enter the Academies through the Prep School, because few are offered direct appointments.
I don't know if the USAFA posts their criteria or not, but I can assure you that both USMA and USNA have very smiliar and extremely objective admissions criteria. Appointments are offered on the basis of how your total score compares to others in your selection pool.
American_Ace said:
As for quotas, have you seen how evenly the plebes are divided amongst the states? Don't you think a few candidates were rejected because they were in more competitve states?
Generally speaking, all applicants compete for appointments first based on GENDER, and then they compete with the fellows whom they were nominated with. IE if Senator so and so nominated 10 people, then those 10 are competing against each other for 1 slot. Typically the Senator forwards that list of 10 to the Academies, who then pick the person they want. This is generally speaking of course. The bottom-line is, if the Academies really want you, THEY WILL OFFER YOU AN LOA. LOAs do not require a Nomination as a prerequisite. What they do then is offer you the Nomination slot from another, less competitive district. Or they will mix-and-match the nominations so they use up the Presidential/ROTC/Vice Presidential nominations and fill slots accordingly.
American_Ace said:
But it irritates the hell out of me when I watch someone (the girl) waltz straight through admissions (even though she won't survive the first week),
So you are making a statement that some girl whom you've only heard about through second hand sources on an internet site, "waltzed" through admissions? And based on your "sources" you claim that she wouldn't even survive the first week. That is weak. There are lots of duds who end up successes at the Academy, and lots of stars who fail out or quit on the first day.
American_Ace said:
Believe me, I know what I'm talking about, and if I get in I'll have to eat these words, but it's the truth.
American_Ace said:
BTW, most enlisted guys hate academy grads (they always use that irritating word 'ring-knocker')
By that statement alone I can tell you that you're about to have your world flipped upside down if you make it into the military. This past summer I was one of the few USNA midshipmen selected to attend the Army Airborne School. The general consensus was, an 18 year old Private doesn't give a crap where his officer graduated from as long as he's competent and is a good leader. I've personally never heard ANY grad or mid refer to himself as a "ring-knocker" except as a self-deprecating joke.
Wow Herr, you destroyed every part of his post, and you did so without sounding angry.